nutrients

HERNE BAY ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION

TYPE	WHAT IT DOES	WHAT TO LOOK FOR
CALCIUM (Ca)	Balances acidity and nutrients	Diseased fruit or plant Die-back
NITROGEN (N)	Encourages growth and Photosynthesis	Yellowish leaves and stunted growth
PHOSPHORUS (P)	Good for improving roots and fruit yield	Bluish leaf tint or low fruit yields
POTASSIUM / POTASH (K)	Healthier plants as it increases Nitrogen	Mottled leaves or limited yields of fruit
MAGNESIUM (Mg)	Improves germination and leaf colouring	Leaves falling early or dyeing off.
IRON (Fe)	Improves leaf pigmentation.	Pale foliage
MANGANESE (Mn)	Use to help support Iron	Leaf rolling
COPPER (Cu)	Use to improve nutrition	Die off of young leaves or shoots
ZINC (Zn)	Balanced growth	Distorted buds, shoots or leaves

Liquid Feeds

As well as purchasing liquid feeds, it is possible to grow certain plants specifically for distilling into home made liquid feed.

A good example of this is to grow Comfrey. This plant can spread rapidly so should be planted in a container.

When ready to harvest, pack the leaves into a net bag and immerse in water. Allow about two to three weeks, during which time the bag should be regularly poked and prodded.

Squeeze the liquid into a container and store ready to be diluted with water until looking like a cup of weak tea. It is then ready to be used. Be warned the infusion will give off a very pungent smell.

The leaves of the Comfrey can also be laid around crops to provide a potash rich mulch as they rot down.

As well as Comfrey liquid fertiliser can also be extracted in a similar fashion from Dandelions, Nettles or Watercress.

Various compounds of these nutrients are to be found for sale in the Association shop.

These fertilisers have been rated according to the contents of the Main Nutrients Nitrogen (N)-Phosphorus (P)-and Potassium (P) for good growth.

They are displayed showing their NPK ratios. For example a fertiliser with a NPK ratio of 7.7.7 will contain 7 percent of each nutrient.

A typical fertiliser marking, giving instructions for use, as displayed in the shop is shown below:-

GROWMORE

General Purpose artificial fertiliser.

NPK - 7 - 7 - 7

Vegetables: 4 to 6 oz per sq yard before planting/sowing.

Beans - add 2 oz per yard run when in flower.

Fruit Bushes: 4 oz per sq yard in spring.

Flowers: 4 oz per sq yard before planting or 2 oz as top dressing.

Shrubs: 1 oz around base in spring

Here’s what you can get if you get your nutrients right!

Can you beat Harold's cabbage? He has a plot on Eddington.

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