FERTILIZER

In order for a plant to grow and thrive, it needs a number of different chemical elements. The most important are:

1. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen - available from air and water -- therefore in plentiful supply.

2. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (a.k.a. potash) - Macronutrients and the three elements found in most packaged fertilizers.

3. Sulfur, calcium and magnesium - secondary nutrients.

4. Boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc - micronutrients.

The most important of these (the ones that are needed in the largest quantity by a plant) are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Every amino acid contains nitrogen. Every molecule making up every cell membrane contains phosphorous. Potassium makes up 1-2% of the weight of any plant.

Without nigrogen, phosphorous and potassium the plant simply cannot grow because it cannot make the pieces it needs. it's like a car factory running out of steel or a road crew running out of asphalt. If any of the macronutrients are missing it will limit the growth rate for the plant. In nature, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium often come from the decay of plants that have died.

To make plants grow faster, it is necessary to supply the elements that the plants need. That is the goal of fertilizer. Most fertilizers supply just nigrogen, phosphorous and potassium because the other chemicals are needed in much lower quantities and are generally available in most soils.

Bagged fertilizer comes with three numbers on the front of the bag (for example: 12-8-10). These numbers are the percentages of available nitrogen (first number), phosphorous (second number) and potassium (third number).

One of the best ways to improve soil fertility is to add organic matter. This includes well-rotted cow or sheep manure. The early American Indians often used fish under their growing corn to promote its growth and the nitrogen from the rotting fish fed the corn all season long. Fish emulsion products do the same thing and promote the break down of nutrients in the soil.

GARDEN HINTS: If you are growing sweet potatoes, use a fertilizer high in Potash ~ this will help to develop better tubers and less vines.

Bone Meal contains phosphorus ~ a good choice for crops like cauliflower and broccoli as well as the root crops radishes, beets and carrots.

To balance the nutrients in the soil, a soil test can establish what is lacking. Nitrogen usually leaches out in a season while potash and phosphorus are relatively stable.