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Composts
& Fertilizers
(Click
on the question you want answered)
Q
What
is an organic fertilizer, and what is so special about it?
Q All
the books mention John Innes compost; but it’s like mud?
Q
What
is an organic fertilizer, and what is so special about
it?
A
An
organic fertilizer is basically derived from something that
once lived. For instance ‘Blood, Fish and Bone’ is precisely
what it says; but dried and crunched up. Farmyard manure should
need no explanation! Some liquid fertilizers/feeds are derived
from seaweed....
Generally speaking, they are slower acting than
synthetic (man-made) fertilizers - no bad thing - and usually have
a beneficial effect upon the soil, as well as feeding the plants.
‘Blood Fish & Bone’ is my favourite; the dried blood
soon dissolves ready for the plant to feed upon. The fish is the
next to rot down, followed by the crushed bone. A veritable three
course meal for the plants to feed upon!
There are those who swear by the use of organic
fertilizers. It is interesting to note that most professional
growers do not use them!
Organic Fertiliser
article
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& Fertilizers
Q
All the books mention John Innes compost; but it’s like mud?
A It often is no better
than mud!
When the J I Composts were first formulated -
at
the John Innes Institute - the soil portion of the compost
was made up by rotting down turf in a heap until it became a rich
fibrous loam - ‘bootiful stuff’. Sphagnum moss peat was included
and also sharp sand. Nowadays, some producers simply use available
‘topsoil', and sedge peat - a far cry from the original formula
which was a good, ‘open’, well drained mix. Ordinary topsoil and
sedge peat tend to make for a ‘closed’ mix which
is like porridge when wet and concrete once dried. I don’t know
how they get away with calling it John Innes compost - because it is
not.
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