So it’s finally cool for mainstream America to be green. Organic products are showing up everywhere from what we put in our gardens to the clothes we wear on our back. Some organic choices require very little thought, such as selecting organic carrots for example. We know they were grown without harmful chemicals. But what does the farmer or you as a gardener select to fertilize and grow food organically?
Admit it. Now that you’ve decided to grow green, you’re as confused as the next guy when it comes to actually knowing what fertilizer to buy. The list of questions builds as you stand in front of the organic gardening section, blankly staring at the increasing choices of bagged and bottled fertilizer.
Before you give up, unsure of what to make of it all, allow me to explain some of the differences between natural, organic fertilizers and synthetic (non-organic) choices, review a few fertilizer basics, and then offer some viable organic alternatives to non-organic products.
Organic vs. non-organic choices
All plants receive their nutrients in chemical form. They cannot distinguish between how the nutrient was derived, whether organic or non-organic for example.
When referring to plant nutrition, organic or natural generally refers to any fertilizer which is derived from plant, animal or mineral origin. It must have one or more essential nutrients for plant growth.
Non-organic fertilizers (also known as synthetic) are manufactured chemically. They are made to deliver nutrients rapidly, such as those that are water-soluble, or over time as a controlled release.
Although very effective for providing rapid or prolonged periods of feeding, these have a high salt index. The potential risk to plants and the soil food web is burning and dehydration with the leeching of unabsorbed chemicals into waterways.
Organic nutrients on the other hand, must first be broken down and digested by soil microorganisms which then release these nutrients in a form available to plants.
This process also produces humus, a vital ingredient to improving soil structure. As part of this structure, organically derived nutrients are very resistant to leeching and contain a very low salt index. The net result is nutrients that remain in the soil until utilized by plants and little risk of burning or dehydration, even in periods of extreme drought or over application.
Fertilizer Basics
Look at any fertilizer package and you’ll find three numbers prominently listed. These are the primary nutrients that are needed in the greatest quantity by the plants. These numbers represent the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in each package.
Nitrogen is primarily responsible for vigorous growth and dark green color. Phosphorus plays a major role in the root development and flowering. Potassium is mainly responsible for disease resistance and the overall hardiness of the plant.
Based on what you are trying to achieve for your plant’s growing success will usually determine which fertilizer to buy. That decision is based on the numbers referred to above. When in doubt, a good choice is to select a balanced product, one with an equal percentage of all primary nutrients, such as 10-10-10.
Organic Alternatives
Synthetic fertilizers are usually listed simply by their numbers, since they are manufactured chemicals. Organic alternatives however are often listed primarily by what they actually are, such as blood or bone meal.
But somewhere on that package, you’ll find those all important three numbers which is the key to knowing what role that product will play in your garden. Here is a partial listing of the most commonly available organic fertilizers sorted by their role for providing nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium.
Nitrogen: Dried blood, blood meal, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion and seaweed extract
Phosphorus: Bone meal, rock phosphate
Potassium: greensand, sulfate of potash
In addition to the three primary nutrients listed above, there are 12 other elements considered essential for plant growth that are absorbed from the surrounding soil. Organic soil amendments are a readily available way to provide all of these elements as well.
I rely on these natural amendments to ensure I’m feeding the soil which in turn feeds the plants. I find that to be a safe, effective and environmentally responsible approach to gardening.
My dad’s 50 year old plus garden is depleted. What would you suggest to help it become alive again?
Sandy, Adding soil amendments is the first step. Figure out what you want to grow and come up with a plan. There are so many options. Are you interested in growing vegetables or ornamentals or both? Raised bed gardening may be a great option for you. Here is a link for an episode on Setting Up a Garden with lots of great information about raised bed gardening. I hope it helps.https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/raised-bed-garden/ Best of luck. Visit our website for more ideas, with a library of shows and blog posts.
hello. I place leaves from my yard on our garden every year as well as ash from our fireplace all winter long. This seems to work well but I think I need more nitrogen? Is ash from the fireplace good to add to our soil?
thanks
I have just begun watching your interesting programs on PBS. Congratulations.
Two questions:
1. Is there such thing as organic indoor hydroponic fertilizating solutions? I can’t seem to find a direct answer to that in your material. I know when I did this at kibutz ein gedi in Isreal many years ago, non organic chemicals were the only answer. Your thoughts or direction on this would be much appreciated.
2. My son and daughter in law Alex and Juniper have for the last seven years built up a very sucessful certified( eco cert) organic vegetable farming operation called Juniper Farm near Wakefield Quebec Canada. The farm is profitable serving the local area not even having to go Ottawa except for the high end restaurant business. Alex and Juniper started as 20 something city folk in Toronto and are now hard core successful organic farmers. Their journey has been beautifully recorded in a table top book through a series of writng vignettes about the journey, professional photograghs and receipes from restaurant clients. The book is called “Just Weed It…. The Beginnings of Juniper Farm. It has just come out and is receiving good reviews and strong local sales. The cost is $37.50 cdn which is a break even price on the project. Do you have an interest in listing such a book on your website or reviewing it? Could you let me know how an arrangement might work.
Sandy Mackay-Smith Volunteer Father of Alex the Farmer.
Hi Sandy. Sorry about the delay in responding to your questions on the blog post regarding organic fertilizers.
1. As for your question about wanting to know if there are any organic options for fertilizer when it comes to hydroponic systems, it appears that there are several, although I cannot speak to that through personal experience. I did do an internet search and see that there are a number of options for this however. I’d suggest you contacting a hydroponics store for a more direct answer and conversation.
2. As for the second question, about the wonderful book your son and daughter-in-law have just released, it sounds amazing. As much as I’d love to review it, candidly, I’m so backlogged on books I have promised to review for others, in fairness to the authors and publishers, I simply can’t take on another book for review at this time since I have no idea when I can get to it. I hope you understand and it sounds very much like the type of story and information near and dear to my heart and the theme of our show!
Thanks for contacting me and best regards to you and yours.