Fertilizers and manures

Most previously cultivated garden sites

have adequate levels of nutrients (see
p.17), with the most likely exception
of lime (see pp.18–19); old grassland
converted to garden use is often low
in phosphorus. Cropping makes heavy
demands on soil, however, and a fruit
and vegetable garden requires more
feeding than an ornamental garden.
As an insurance, incorporate fertilizers
and manures (detailed below and on p.22)
containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium as a base dressing before
planting. After good site preparation (see
pp.37–40), maintain fertility by annual,
light applications of fertilizer to areas dug
over for cropping, and by top-dressing
or surface application to growing crops.
UNDERSTANDING TERMINOLOGY
The terms manure and fertilizer are
commonly used interchangeably, but it
is worth distinguishing them. Manure
best describes bulky material that is
derived directly from animal and plant
wastes, while fertilizer is any material
that provides more concentrated
nutrients than bulky manure, and can
be in powder, granular, or liquid forms.
Manure inevitably comes from organic
sources; fertilizers may be from organic
or inorganic sources. Organic substances
are those derived from decomposed
plant and animal remains and the waste
products of animals; inorganic fertilizers
are derived from nonliving, carbonfree
sources, including rock. Many
gardeners, committed to the principles
of organic growing, prefer to use
organic products to the total or near
exclusion of inorganic fertilizers,
regarding their use as unacceptable for
a variety of reasons. There is a view that
organic derivatives are much less likely
to pollute the environment, and that
edible crops grown organically are
more wholesome and of better f lavor
than those grown using other products.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The letters N, P, and K on fertilizer
packaging are the chemical symbols
standing for nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium, respectively.
Phosphorus and potassium are
included in fertilizers as more stable
or accessible chemical compounds:
phosphorus as phosphate (P2O5) and
potassium as potash (K2O). The shorter
chemical symbols are most used for
convenience, but all the different
descriptions are met with in general
gardening parlance.
There is a recognized notation for
the nutrient content of compounds,
which is always printed on the fertilizer
packaging. This gives the percentage
content of each nutrient, always in
the order N:P:K, so a compound
fertilizer that is described as 20:10:10
will contain 20 percent nitrogen,
10 percent phosphate, and 10 percent
potash (see also chart, below).
TYPES OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER
Commonly available
forms of fertilizer
General compound
Triple superphosphate
Average nutrient content
(percent)
Nitrogen Phosphate Potash
21 0 0
0 0 50
0 47 0
777
20 10 10
Approximate
rate of
application
1–2oz per sq yd
(35–70g per sq m)
or 11⁄2 times this
for the higherdemand
crops
Also called ammonium sulfate, this is a fast-acting, crystalline
source of nitrogen, particularly suitable for top-dressing. Nitrogen
is used in quantity, especially by cabbages, main-crop potatoes,
celery, leeks, beets, pears, plums, black currants, and rhubarb.
Also called potassium sulfate. Potassium chloride has a higher
potash content and is cheaper but can be toxic in excess,
especially on tomatoes, gooseberries, and red currants.
Potassium nitrate is expensive and used in liquid feeds.
Potash is important for crop quality, balanced growth, and
disease resistance.
A concentrated form of phosphate, best added to a depth of
8in (20cm). Phosphate, vital for cell division and root growth, is
relatively immobile and quite small annual dressings are needed.
Farmyard manure and garden compost maintain suitable levels.
Superphosphate is less concentrated, at about 18–21 percent.
The widely available Growmore formulation is a general
compound fertilizer suitable for the maintenance of nutrients
in a well-prepared fruit and vegetable garden, ensuring adequate
supplies of all three essential nutrients.
Artificial fertilizers that are incorporated as a base dressing at
preparation time should be scattered evenly over the surface of
the soil to avoid pockets of infertility: this is easiest to achieve
with granulated formulations. This 20:10:10 compound is suitable
for leafy crops.
1⁄2–1oz per

sq yd (20–35g
per sq m)
1–2oz per
sq yd (35–70g
per sq m)
4–6oz per
sq yd
(135–210g
per sq m)
1–2oz per
sq yd (35–70g
per sq m)
Characteristics and uses
Sulfate of ammonia
Sulfate of potash
High-nitrogen compound