Fertilisers

Why do I need them?

 

A good compost heap will provide your soil with most of its requirements, however on an allotment which has been heavily cultivated for many years you will need to add some nutrients to encourage healthy plants.

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Major Plant Requirements (N:P:K)​

 

• Nitrogen (N): essential for growth and dark green foliage; apply as base or top dressing; particularly to young plants and sparingly to mature plants

• Phosphate (P2O5): essential for good root development; promotes ripening of fruits and seeds; apply as base dressing or top dressing forked in to reach the roots

• Potash (K2O): essential for production of flowers and fruits; promotes healthy growth and resistance to frost and fungal diseases; apply as base or top dressing; slow to leach away and therefore apply at any time of year.

 

Which plants need fertilisers?

It is very important to know the pH level of your soil to ensure a successful allotment! The pH of soil is a number that describes how acid or alkaline the soil is. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral, an acid soil has a pH value below 7.0 and above 7.0 the soil is alkaline.

 

Knowing the pH allows you to choose, more accurately the plant suited to that soil or the appropriate additive to add to be able to grow your choice of plants.

 

It is advisable to test your soil frequently with a pH Soil Meter, to maximise healthy plants. These are available at The Store. They are good quality and also come with a very helpful extensive list of plant pH preferences.

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A chemical fertiliser should always be used with great care.

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Click link to read All About Fertilisers before you begin.