Trace minerals
Trace minerals include zinc, manganese, boron, sodium, copper, iron, magnesium, molybdenum and chlorine. These are essential for strong healthy plant growth. A lack of trace minerals may cause growth deformation, weak disease immunity and stunted or slow growth. A good source of trace minerals is Seasol and other fish emulsions.
NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium)
It is important to have a good balance of NPK in the organic garden.
Blood and bone are good sources of nutrition for plants as they contain nitrogen and iron from the blood, phosphorous and calcium from the bone. Potassium can be obtained from potash and can also be found in fairly large concentrations from wood ash (very basic pH), horse manure and in the chemical fertilizer potassium sulphate.
Magnesium
Found in Epsom salt as magnesium sulphate.
Calcium is found in agricultural lime and also dolomite. Along with magnesium these will raise the pH.
Benefit of organic
Organic forms of fertilizer have the ability to slow release. This is because they require microbes to breakdown the organics to a state which can be adsorbed, thus plants are not required to be fertilized as often as chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers may also result in salt buildup and pH imbalance which is why organic is favourable.
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Wicking beds
We now stock wicking bed boxes, these are a great alternative to high drainage sand. Garden beds require less fill and can hold more water, lasting longer between the hot weeks in the peak of summer.
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