Go to fertiliser

I've been getting Doff fertilizer for pots/toms etc as it seems to be the best value I can find for the amount I need


and outside on beds I make as much compost as I can. We had a lot of cow muck delivered to the allotment this year so I managed to get about 2000L of that onto the fruit bushes and trees, rhubarb, grape vine and veg beds in addition to my own compost. I'm hopeful next year I'll have bumper crops.

 

Blood, fish and bone for anything shrubby when planting. Also for foliage promotion on herbaceous perennials if necessary - both in the ground and pots. I use tomato food for boosting flowering including roses.

 

Does anyone do any feeding in the winter, or is it strictly late spring to late summer?

 

I only feed in late February, before growth begins and then sometimes in June, using blood, fish and bone. It takes a few weeks to break down and become available, hence the timing, and I only feed plants that need it. I don’t feed any of my grasses or perennials.

 

Beyond seaweed stimulant for seedlings, feed (chemical fertiliser) is a no-go.
Organic methods are based around providing the essential conditions for soil life to thrive. Therefore, the supply of composted organic materials such as farmyard manure, composted waste* and leaf mould
Combined with a sympathetic regime, respect to life forms and minimal disturbance, no artificial feed is necessary.
However, if planting in 'confined ' spaces,(pots,tubs etc) where natures processes are frustrated, certain corrections need be made, with liquid or soluable forms of organic compounds, to compensate.
Seasonality is not really relevant in this beyond the scope of watering.
*research composting- materials and methods

 

I stop feeding August ,, gives plants time to toughen up before winter , also using fertiliser over winter just gets washed out the soil which is not good for our rivers etc and a waste of money.And plants are not actively growing so won’t use the feed

Spruce

 

Okay I should have mentioned for pots, as they say there is no need to feed borders, if you mulch well. Just thought I mention this as had an hour in the garden today after work and before it gets dark, so used the opportunity to feed some hellebores in pots. Fed something else to use it up, but just remembered should I have fed the Daphnes as well?

 

I think it's a little too early. Next month should be fine.

Giving plants fertiliser, especially synthetic, generally propels them to push more growth at the first opportunity, which then makes them more vulnerable to a late frost.

Having said that, I did make an exception for one of my pots myself. It's a flowering quince in a protected spot that put out leaves already, and they were looking quite clorotic (yellow), so I gave it some erricaceous feed. But I think the general rule is to start in Spring.

 

Actually, I have some questions regarding fertilisers myself.

Does blood, fish & bone affect the soil's pH in the long term? My soil is roughly neutral and I have been avoiding blood, fish & bone thinking that perhaps it would lead to a build-up of calcium (bone), which would then increase the pH. I can't find a clear answer online though, so I wonder if the effect is actually not very significant.

Likewise, even though I do use liquid seaweed fertiliser (which is alkaline) for my roses, I sometimes add a bit of iron to it to make up for any change in pH. I don't know if I am also overthinking it though, especially in this case - I would think that the effect of a liquid feed would be more likely to be just temporary.

 

Cannot give you

Cannot give you an absolute answer, for it would take longterm experimentation but reason that it is a balance between micro soil organism population and and plant activity levels coupled with losses due to harvesting and water cycling. Nature likes a balance.

 

Volcanic rock dust

I have been reading up on this and to my surprise most say it’s a waste of time and money to use in the garden.
Any one used and think it’s good to use and you can see a difference in plant growth etc

Spruce

 

Many UK soils are clay,or have a fair % of clay, which is mineral rich from millions of years of rock erosion and blending in sedimentary layers unlike many 'new' soils which may lack minerals found in volcanic rocks. These clay based soils tend to be highly fertile; its breaking them down, or , really, building them up, as they can be really small particles, into manageable soils and ensuring permeability through addition of carbon in the form of compost/humus to allow aerobic conditions to support life, regulate water and air content.
A living soil.Feed the soil not the plant
Certain trace elements such as sulphur or selenium may be needed for certain crops.
Basalt fines ,from quarrying, have limited use and are troublesome to store, cannot be piled too high and form slurries readily when wet. Agriculture is commonly offered this material at little or no cost, even with free transport and spreading to 'relocate' it. To be able to promote it, even receive payment for it is a 'winner winner' situation. Cynical maybe, but true.
How to Remove Your Carbon Emissions as an Individual - UNDO Carbon

 

Bearing in mind my nearest volcano is not exactly just around the corner it doesn't sound very environmentally friendly.

No, never tried it.

 

Seaweed for treeferns. Seaweed and palmfocus on palms. Growmoor around the garden as i got 20kg bags for £2. Bfb and a splash of miracle grow too.

Rockdust . According to Canadian soil scientist i follow on youtube says its a waste of money .?

 

I'm sure you missed one out there.