Information about fertilisers available at the Trading Store.
This information is correct at the time of adding (spring 2014) and we will do all we can to keep it up-to-date. We hope this information will make it easier for you to decide what to buy before you visit.
For more detailed information on rates of use for particular plants we strongly recommend you consult the RHS website (click here)
BONEMEAL - a slow-release source of potash for fruit bushes, bulbs and anything which needs to develop flower-buds for next year. Too slow release to be an ideal source of potash for tomatoes and peppers, though - unless incorporated into the planting soil very early on. ORGANIC
CALCIFIED SEAWEED - A soil conditioner, especially useful on heavy clay soils. Helps with retaining mosture and nutrients. Contains lime; do not use where potatoes are to be planted. ORGANIC
FARMYARD MANURE - a composted manure supplying plenty of nitrates for leafy growtgh, as well as lesser amounts of other nutrients. Very good soil-conditioner and helps to retain moisture. Use as a mulch (eg for blackcurrants or asparagus) or incoporate when preparing the soil. Do not use anywhere you are planning to put in root crops like carrots, parsnips etc (it will make them fork) but excellent for potatoes. ORGANIC
FISH, BLOOD AND BONE - A feed which will provide a balance of nutrients over a season. the dried blood gives quick nitrate boost for fast growth, while the fish and bonemeal release phosphates and potash throughout the season. Good as a general purpose feed when preparing soil, or as a top-dressing for established plants like gooseberries or redcurrants. ORGANIC
GARDEN LIME - as well as helping correct excess soil acidity, lime releases nutrients locked into the soil. Also deters fungal diseases. use when preparing the soil for brassicas or the onion family. Do not use for ground which is to grow potatoes, raspberries or runner beans. Do not apply at the same time as manure. OK FOR ORGANIC GROWING
GROWMORE - a rather old-fashioned concentrated fertiliser in granular form. Reasonably quick release, supplying nitrates, potash and phosphates. Not a good choice for wet clay soils where is can become too concentrated and damage soil structure (use pelleted chicken manure instead) . INORGANIC
HOOF & HORN - A slow-release high-nitrate fertiliser which will feed plants for an entire season. Ideal for crops which need nitrates for lush leafy growth over a long period - for example brassicas, perpetual spinach, blackcurrants. Work into soil during preparation or add as a top-dressing. ORGANIC
PELLETED CHICKEN MANURE - a sterilised, low-odour form of chicken manure. Medium-speed release of a balance range of nutrients - more potash and phosphates than farmyard manure. Ideal for heavy clay soils where it will result in a better soil structure than the use of concentrates. ORGANIC
POTATO FERTILISER - A concentrated fertiliser in granular form specially balanced for potato growing. Use when preparing the soil for planting. Use with care in clay soils; an organic alternative like manure will usually give better results. INORGANIC
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA - A quick-release high-nitrate feed to encourage leafy growth. Use with great care in heavy clay soils. INORGANIC
SULPHATE OF IRON - Not a plant food. Corrects excess soil alkalinity for acid-loving plants eg blueberries and, to a lesser extent, raspberries, runner beans and potatoes. Use with care. INORGANIC
SULPHATE OF POTASH - A concentrated high-potash food for fruiting and flowering plants. Do not use on plants which you don't want to run to seed, like brassicas or spinach. Best worked into the soil during preparation or used as a top-dressing on fruit. Use with care in heavy clay soils. INORGANIC
SUPERPHOSPHATE - A concentrated quick-release source of phosphates, often one of the hardest nutrients to supply. Use - with care- in potting compost to stimulate root growth. Older gardeners swear by it for carrots. Use with care in heavy clay soils. INORGANIC
For more detailed information on rates of use for particular plants we strongly recommend you consult the RHS website (click here)
BONEMEAL - a slow-release source of potash for fruit bushes, bulbs and anything which needs to develop flower-buds for next year. Too slow release to be an ideal source of potash for tomatoes and peppers, though - unless incorporated into the planting soil very early on. ORGANIC
CALCIFIED SEAWEED - A soil conditioner, especially useful on heavy clay soils. Helps with retaining mosture and nutrients. Contains lime; do not use where potatoes are to be planted. ORGANIC
FARMYARD MANURE - a composted manure supplying plenty of nitrates for leafy growtgh, as well as lesser amounts of other nutrients. Very good soil-conditioner and helps to retain moisture. Use as a mulch (eg for blackcurrants or asparagus) or incoporate when preparing the soil. Do not use anywhere you are planning to put in root crops like carrots, parsnips etc (it will make them fork) but excellent for potatoes. ORGANIC
FISH, BLOOD AND BONE - A feed which will provide a balance of nutrients over a season. the dried blood gives quick nitrate boost for fast growth, while the fish and bonemeal release phosphates and potash throughout the season. Good as a general purpose feed when preparing soil, or as a top-dressing for established plants like gooseberries or redcurrants. ORGANIC
GARDEN LIME - as well as helping correct excess soil acidity, lime releases nutrients locked into the soil. Also deters fungal diseases. use when preparing the soil for brassicas or the onion family. Do not use for ground which is to grow potatoes, raspberries or runner beans. Do not apply at the same time as manure. OK FOR ORGANIC GROWING
GROWMORE - a rather old-fashioned concentrated fertiliser in granular form. Reasonably quick release, supplying nitrates, potash and phosphates. Not a good choice for wet clay soils where is can become too concentrated and damage soil structure (use pelleted chicken manure instead) . INORGANIC
HOOF & HORN - A slow-release high-nitrate fertiliser which will feed plants for an entire season. Ideal for crops which need nitrates for lush leafy growth over a long period - for example brassicas, perpetual spinach, blackcurrants. Work into soil during preparation or add as a top-dressing. ORGANIC
PELLETED CHICKEN MANURE - a sterilised, low-odour form of chicken manure. Medium-speed release of a balance range of nutrients - more potash and phosphates than farmyard manure. Ideal for heavy clay soils where it will result in a better soil structure than the use of concentrates. ORGANIC
POTATO FERTILISER - A concentrated fertiliser in granular form specially balanced for potato growing. Use when preparing the soil for planting. Use with care in clay soils; an organic alternative like manure will usually give better results. INORGANIC
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA - A quick-release high-nitrate feed to encourage leafy growth. Use with great care in heavy clay soils. INORGANIC
SULPHATE OF IRON - Not a plant food. Corrects excess soil alkalinity for acid-loving plants eg blueberries and, to a lesser extent, raspberries, runner beans and potatoes. Use with care. INORGANIC
SULPHATE OF POTASH - A concentrated high-potash food for fruiting and flowering plants. Do not use on plants which you don't want to run to seed, like brassicas or spinach. Best worked into the soil during preparation or used as a top-dressing on fruit. Use with care in heavy clay soils. INORGANIC
SUPERPHOSPHATE - A concentrated quick-release source of phosphates, often one of the hardest nutrients to supply. Use - with care- in potting compost to stimulate root growth. Older gardeners swear by it for carrots. Use with care in heavy clay soils. INORGANIC
