Mixing specialist fertilisers
At the Trading Store you can buy the ingredients that go to make up specialist fertilisers, and have a go at mixing your own for particular purposes. It's ever so easy - all you need is a set of scales. This chart is taken from one which has been pinned to the shelves at the Trading store right from the first day! We thought you might find it easier to use if it was on the website.
The basic ingredients are sulphate of ammonia, a source of NITROGEN,, super phosphate, a source of PHOSPHORUS, and sulphate of potash, a source of POTASSIUM. These are the major ingredients of plant foods; all are available by the kilo from the Trading Store at very modest prices. Click here to go to the Trading Store page.
In the 'ADVICE AND INFORMATION' section there is an explanation of how plants use these 'big three' foods. Click here to go to it.
Plants also need small amounts of trace elements, such as iron, boron and magnesium, but these are usually plentifully available in local soils. If you are growing plants in containers in peat or coir-based composts, you'll need to supply these trace elements, and are better off using a liquid feed which contains them.
In the 'ADVICE AND INFORMATION' section there is an explanation of how plants use these 'big three' foods. Click here to go to it.
Plants also need small amounts of trace elements, such as iron, boron and magnesium, but these are usually plentifully available in local soils. If you are growing plants in containers in peat or coir-based composts, you'll need to supply these trace elements, and are better off using a liquid feed which contains them.
The numbers in the columns refer to the 'parts' of each ingredient used i.e. the proportion. You can mix as much as you wish, from a few ounces to a sack full.
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Food for:
General garden stuff Potatoes Brassicas (cabbage etc) Root crops Peas and beans Tomatoes Chrysanths & Dahlias Carnations Roses |
Sulphate of Ammonia
5 parts 3 parts 2 parts 1 part 1 part 2 parts 2 parts 2 parts 2 parts |
Super phosphate
6 parts 4 parts 3 parts 4 parts 3 parts 3 parts 4 parts 3 parts 4 parts |
Sulphate of potash
2 parts 1 part 1 part 2 parts 2 parts 2 parts 1 part 1 part 4 parts |
Weigh the ingredients out and mix very well together. For example, if making your own potato food, you might use 300g Sulphate of Ammonia, 400g Super phosphate, and 100g Sulphate of Potash - or 3oz, 4oz, and 1oz respectively for a smaller quantity in Imperial measures.
In general, apply to the ground at approximately 100 g per square metre or 4oz per square yard, when doing the final soil preparation. Alternatively, you can mix with water at either 1oz per gallon or 2oz per gallon ( 25g or 50g per 5litres) and water on soil round the growing plants, taking care not to splash the foliage. Use the more dilute version if watering on dry soil, and the stronger solution only if the soil is already moist.
In general, apply to the ground at approximately 100 g per square metre or 4oz per square yard, when doing the final soil preparation. Alternatively, you can mix with water at either 1oz per gallon or 2oz per gallon ( 25g or 50g per 5litres) and water on soil round the growing plants, taking care not to splash the foliage. Use the more dilute version if watering on dry soil, and the stronger solution only if the soil is already moist.
