Seeing how there is not a board here for organic gardeners I thought I would start an organic thread. Below is a collection information I have collect over the years dealing with different types of organic fertilizers. Don't let the low N-P-K fool you. These work and work very well. Another reason there are so many listed is that an item needed for one my not be available in a given area.
First let's take a look at some of the P‑K‑N ratings of just some of these items.~Sorry I don't have the breakdown for all of the items yet. If you have a valve for an item listed that I don't have yet please advise.
Blood Meal 12‑1‑1 Provides medium to rapid availability of nutrients, mainly nitrogen (N). Often used in combination with other organic fertilizers for a more complete blend. Also used in composting as starter or accelerator .
Fish Emulsion 5‑2‑2 Medium to rapid availability of nutrients, mainly nitrogen. Good for foliar feeding. Also used in composting as starter or accelerator. Often used with seaweed or kelp for liquid fertilizer.
Liquid Kelp 0.1‑0.1‑1 Medium availability of nutrients, mainly potassium. Has many micro‑nutrients.
plant growth stimulant. Aids in protecting
plants against stress. Improves
plant health and immunity to diseases. Often used with fish emulsion.
Steamed Bone Meal 1‑11‑0 Slow to medium availability. Primary nutrient is Phosphorus (P). Promotes root growth and
seed development. Often used in dry organic fertilizer blends. Used when planting bulbs as a booster.
Composted Cattle Manure 1‑1‑1 Slow to medium availability. Soil conditioner. Also used in composting as starter or accelerator.
Cottonseed Meal 7‑2‑2 Slow to medium availability. Primary nutrient is Nitrogen (N). Often used in organic fertilizer blends. Will acidify soil. Good for use around Rhododendrons, azaleas, and other acid‑loving
plants.
Alfalfa Meal 3‑1‑2 Medium availability. Good
rose food. Supplies micronutrients and horrmonal growth promoter or regulator. Generates heat as it breaks down. Also used in composting as starter or accelerator.
Greensand 0‑2‑5 Medium availability. Primary nutrient is Potassium (K). Helps promote beneficial microbial activity. More absorbent than sand (silica), but of similar consistency. Good soil conditioner and for correcting potassium deficiencies.
Next, the formulations.
5‑10‑15 Fertilizer 2.0 lbs. blood meal
4.5 lbs. bone meal
15.0 lbs. greensand
OR
5‑10‑15 Fertilizer 8.25 lbs. alfalfa meal
4.5 lbs. bone meal
15.0 lbs. greensand
10‑10‑10 Fertilizer4.25 lbs. blood meal
4.5 lbs. bone meal
10 lbs. greensand
OR
10‑10‑10 Fertilizer16.75 lbs. alfalfa meal
4.5 lbs. bone meal
10.0 lbs. greensand
2-3.5-2.5 Fertilizer1 part bone meal
3 parts alfalfa hay
2 parts greensand
2-4-2 Fertilizer4 parts coffee grounds
1 part bone meal
1 part wood ashes
2-4-2 Fertilizer1 part leather dust
1 part bone meal
3 parts granite dust
2-8-2 Fertilizer3 parts greensand
2 parts seaweed
1 part dried blood
2 parts phosphate rock
2-13-2.5 Fertilizer1 part cottonseed meal
2 parts phosphate rock
2 parts seaweed
3.5-5.5-3.5 Fertilizer2 parts cottonseed meal
1 part colloidal phosphate
2 parts granite dust
2.5-6-5 Fertilizer1 part dried blood
1 part phosphate rock
4 parts wood ashes
0-5-4 Fertilizer1 part phosphate rock
3 parts greensand
2 parts wood ashes
3-6-3 Fertilizer1 part leather dust
1 part phosphate rock
3 parts seaweed
3-7-5 Fertilizer1 part dried blood
1 part phosphate rock
3 parts wood ashes
3-8-5 Fertilizer1 part leather dust
1 part phosphate rock
1 part fish scrap 4 parts wood ashes
2.5-2.5-4 Fertilizer3 parts granite dust
1 part dried blood
1 part bone meal
5 parts seaweed
4-5-4 Fertilizer2 parts dried blood
1 part phosphate rock
4 parts wood ashes
6-8-3 Fertilizer2 parts fish scrap
2 parts dried blood
1 part cottonseed meal
1 part wood ashes
1 part phosphate rock
1 part granite dust
Fertilizer for acid‑loving plants, 5‑10‑15: 4.25 lbs. cottonseed meal
4.5 lbs. bone meal
15 lbs. greensand
Rose Fertilizer, 15‑30‑30:25.0 lbs. alfalfa meal
13.5 lbs. bone meal
30 lbs. greensand
This is my personal favorite I use for my fruit and vegetable gardens:2 parts blood meal
1 part fish meal
2 parts bonemeal
4 parts rock phosphate
6 parts greensand.
1/2 part kelp meal
Now I know that many here already know the following information, but perhaps some don't. So I will supply it as well.
Nitrogen (N) — Green, leafy growth and proteins, including the food proteins found in corn, beans and other vegetables, are made possible by nitrogen. It’s one of the main components of chlorophyll. Nitrogen comes from many organic sources, such as urea, or it can be man-made.
Phosphorus (P) — This nutrient promotes root growth and the development of
flowers and fruit. It strengthens stems and improves disease resistance. Two common sources of phosphorus are bone meal and rock phosphate. All forms release into the soil slowly
Potassium/Potash (K) — The flow of water in
plant cells is regulated by potassium. It’s necessary for flowering, fruiting and disease resistance. It also plays an important role in the formation of chlorophyll. Wood ash, crushed granite or sulfate of potash, a synthetic ash, are all good sources.
If there is an interest in this thread, then tomarrow I will post the
Carbon to Nitrogen ratio of common items used in a compost pile, and how with just a little effort on your part you can take a raw pile and in just 90 days turn it into black gold!
