Fertilizing and Foliar Feeding Feeding plants and soil in an organic garden

Compost is not a fertilizer! Decomposed organic Matter Balanced structured soil amendment Gives soil the capacity to process nutrients and moisture more effectively fertilizer provides macronutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. It may also provide micronutrients, or trace nutrients such as calcium, magnesium or sulphur. Fertilizer packs more of a macronutrient "punch."

N-P-K nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (or potash ) nitrogen is for green growth; phosphorus is for roots, flowers, and fruit; potassium is for general vigor and disease resistance.

Essential Elements Chemical Fertilizers Miracle Grow: Scotts turf builder: Osmocote: Organic Fertilizers Garret Juice: Medina Growing Green: John’s Recipe:

Why Foliar Feeding? it is 8-10 times more effective to foliar feed a plant than adding fertilizer to soil. Because plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves, spraying fertilizer nutrients on the plants – can prevent nutrient depletion, – keep leaves more active in carrying on photosynthesis, – increase seed yields.

Foliar Feeding “Rules” Ideally foliar feeds should contain a small amount of nitrogen and phosphorus to aid transport Apply foliar fertilizers with as small a mist as possible Apply the “law of little bits”: It is better to spray small amounts of material more frequently than it is to drench large amounts of material Never apply foliar feeds in direct sunlight The best time to foliar feed is between 3:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. or after 5:00 P.M. Optimum time is normally late evening to early night if the temperature is 80F or above, do not bother to spray as you will get little effect. The best temperature is around 72F or below

Organic foliar feeds Used in the Inspiration garden Garret Juice Garret Juice Foliar Feed by Garden-Ville Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Compost Tea, Molasses, Dehydrated Seaweed, Water Analysis: Total Nitrogen (N) Avail. Phosphate (P 2 O 5 ) Soluble Potash(K 2 O) “a perfect blend for all leafy plants and vegetables” John’s Recipe John’s Recipe by Natural Gardener Ingredients: Hydrolyzed and Emulsified Fish, Seaweed, Medina Soil Activator (magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate), Humic Acid and Molasses Analysis Total Nitrogen (N) % Available Phosphate (P205) % Soluble Potash (K20) % Nitrogen source, soil enhancer, foodo source for microbes

Medina Products Medina Plus Ingredients: A combination of Medina Soil Activator plus over 40 trace elements, soluble seaweed extracts, magnesium chloride, iron sulfate, zinc chloride, water. Guaranteed Analysis Magnesium ….. 0.5% Iron……. ………..0.1% Zinc………………..0.05% Stimulates, strengthens and multiplies the soil's indigenous microbes and bacteria, which in turn convert nutrients into usable food for plants. Also balances soil microflora, pH, soil structure Increases effectiveness of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Hasta Gro Plant Food Ingredients: N-P-K plant food plus Medina Soil Activator, HuMate humic acid, seaweed extracts Guaranteed Analysis: Total Nitrogen (N) Avail. Phosphate (P 2 O 5 ) Soluble Potash(K 2 O) Builds biological activity in the soil Promotes fruiting and blooming

Compost Tea Compost tea has several advantages over plain compost. It actually goes much farther than compost does because you can pour it on the ground rather than working it into the soil. Also, it fights diseases that enter plants through the leaves by fortifying the foliage of the plant as well as the inner workings. It also is easier for plants to put to use than traditional compost is because the nutrients are already broken down and easy to absorb