Organic Fertilisers
Using organic fertilisers in your garden is much better for your health and the environment. However, organic fertilisers which have been purchased from a garden centre should only be seen as a short term solution for growing healthy fruit and vegetables. The long term solution is to build and maintain fertile soil by using:
- green manures
- well rotted animal manure
- home grown compost
- potash
- mulch
- crop rotation
Creating fertile soil and using organic fertilisers is essential for successful organic gardening.
Green Manures
Green manures are an excellent natural and organic fertiliser. Green manures are planted and grown to prepare the soil before planting the crop, often in winter. The fresh green manure is dug into the soil (before it has flowered) or it can be composted. Green manures:
- prevent soil erosion
- help prevent the loss of nutrients from the soil
- add nitrogen to the soil
Plants which are often used as green manures include:
- beans
- peas
- lupins
- clovers
Animal Manure
Animal manure should be well rotted before using as a fertiliser. It works best when mixed well into the soil before planting. Be careful when handling animal manure as it can contain E. coli.
Compost
Leaves, prunings, grass clippings, some weeds, vegetable scraps, and other organic matter such as newspaper can all be composted to make a nutrient rich organic fertiliser. Worm compost also makes an excellent organic fertiliser and it is very easy to create your own worm farm. A good compost heap should contain a wide variety of materials, remain moist, and be well mixed.
Potash
Potash, or sulphate of potash, improves flower and vegetable growth and helps to prevent plant diseases. It is important to add potash to Australian soils as our soil is naturally deficient in potassium. Animal manures and mulches which are commonly used are also deficient in potassium. Potash can be placed around plants as an organic fertiliser but its effects on soil quality are generally seen a number of months after its application.
Mulch
Mulch adds to the fertility of the soil as it breaks down over time. The top mulches also help retain moisture in the soil which ensures that micro-organisms remain active.
Crop Rotation
Rotating crops is beneficial to soil fertility as different vegetables leave different nutrients in the soil. A typical rotation cycle is as follows:
- potatoes
- legumes
- brassicas
- root vegetables
However, you don’t have to stick rigidly to this and so long as you don’t grow the same vegetables in the same spot year after year you should be fine.
Other organic fertilisers you might want to use occasionally include seaweed solution, fish emulsion, and blood and bone. Chemical fertilisers are sometimes added to blood and bone so be sure to read the packaging carefully before purchasing.
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3 Comments so far
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hello, we are wondering where we can buy organic soil to grow wheatgrass in brisbane please, thank you!
if you could please tell us where might sell it, thanx
I’m not really sure about buying soil. If you want to grow wheatgrass I suggest using worm compost. You could try using it on its own or mix it with soil.
I do think the best way to go is to improve your existing soil by adding organic fertilisers, as suggested above.