Fertilizers

Organic Fertilizer

At the heart of all organic growing is the art and science of fertilizing organically. Healthy soil nurtures healthy plants which generally grow better, taste better, store longer and consequently, should have increased resistance to the stresses caused by heat, cold, drought, pests, diseases, rapid growth, etc. Fertile soil is not only the first step for increasing yields and quality but also for natural pest control and season extending.

How To Get Started The best way to evaluate your own situation is to start with a soil test. We offer a Soil Analysis Report, appropriate for both commercial and homescale growers. It includes all the lab readings you’ll need to begin building your soil organically. Your field or garden is a dynamic ecosystem. The relationship between plants and living soil changes seasonally, monthly and daily. For this reason, most successful organic commercial growers regularly monitor their soil using lab tests and field monitoring tools (eg. nitrate test strips, field meters, etc., see Monitoring Tools). It is also important for homescale growers to get occasional lab tests, which can be supplemented with soil tests. See more on soil testing.

Long–Term Soil Building A successful fertilizing program addresses the soil’s long-term needs by adjusting deficient nutrients with organic fertilizers and soil amendments. We offer the largest selection of organic fertilizers in the U.S. Use your soil test and/or the general guidelines given ahead to determine which fertilizers will be of most value to you. An equally important aspect of soil building is adding a “green manure” cover crop to your crop rotation in order to build organic matter, nitrogen and biological life in your soil. See more on composting and cover crops.

Which Fertilizer? Use the Fertilizer Solutions Finder in the left menu bar within Organic Fertilizers. You will be able to quickly identify products appropriate for your circumstances. Virtually every soil will benefit from regular additions of organic matter and humus. We feel that compost (in combination with a good cover crop program) is the best material to handle this important task. By compost we mean a material completely broken down aerobically and based upon animal manures and plant residues rather than woodchips. Raw manures are not a substitute for compost. Raw manure breaks down in the soil, tying up water, nitrogen, and other vital resources in the process. It often introduces weed seeds and pathogens, loses nutrients as it breaks down, and must be applied at 4 to 5 times the rate of compost. Raw manures definitely should not be used right before harvesting a crop.

"Know Organic"

Nutrient Knowledge

Nitrogen is what plants need for vigorous vegetative growth.
If your crop needs additional Nitrogen see Bloodmeal, Cottonseed Meal, PVFS Liquid Fish, Fish Meal, Pelleted Fertilizers, Feather Meal, and others.

Phosphorus is what plants need to flower, fruit, and for root development. To supply Phosphorus, Soft Rock Phosphate is the best value. Bone Meal can also be used.

Potassium is what plants need, among other things, to establish vigor and resistance through sugar formation. To supply Potassium use Sulfate of Potash or Greensand.

Calcium builds sturdy cell walls in plants. Many soils need Calcium fertilization. In low pH soils, use Oystershell Lime or Mined Limestone which corrects not only calcium imbalances but also pH. In neutral or high pH soils, Gypsum is the material of choice, it also provides sulfur. Calcium builds sturdy cell walls in plants.

Trace minerals are as essential to plants as vitamins are to people. Almost every field we test is low in Trace Minerals. We get excellent response from soil applications of Compost, Algit Kelp Meal or multiple trace minerals (Azomite or Nutra Min). In extreme cases specific trace mineral supplements may be needed.