Calculating fertiliser rates

[Forage420]

Hi everyone, if I may copy and paste the following paragraph :

The application of granular fertilisers is normally recommended in ''handfuls per square metre/yard''. If the recommendation is to spread fertiliser down a row of fruit or vegetables, you will need to convert the square metre/yard measurement to a linear one. This is not difficult: if the rows are 30cm (12in) apart, spread the amount of fertiliser recommended for a square metre/yard along 3m (9ft) of the row. If they are 15cm (6in) apart, it is 6m (18ft) along the row and so on. In this way, the correct distribution of fertiliser can be maintained.

I don't understand this, would it be possible for someone to explain it to me?

[Jimny14]

Yard = 12" x3 = 36
Sq yard =36*36 = 1296

9' = 12*9 = 108
12*108=1296

So 9 foot of a 12" wide row is 1 square yard.

PS the numbers don't work in metric as they're an appropriation not actual conversion.

[Thelma Sanders]

You have to change the area of the row into square metres and spread the required amount of fertiliser for that space along the row.
So if the allotted space for your row is 1/4 meter wide (10 ins) multiplied by the bed width 1.2 metres (apx 48 ins) you get 0.3sq m. ( Google will convert sq inches to sq m for you if necessary )

Now if the packet says a handful per sq metre then it means you need roughly a third of a handful per row. Fertilisers usually give a weight per square meter which is easier to judge than handfuls as then you can actually weigh the stuff.

[veggiechicken]

If a square yard measure s3' x 3' and the rows are 12" apart you have 3 rows x 3' = 9'
If the rows are 6" apart there are 6 rows x 3' = 18'.
The same amount of fertiliser is required whether you have 3 rows or 6 rows.

I've no idea whether this is the answer you want?

[Jungle Jane]

Take one handful of fertiliser (I don’t take a greedy handful stacked high,I use a minimal looking handful) then sprinkle it over one square meter of land,imagine a square meter of your bed,if it’s too narrow extend the spread of the fertiliser further than the meter,if unsure use less than you think to be safe. If it’s in containers i have to guess with just a pinch in a few places.

[Jay-ell]

Where is that passage from? Some old book?

You need to read the directions on the fertiliser packet to get the instructions for the one you are using - nower days these tend to use meters squared.

Which fertilisers are you using - what are the NPK values. application rate for a 2-2-2 fertiliser would be different than a 10-10-10 fertiliser.

What it means is measure the length and width of the patch you want to fertilise. Multiply them together and for each whole number use the recommended amount.

So if the recommended amount was a hand full per square meter then

my bed is 1.2m wide and 2.4m long which give 1.2*2.4=2.84 so that's almost three so I would use 3 hand fulls scattered evenly about the bed.

Another bed is 1.2 wide and 4.25 long so 1.2*4.25=5.1 square meters so I would round down and use 5 hand fulls.

If you only want to fertilise half the bed, use half the amount.

I have a row that's 30cm wide but 9m long so that's 0.3*9=2.7 so three hand fulls
If I didn't want to do the whole row, just the first 3m then .3*3=1

[Snoop Puss]

The main problem here is the notion of a handful. I have tiny hands, you may not.

So any calculations are almost meaningless. Better instructions are required.

[Bren In Pots]

Where is that passage from? Some old book? You need to read the directions on the fertiliser packet to get the instructions for the one you are using - nower days these tend to use meters squared

I'd also go with the packet instructions but I did find the book if anyone wants a read its called Organic Gardening By Geoff Hamilton

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...20one.&f=false

[Snadger]

I think the most common application rate is 35 grams per square metre with a maximum of 50 grams to the square metre.
Does this equate to a little hand and a large hand?

[Derbydal]

most of my rows are 12inch long by 7mtrs wide ! I just chuck a bit in when I put the plants in.atb Dal.

[Jay-ell]

Arrggghhh mixing your measurements. Metric a d imperial don't mix easy.

you mean 0.3m by 7m or 1' by 23'

[veggiechicken]

Derbydal - you sure you're not measuring your path???

[Chippy Minton]

Arrggghhh mixing your measurements. Metric a d imperial don't mix easy.

you mean 0.3m by 7m or 1' by 23'

Ah yes, the old Wogan quote of buying wood as 2m of 3" x 2".

The handful is one of the measures I think we should adopt for a small volume. The big volume being the Olympic sized swimming pool. Long things are measured in double decker buses or football pitches, tall things by the Nelson's Column, heavy things by the elephant ....

[Derbydal]

Derbydal - you sure you're not measuring your path???

no VC the rows about about 12inch long and7mtrs wide !atb Dal

[Jay-ell]

no VC the rows about about 12inch long and7mtrs wide !atb Dal

Surely you mean 36 barleycorns by 0.35 chains