Types of fertilizers

[Dianaalice]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie as you will gather from my question! How do you prepare beds for peas and beans also for cabbages etc. Will a general fertilizer like Growmore be sufficient or do I need to use chicken manure pellets? (which I have already).

I would like to prepare the soil now and then cover with polythene to warm it up.

In a couple of beds I have already dug in some green manure ie. mustard seed, will these beds be OK for the beans and peas.

Thanks for any replies.

[Thelma Sanders]

Have you dug in mustard seeds or the grown plants?

[Chippy Minton]

My understanding would be:

• Either or but not much advantage in using both
• Too much won't help as the plants won't use it
• I like chicken poop but Growmore got us through the Dig for Victory
• Manure / compost is good as it helps the structure of the soil helping to hold the fertiliser in and make it available to the plants (or did I make that up )
• Don't do it too early otherwise the glorious British rainfall will wash a lot of the nutrient away

For cabbages trample the soil down, they like a firm soil around their roots.

Someone of more years experience will hopefully come along and correct / agree with me later

[Dianaalice]

I grew the plants from seed late last year and it covered really well, have dug it in yesterday after a couple of frosts had got it. Was hoping I could put peas and beans in in the spring.

[Snadger]

BFB (Blood,Fish and Bone) which is an organic feed was the predecessor to National Growmore which was developed for cheapness.
During the war, and for some years after, cheap chemical fertiliser called collectively 'artificials' were used in abundance to help feed the nation.
Growmore is a balanced fertiliser (7-7-7) as is BFB. The difference is ,BFB has slow release elements, particualrily the bone meal which gives slow release nitro and phosphate.The blood is a quick release nitro and pottasium along with the fish meal which is nitro/phosphate I think.

These days balanced artificial fertilisers are old hat as fertiliser with high levels of any of the three base elements (NPK) is much preferable for treating specific shortages and not wasting or causing overdoses of un-needed nutrients. Slow release inorganic fertilisers are also used.

Me personally, I stick with BFB,chicken manure from my own chooks and Comfrey tea from my own comfrey.
If the soil is in good nick with plenty of organic matter very little fertiliser is required.

[Bigmallly]

I agree with Snadge...a bit of BFB or chicken pellets at the time of planting plus with Brassicas I sprinkle a little lime around the plant.

[Two_Sheds]

I would like to prepare the soil now

but fertilisers don't prepare the soil: they feed the plants. If there aren't any plants in the ground, you're just wasting your money. Rains will wash the goodness out

chicken pellets at the time of planting plus with Brassicas I sprinkle a little lime

You're liming twice then. Chicken pellets are on the alkaline side, so you don't need lime as well. Bonus !