Composts & Fertilizers

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Q What is an organic fertilizer, and what is so special about it?
Q All the books mention John Innes compost; but it’s like mud?

Q What is an organic fertilizer, and what is so special about it?

A An organic fertilizer is basically derived from something that once lived. For instance ‘Blood, Fish and Bone’ is precisely what it says; but dried and crunched up. Farmyard manure should need no explanation! Some liquid fertilizers/feeds are derived from seaweed....

Generally speaking, they are slower acting than synthetic (man-made) fertilizers - no bad thing - and usually have a beneficial effect upon the soil, as well as feeding the plants. ‘Blood Fish & Bone’ is my favourite; the dried blood soon dissolves ready for the plant to feed upon. The fish is the next to rot down, followed by the crushed bone. A veritable three course meal for the plants to feed upon!

There are those who swear by the use of organic fertilizers. It is interesting to note that most professional growers do not use them! Organic Fertiliser article

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Q All the books mention John Innes compost; but it’s like mud?

A It often is no better than mud! When the J I Composts were first formulated - at the John Innes Institute - the soil portion of the compost was made up by rotting down turf in a heap until it became a rich fibrous loam - ‘bootiful stuff’. Sphagnum moss peat was included and also sharp sand. Nowadays, some producers simply use available ‘topsoil', and sedge peat - a far cry from the original formula which was a good, ‘open’, well drained mix. Ordinary topsoil and sedge peat tend to make for a ‘closed’ mix which is like porridge when wet and concrete once dried. I don’t know how they get away with calling it John Innes compost - because it is not.

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