Vegetables & Sustainable
What if I want to use commercial fertilizers?
Overview
Commercial fertilizers are available in a wide variety of compounds and concentrations. If you use manure or other organic materials the usual commercial fertilizers need is for nitrogen alone. Nitrogen fertilizers suitable for the home garden use include alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate and urea. Limit application of these materials to 0.5-1 pound per 100 square feet whenever you use them. Potassium and phosphorus may also be required prior to planting. Inorganic fertilizers that have label numbers such as 5-10-5, 5-10-10, 8-16-16 and 12-12-12 (the last two numbers indicate a percentage of phosphorous and potassium) can be applied at about 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet. You can apply fertilizer either by broadcasting it before preparing the seedbeds or in bands at seeding time......more (pdf)
Associated Links
Publications
|