I'm trying to keep my stock of fertilisers to a minimum but I'm still
learning about which to use on what and when! Several gardening books say to
use nitro-chalk as a spring and summer top dressing but, what, if anything,
would do the job just as well?



One book suggests giving a feed of nitro-chalk to onions and leeks during
the growing stage but is there anything else I can use instead?.



I must admit I find fertilisers baffling but I'm learning (slowly, but I'm
learning!) To put you in the picture, what I have in the allotment shed is
Sulphate of Ammonia, Growmore, Chicken Pellets, Superphosphate, Bone Meal,
liquid Tomato food, and Lime.



I'd be grateful for any help.



Regards,

John

On 7 Sep, 16:24, "John Vanini" wrote:
I must admit I find fertilisers baffling but I'm learning (slowly, but I'm
learning!) To put you in the picture, what I have in the allotment shed is
Sulphate of Ammonia, Growmore, Chicken Pellets, Superphosphate, Bone Meal,
liquid Tomato food, and Lime.
I'd be grateful for any help.

Why nitro-chalk? Do you have acid soil? The answers you need are in
your soil. Find the ph of it, remember it can vary from area to area.
Then looks at what is growing there - you will then find out why it
grows there. Of all what you have I have only used chicken pellets and
bone meal. You are looking to have humus - a good dark healty soil.
Then rotate your crop, use crops that will nourish your soil, or
benefit from the soil after another crop. Start with that, not with
fertilisers. And if you love nature, keep organic as much as you can.

Thanks again, Helene,

I understand what you've said and will look deeper into it. I will re-read
the bit about the nitro-chalk when I can find where I got it from!

I'll also re-read your email when I have a bit more time.

I have a pH meter but, from the last reading, it's about 7 or just over.

Thanks again,

John


Why nitro-chalk? Do you have acid soil? The answers you need are in
your soil. Find the ph of it, remember it can vary from area to area.
Then looks at what is growing there - you will then find out why it
grows there. Of all what you have I have only used chicken pellets and
bone meal. You are looking to have humus - a good dark healty soil.
Then rotate your crop, use crops that will nourish your soil, or
benefit from the soil after another crop. Start with that, not with
fertilisers. And if you love nature, keep organic as much as you can.

Nitro Chalk is preferable on acid soil because the chalk neutralizes the acidity. As your soil is pH 7 or above you have a neutral to alkaline soil. Nitro chalk is excellent for brassicas and lime loving plants. Otherwise use Ammonium Nitrate which is Nitro Chalk without the chalk. Beware of incorrect advice from organic gardeners as much is based on belief and not fact. Do not use Bone Meal on a neutral or alkaline soil as it is totally ineffective. Bone Meal requires soil acid to release its nutrients otherwise they remain locked up. Also Bone Meal is a phosphate fertilizer with just a tiny amount of nitrogen so do not regard it as a nitrogen fertilizer. Regard humas as being essential for good soil structure but not as a fertilizer. Unless you are blessed with an incredibly rich soil fertilizers are essential from the start and especially nitrogen as it is washed out overwinter. I am a professional gardener with extensive market gardening experience.

To add some more useful information, Nitro Chalk is indeed a good choice for Onion and Leeks as they are lime loving ( meaning needs calcium which is either chalk or lime) An excellent alternative to Nitro Chalk is Calcium Nitrate which is lower in Nitrogen but high in immediately available calcium. Never use Sulphate of Ammonia on anything other than acid loving plants or alkaline soil as it has a very acidifying action. For phosphates use Superphosphate on neutral or alkaline soils, not Bone Meal. Don't forget Potash. Most plants use more Potash than Nitrogen and Phosphate. Sulphate of Potash is best for quick release but a base dressing of Rock Potash at the start of the season gives slow release and is acceptable to organic gardeners. For organic slow release nitrogen Hoof and Horn is a good base dressing in Spring. Optimum organic / humas content of a soil is 10% to 15%. Practice a 4 year crop rotation to minimise build up of soil pests and make use of Green manures wherever there is some free ground to fill. Lupin and Clover are aprticularly good for fixing nitrogen in the soil from their roots. They are Legumes which means they take their nitrogen from the air and then release it into the soil from the nodules on their roots. The best garden practice is a blend of Organic and Inorganic methods. For general purpose fertilizers Growmore is not the best choice. It has an acidifying action and does not provide trace elements. Far better to use Vitax Q4 which also supplies the essential 7 trace elements as well as Magnesium and Sulphur.