Knowing fertilisers and how to use them

Gardening care and tree surgery tips from Pollard Tree Care, Eastbourne, East Sussex

When growing vegetables, fruit or flowers in your garden it is best to give them the right nutrients in order to grow. We always recommend using your own homemade compost as this is decomposed vegetation and is a good way put back minerals into your crops. Liquid fertiliser such as seaweed is also great and this can be organic and home made. If you want to buy fertiliser pellets or pre-mixed in your soil then there is a simple guide to know what the NPK stand for and what ratios you will need.

NPK stands for three different chemicals and they all have different benefits to the plants. So you want to buy fertiliser that will encourage the plant to grow in a way that suits its purpose.

-N stands for Nitrogen. This is critical for the plants growth and reproduction. It is a major component in chlorophyll, the process in which the plants turns sugars from water and carbon dioxide. It is also what compound which gives the plant its green colour, so if you want to produce something that is leafy and green, like spinach or cabbage, this is what you will want to have more of in your fertiliser.

-P stands for Phosphates. These are very useful for your plants as they help turn nutrients into building blocks in which to grow, therefore it is essential to the plant growth. They are especially helpful to produce plants that have a large root, so if you want to grow many carrots, parsnips or other root vegetables then it is important to have sufficient phosphates in the soil.

-K stands for Potassium. The effects of potassium on plants helps them be more disease resistant, drought resistant, plants grow faster and produce more crops. They are especially beneficial for fruits and flowers and make the yields higher, brighter and bigger. If you want to add in some potassium without the use of chemicals you can use wood ash (in small amounts) and banana peels back into the soil.

Please be careful when handling and using fertilisers and always wash hands after use.