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Feeding with complete organic garden
fertilizer prior to sowing or planting out is good practice even in
fairy well-composted soil and in addition to nitrogen and potash, it
supplies the phosphorous so frequently lacking locally and so essential
for good germination, root growth and maturity. About one-third cup per
sq. m. is enough for most crops but peas and beans can take a little
more — up to half a cup.
Alternatives to complete organic garden fertilizer are:
Complete organic plant foods (usually
well balanced with phosphorus)
Animal manures which arc also excellent
(except for carrots and parsnips, where they should not be used
directly, but only 'second-hand' from a previous crop).
Fresh horse manure, and to some extent
cow manure, have only a low percentage of phosphorus compare to
nitrogen, so except for leaf crops they need balancing with
superphosphate or fowl manure.
Heap fresh animals manure for a few weeks before using. The amount
needed to give appreciable benefit would 7-10 L per sq. m. of soil and
about half this amount if using fowl manure. However, reasonably well
weathered or partly decomposed horse or cow manure can be piled 3-4 cm
thick as a surface mulch.
Spent mushroom compost is also an
excellent soil improver and contains a good balance got plant foods —
use it as a surface mulch or lightly knead it into the surface.
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