Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Your soil has already been amended and is rich in nutrients and organic materials.

You will use fertilizers as a finishing touch on the garden, like seasoning a good meal.

A light boost of nutrients every two to four weeks is all you'll need to keep your garden performing at its peak.

Organic fertilizers are easy to use and are available in several varieties and for various applications.

Types of Liquid Organic Fertilizers

Liquid fertilizers make it easier for the plants to absorb the nutrients. Because you are spraying the plant and the ground, plants absorb through both their roots and leaves.

Liquid organic fertilizers like seaweed extract and compost tea are especially good for vegetable plants that need an extra boost for flowering and producing vegetables.

Kelp is high in the micronutrients and growth hormones that plants need to produce flowers.

You can prepare your own liquid organic fertilizer by mixing manure or compost with water and using a spray container to apply.

Commercial varieties are available for trees, lawns, vegetables and flowers. They are derived from bat guano, earthworm castings, and a variety of natural minerals. Follow package directions carefully for mixing and applying.

When to Apply Liquid Organic Fertilizers

Flowering and fruit-bearing plants need a foliar spray when they are first transplanted and again when they are setting fruit.

Give them a boost during extreme temperatures and drought as well. A biweekly spray for leaf crops keeps them producing abundantly.

Early morning and early evening on days when no rain is expected and temperatures aren't expected to jump too high are the best times to apply the fertilizer. This allows the plants to absorb the liquid and prevents burning.

Mixing and Applying Liquid Fertilizers

Mix according to package directions. Add a scant ¼ teaspoon of a mild liquid soap or coconut oil per gallon of mix.

This surfactant will help the liquid stay on the leaves and not drip off or bead up on the leaves.

If possible, measure the pH of the mix with pH strips. It should have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 for best results. You can add a few drops of vinegar to lower it or a small amount of baking soda to raise it.

Add your mixture to a clean sprayer, hand-held bottles or tanks. Set the spray to emit a fine spray.

Never use a sprayer that has been used for herbicides or pesticides. Spray upper and lower parts of leaves, until spray runs off leaves. The underside is most important as that is where the leaf's pores are located.

Practicing organic methods of gardening starts with preparing your beds with good, organic soil and planting healthy organic plants.

Round out the season with a few doses of organic fertilizer and you're on your way to a healthy, bountiful harvest of fruits, vegetables and flowers.

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