KNOW YOUR FERTILISERS

This month Martin Fish helps to demystify the seemingly complicated world of fertilisers

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Just like us humans, plants also need nourishment to maintain healthy growth. We do this by feeding with fertiliser, which is a concentrated source of plant nutrients. When it comes to what fertiliser to use there's plenty to choose from and it's important you supply the correct type of fertiliser at the right time. For example, nitrogen is essential to promote healthy green leaf and shoot growth, phosphorus (phosphate) encourages new root growth and potassium (potash) is for flowers and fruit and also plays an important role in plant metabolism. These three nutrients, along with calcium, magnesium and sulphur, are important for healthy growth and are known as major or macro-nutrients.

Plants also need many other elements and these are known as trace elements or minor nutrients. These include iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper, zinc, and although only required in very small quantities they are essential for healthy growth and if missing in the soil or compost the plant may develop deficiencies.