Subject: Re: HELP: Organically Adding Nutrients at Run Time

From: [email-masked] (Galena_Canada)
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 1994 17:36:22 GMT

> How can I *organically* add nitrogen or (NPK)...

Any fertilizer can be "side-dressed" after growth has begun.  Just
trickle a thin trail along beside the row, or around each plant,
over the perimeter of the root zone.  The standard cautions are
(1) don't get it directly on the foliage or roots, and (2) don't
disturb the roots.

This said, good organic nitrogen sources are cottonseed meal
(moderate), fresh manure and urine (high), and blood meal (v. high).
Caution:  Raw manure and blood will "burn" foliage -- carefully
follow rule (1)!

No need to dig it in, these N sources are quite soluble in water.
If you don't expect rain soon, water it in (this will bring rain ;-).

Be conservative when applying nitrogen: excess N leaches out rapidly
and enters the watershed where it is a contaminant -- prevent
runoff; use trap crops.

And while it may be hard to get too much N into leaf and seed crops
(spinach, corn), an excess leads to excessive green growth and poor
fruiting or root development in crops grown for these (tomatoes,
potatoes).  In other works, when in doubt, use less, not more.

In all cases, application of soluble nitrogen should be avoided on
plants being grown for transplant or being hardened-up for winter.

                                                                      /
             'Lena                                                   //
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           Avalon Farm                   [email-masked]        //
          P.O. Box 2226                                           //
        Vashon, WA  98070                  (206) 463-9733        //
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