The Super Organic Gardener (using plant-based fertilisers)
IThe Super Organic Gardener is the book to show you how to grow your own food, but using plant-based fertilisers instead of ones made with animal bones or fish meal. Instead focus on good soil health with compost (keep away from pets due to mould), green manures and companion planting
Often called ‘veganic’ gardening (a blend of the words vegan and organic) you are also are not supporting factory farms. And are less like to attract rodents and other unwelcome visitors (say foxes on the hunt for garden hens).
If you share your home with animal friends, learn about pet-friendly gardens (many plants and mulches are unsafe near animal friends). And use nontoxic humane slug and snail deterrents.
Avoid netting and read tips for wildlife-friendly gardens. Also how to create safe havens for garden birds and stop birds flying into windows.
Plant-based fertilisers can cause bloat in livestock, especially if consumed in excess. So manage pasture intake for cattle and sheep in particular, and avoid high-legume or dew-covered pastures, and restrict grazing time and feed hay beforehand. Ask your vet for more details.
The main plant-based fertilisers
Clover is a natural and powerful nitrogen-fixer that converts from the air into a usable form to help plant roots. It also reduces costs for gardeners and farmers, and also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
It has deep roots for good soil structure that increases air pockets and boosts earthworm activity. While it fixes nitrogen, it often requires supplementation with phosphorus and potassium. It grows best in soils with a PH of 6 to 6.5. It’s slow to establish in cool conditions, and requires soil temperatures around 8 degrees C.
Alfalfa meal is a nutrient rich soil amendment from ground dried plants, providing a slow-release low NPK fertiliser (3-1-2) along with natural growth stimulant. It’s rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and micronutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, zinc and manganese).
It again increases soil organic matter, improves aeration and boosts microbial activity, to help break up clay and sandy soils. Mix into the soil before planting, or top-dress around base of plants. It can also be made into a tea for liquid fertiliser, common for rose and vegetable gardens.
As it’s often powdered, wear a mask during application, to avoid inhaling dust. If applied too heavily before planting, it can temporarily reduce germination rates.
Seaweed is a nutrient-rich organic plant feed derived from marine algae, that also boosts plant growth and contains natural plant hormones and macro/micronutrients (potassium, zinc, iron). It is good to help plants during drought and frost, and again improves soil health.
Sold as liquid or powder or granules, it’s lower in NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) but packed with over 60 trace elements, vitamins and minerals. It’s best applied early morning or late evening, to avoid leaf burn.
The Shropshire Seaweed Company makes a good organic seaweed fertiliser. Just fill the cap (10ml), then add to a full 5 litre (1 gallon) watering can.
Learn more on veganic gardening
Learn Veganic is an online course to show how to grow sustainable food, without animal by-products. Using permaculture principles, learn how to create good soil health, make your own compost and grow food in small pots to community gardens.
Natural Grower offers a good range of vegan-friendly fertilisers and composts. These are from a family farm of over 50 years, which found that a by-product from the anaerobic digestor (fed with non-gm maize) was a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser that was good for crops.
The PH-neutral compost is good for most crops, read their FAQ page for full details. The site has full instructions on how to use both the fertiliser and liquid fertiliser. They say if dogs are attracted to the smell, mix it into the top part of your compost, rather than using it as a mulch.
