Make Your Own Organic Fertilizer

As you begin Organic Gardening, you soon realize the need for organic fertilizers. You want to enrich the soil so that you get the best yield possible, but you really don’t want to buy all of your organic fertilizer. Instead, you decide to make your own organic fertilizer. How can you do it?

Your soil conditions will determine, to some extent, the type of organic fertilizer you should make, so you will want to have it tested. The following, however, is a basic organic fertilizer you can make.

You will need a 5 or 10 gallon container to mix your fertilizer. An old bucket will work well.

Ingredients for 13 Quarts of Organic Fertilizer

* 2 quarts of bone meal - at garden centers – boosts phosphorous
* 1 quart of kelp meal + dried seaweed – pricey, but important
* 8 quarts of organic seed meal +“ byproduct of vegetable oil + dry - can be stored many months in tight container.
* 1 quart of dolomitic lime
* 1 quart of finely ground agricultural lime

Directions for Using Organic Fertilizer

Before planting your organic garden, spread your organic fertilizer evenly over the area to be planted. Top it with finished compost, and then plant.

Light feeders like carrots and onions will need about 2 quarts of organic fertilizer and 1/4 inch or so of compost for every 50 feet of garden. Heavier feeders like corn and tomatoes will need about 3 quarts of organic fertilizer and 1/2 inch of compost for every 50 feet of garden.

During the growing season, plants other than light feeders should receive a sprinkling of organic fertilizer around the plant every 3 to 4 weeks.

Earthworm Compost As Organic Fertilizer

An earthworm compost pit is simple to make, and easy to maintain. The earthworms are already there, ready to work for you, and will make wonderful organic fertilizers.

Dig your pit in an out-of-the-way corner. Each day, add to your pit any kitchen scraps you have. Include egg shells, vegetable and fruit peels, and other scraps from meal preparation. Add table scraps as well. Coffee grounds are good, but dry them in your oven first so they will not mold. When you mow the lawn, add grass clippings to your earthworm compost pit. When you rake leaves, put them in the pit.

The earthworms will constantly move throughout your pit, processing the decaying food until, incredibly soon, you have a rich, black organic fertilizer to use on your organic garden.

Add compost to your organic garden in volumes of about 10 percent. That will usually be all you need to increase the health and insect repellency of trees, vegetables, and other plants.