Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Fish/Blood and Bone or Sulphate of Potash ?

AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259
in Fruit & veg

Which would you recommend for fruit bushes, please? One or the other? Both?

Thanks

Posts

  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    I'm hoping for some recommendations for feeding redcurrants, raspberries, blackcurrants (which are about the flower).

    I have both FBB and Sulphate of potash but need advice on how to use them

    Thanks a lot

  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    Thanks Philippa

     

  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Not sure about my qualfications, Phillipa but here goes...

    Plants need three major nutrients from the soil:

    • nitrogen, in the form of nitrate ions, particularly used for making leaves
    • phosphorus, in the form of phosphate ions, good for roots and
    • potassium, known as potash, important for flower and therefore fruit formation

     

    Non-organic gardeners will add these elements in the form of pure chemical substances such as calcium nitrate or potassium sulphate (=sulphate of potash) which feeds the plants alright but is soon washed away into the nearest river (where it causes problems) and does nothing for the long-term health of the garden

    Organic gardeners use 'natural' sources of these elements, in insoluble forms that will hang around in the soil and be slowly released as the material breaks down, at a rate that the plants can use them.

    Blood fish & bone is organic (in that it comes from animals but wouldn't naturally be mxed of course) and contains all three main nutrients, as well as a lot of minor ones.

    I'd use BFB, and I'd put it on now, if you haven't already, as the plants are now growing fast and will be able to use it in the next few weeks.  Soft fruit benefits from potash especially, so you could also add some of this - wood ash is a good source.

  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    Thank you Steve - the FBB has gone down and you anticipated my question 'what is an organic form of sulphate of potash' .  I have no source of wood ash (no open fire, woodburner and as an urban dweller with neighbours within feet of me I don't burn up in the garden). I wondering if biochar is an (expensive) alternative.

    I am trying to be as organic as possible and aiming to improve soil condition over time.

  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    Well, I may have found the answer - alfalfa meal. Now I just have to find out where & how

     ' ground alfalfa meal to the soil. It contains a natural plant growth hormone that will boost your plants. I’ve been using it for over 10 years. It’s just alfalfa horse pellets all ground up'

  • Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663

    AlexX

    Black Currants have a different requirement than other soft fruit as they need more nitrogen. So I would give them more BFB which should probably give them adequate potash as well.

  • AlxNicAlxNic Posts: 259

    Thanks, Invicta. The flowers are just beginning to form so I want to make sure they get what they need.

  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    ...and quite right about improvimg soil condition.  The more muck and compost you can get into it, the better.

Sign In or Register to comment.