Organic Plant Fertilizers –
Why Natural Really Is Best

Gardeners everywhere have debated this issue for years – organic fertilizers or synthetic? It seems that many people use the familiar synthetic fertilizers without thought, and many who use organic fertilizers are absolutely fanatical about their belief that organic is the only way to go. But, what about the rest of us? You know, we gardeners who have no allegiance to a particular way of growing. We just want to grow fresh, healthy vegetables for our families, and we don’t want to spend a fortune doing it. Take a look and decide for yourself.

When synthetic fertilizers were first introduced, during what is called the Green Revolution, farmers were thrilled with the ease these new products brought to gardening. There was no need to make compost or work with manure – and crop yields doubled. In addition, vegetables grown with synthetic fertilizers were larger and looked much more beautiful. It took many years for us to realize what synthetic fertilizers were lacking.

How Do Synthetic Fertilizers Work?

First, let’s look at what synthetic fertilizers do for plants. They give the plant extra nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, the three major minerals that plants need. But, there are other nutrients, such as boron, molybdenum and other trace nutrients that contribute significantly to the nutritional value of our food. Therefore, while these synthetic fertilizers make plants look big and lush, and make vegetables grow larger, they are missing nutrients valuable to our nutrition. Many scientists believe that these nutritionally unbalanced foods have contributed to a myriad of health problems in today’s population.

In addition, these extra lush plants have an overabundance of watery tissues, which makes them much more susceptible to aphids and other garden pests. So, many gardeners buy commercial pesticides to combat this problem, causing another set of environmental issues.

In addition to the nutritionally deficient foods synthetic fertilizers produce, let’s look at what these fertilizers do to our soil. When chemical fertilizers are introduced into the soil, they look to make natural combinations with the minerals already present. Adding more and more fertilizer causes the soil balance to be disrupted, and certain minerals become over-abundant. This means that, in the long run, more and more additives must be put into the soil, so that it can grow things properly. Many chemical fertilizers use salt to carry nutrients to the soil, but salt actually leaches the soil, making it unusable over time. Plus, some of the chemicals from the fertilizers may turn poisonous in overabundance. We are only beginning to learn the harm these poisons can cause as they leak into our water systems. The bottom line is that soil that is treated with chemical fertilizers will eventually become dead, and you will find it impossible to grow with it. In addition, these fertilizers may be leaving behind chemicals that are harmful to our bodies.

The Benefits to Working with Organic Fertilizers

 Farmers have found many benefits to working with natural fertilizers. Some of the most important are listed here.

• Organic fertilizers are environmentally safe- no poisons are being put into our soil or water supply
• Organic fertilizers can restore vitamins and minerals to soils that are no longer productive due to nutrient depletion
• Natural fertilizers provide all the nutrients our plants require, instead of just the top three provided by chemical fertilizers
• Organic fertilizers feed the soil with natural microorganisms that make organic matter and nitrogen, essential to plant health
• Organic fertilizers are safe to apply, so you don’t need protective clothing, nor do you need to keep your pets away

Just What Are Organic Fertilizers, Anyway?

 If you’d like to try working with organic fertilizers, you may wonder where to start. Many people believe that they need to start a compost pile or have access to lots of manure. But actually, organic gardening is quite simple these days. Now, of course, you can make your own compost. But, if this isn’t realistic, you can buy organic fertilizers online and in gardening stores.

Organic fertilizers are made from many different things. Some are designed to add specific nutrients to the soil. This is a big benefit, as you can tailor your fertilizer to the specific nutrient needs of your plant. Other natural fertilizers are designed to provide overall plant health. Some of the most common are:

• Manure (horse, cow or chicken) – adds calcium, nitrogen and micronutrients
• Blood Meal – provides rapidly available nitrogen
• Soybean Meal – adds magnesium, nitrogen and micronutrients
• Kelp Meal – stimulates growth as well as adding potassium and micronutrients
• Fish Emulsion and Fish Meal – provides rapidly available nitrogen
• Alfalfa Meal – good overall slow release fertilizer

When you begin shopping, try comparing organic fertilizers before you make your choice. You may find different brands carry the same ingredients, but at vastly different prices. It is also wise to read some reviews to see which fertilizers have performed best on certain plants. When you’re deciding what kind of fertilizer to buy, keep in mind that organic fertilizer does not mean vegetarian fertilizer. Many organic fertilizers, like fish kelp and blood meal use animal by-products. If you’re dedicated to vegetarian gardening, you will need to look specifically for fertilizers that are labeled vegan. Vegetarians recommend using seaweed fertilizers as a substitute for blood and fishmeal. Vegan gardeners also recommend avoiding peat, as it is a rapidly decreasing resource. An acceptable vegetarian substitute is composted coconut fiber. Mushroom compost is also a popular vegetarian fertilizer. With some wise shopping, you can easily keep your organic garden vegan, but it will take some research.

As you can see, organic gardening can be a very wise choice for protecting the soil and other elements of the environment. And, organic gardening is just as easy and cost-effective as gardening with chemicals. And, one final benefit – studies have shown that once organic gardens are established, they will outperform gardens where chemical fertilizers have been used. Your vegetables may not be as big or as pretty, but they will be plentiful, more nutritious, and they will taste better, too.

About The Author

Julie-Ann Amos is a successful writer and gardener extraordinaire. Her gardening passion is displayed in her numerous articles including organic plant fertilizers, vegetarian fertilizer, and the downfall of synthetic fertilizers. Her articles offer healthy advice and new insights for better organic planting.