Jessie's Path Up, down, all around

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium. Up, Down, All Around.  This is an easy way to remember the essential nutrients your plants are looking for .  Nitrogen for vegetative growth like lettuce or grass (Up).  Phosphorus for root development like root crops and tubers (Down).  Potassium for everything (All Around).  You will see this ratio listed on most commercial fertilizers available.  Many of which promote the nitrogen and phosphorus aspect of nutrition.

These elements are just the basics, they are considered the primary macronutrients.  Plants also need other elements to achieve successful development .  Magnesium, Calcium and Iron are also key factors in garden health and the lack of can cause weakness in your plants.

The only accurate way to determine what your soil has or what it is lacking is through a soil test.  However, if this very morning you took your coffee out to the garden to take a closer look at your plants you could sleuth out some deficiencies on your own.  Are your leaves yellowing?  Do your plants have a good root base?  Is there a lot of vegetation and no flowers? Dust off your gardening books and take a look at the common deficiencies of your crops.  Do they compare? 

If you do find your plants are lacking, there are other ways to amend your soil with out depending upon salt based fertilzers which can easily burn.  The following amendments are all natural and readily available at any garden center.

Nitrogen (Up) - Alfalfa, Blood meal, Canola meal, Corn Gluten

Phosphorus ( Down) - Bone meal, Rock Phosphate,

Potassium (All Around) - Kelp meal, Liquid Kelp, Green sand

Magnesium - Dolomite lime, Glacial Rock Dust, Green sand

Calcium - Glacial Rock Dust

Iron - Glacial Rock Dust

Do you want to learn more?  Check out this article by the Guru of soil, Steve Solomon

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/garden-fertilizer-zmaz0...

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