Grow Your Own Magazine

Could anyone tell me please, what you would use blood, fish and bone for? For example, which plants would benefit most from it, brassicas, legumes or roots... and would you rake it in a couple of weeks before sowing/planting, or when about to fruit or, for example, when a cauli is forming its head? Is it a source of nitrogen? It might seem daft but I've already bought some, knowing that it might be of use, but there are no instructions on the packet. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

Blood, fish and bone is an old general purpose fertiliser. It's not particularly high in nitrogen so is not really beneficial to fast growing leafy crops. I believe it was mainly used as a top dressing either around established plants such as fruit bushes or on new beds a few weeks before planting. Growmore is an alternative. I'm surprised there are no instructions on the pack, Nowadays there is so much writing, instructions and warnings it's a job to work out what the stuff is.

I have also noticed a lack of instructions on both growmore and blood, fish and bone. Plenty about treating the soil 2 weeks before planting, but nothing about using it as a feed on plants which are actively growing. I just put a small amount close to plant and scratch it in to the soil and water well, I hope that is right but haven't killed anything yet!

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

I like to dress my onion and leek beds with it before planting it is a long lasting slow release fertiliser.

Hello Blackcatlois. Blood , fish and bone is a general purpose fertiliser. Like the others, you can rake it into the soil before planting, or dust it around plants part way through the season for a boost.
It is favoured by organic growers who don't want to use fertilisers which are chemically based such as growmore. Hope that helps.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

It was as near as they could get to a balanced fertiliser ie equal portions of the three main nutrients (N) Nitrogen for leaf growth (P) Phosphate for root growth and (K) Potassium for fruit and flowers. It is still used because it is organic, slow acting and works!
Growmore was a cheap inorganic balanced fertiliser brought out during WW2 for the 'Dig for Victory' campaign.

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

but what plants benefit from blood fish and bone fertiliser???

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I've been using blood fish and bone when planting flowers, shrubs and the like for years now. I sprinkle a little around when preparing the bed, and into the hole when planting something new. I'm new to veg growing, but sprinkled around the new bed as I would have for flowering plants and it certainly hasn't done any harm! I read lots of warnings a few years ago re 'mad cow disease' but I've never suffered any harm and my plants all love it so I shall carry on using it regardless, it's great stuff and organic!

I've got a bag of the stuff and not sure what to do with it. My plants are all nice and healthy so not sure they need the extra fertilisation. Would it be good to sprinkle it around my pumpkins and courgettes? Or should I wait unti autumn / winter and just dig some into the bare veg plot?

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If somethings not broken, don't fix it!

Its usually used as a dressing in the spring and I think it would be wasted to add it in the autumn to bare soil. Better still to wait til the following spring and apply it as a topdressing when preparing seedbeds just before planting! Thats my view anyway!

PS The Nitrogen content would have vanished by the spring anyway!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I agree Snadger (well for flowering plants anyway) - a quick sprinkle in spring as you plant - or into the hole as you plant. But maybe doesnt have the correct nutrients to allow veg to fruit up? I used it as a top dressing before planting, but wouldnt use it as a feed during the season.