When growing vegetables at home, the goal is to eat safely and healthily. But many people have trouble applying fertilizers: they are afraid of residues when using chemical fertilizers, and they are afraid of burning roots when using raw fertilizers. Are there any fertilizers that are both safe and effective? These 6 types of natural fertilizers are safe and easy to use, with a practical guide attached.
- Decomposed organic fertilizer
Organic fertilizer is the first choice for growing vegetables at home. It can not only improve soil structure, but also slowly release nutrients. The key is to fully decompose it to avoid burning seedlings and attracting insects.
Composting method: The raw materials can be plant materials such as dead branches and leaves, weeds, straw, rice husks, etc., with a small amount of livestock and poultry manure (such as chicken manure and sheep manure, which need to be thoroughly fermented), and the ratio is controlled at 3:1.
Chop the raw materials into pieces and pile them into a 1-meter-high pile. Sprinkle a layer of EM bacterial agent or rice water soaked in brown sugar water on each layer (to promote fermentation), cover with a film to keep moisture, turn the pile every 15 days, and it can be decomposed in 2-3 months in summer and 4-5 months in winter.
In terms of usage, 500-1000 kg per mu should be used for tilling before planting; during the growth period, dilute with water 10 times and water the roots once a month.
Leaf humus is a natural “nutrient soil”. In autumn, collect fallen leaves from the woods (oak leaves and sycamore leaves are preferred), mix with garden soil at a ratio of 1:1, add a small amount of sulfur powder (to adjust the acidity), put into a plastic bag and seal it, and sieve it for use after it is decomposed.
Its advantage is that it is loose and breathable, rich in humus, and suitable for planting tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other Solanaceae crops. When adding 30% leaf humus during seedling cultivation, the root system of the seedlings will be stronger.
- Kitchen waste
The kitchen waste generated by households every day is actually a good fertilizer for growing vegetables. If properly handled, it will not have odor and can reduce waste.
Rice washing water + bean dregs can fully supplement nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The fermentation method is to put rice washing water into a plastic bottle, add bean dregs (or expired soy milk, milk) to 80% full, loosen the bottle cap to leave an air hole, and place it in a dark place on the balcony. It can be done for 15 days in summer and 30 days in winter.
Add a few pieces of orange peel during fermentation to reduce the odor. The usage is to dilute it with water 5 times and water the roots. It is rich in nitrogen and suitable for leafy vegetables (such as spinach and lettuce). It is watered every 10 days during the seedling stage. The leaves are shiny and there are no yellow leaves.
Fruit peels + brown sugar can be used to make natural organic fertilizer liquid. The steps are to chop banana peels, apple peels, etc., put them into a barrel with brown sugar and water in a ratio of 3:1:10, seal and ferment for 2 months, and open the lid every week to release air during this period.
Its effect is that it contains rich trace elements and probiotics. It can enhance the disease resistance of vegetables by diluting it 20 times and spraying it on the leaves. The fruit setting rate of cucumbers and loofahs is increased by 20% after spraying.
- Wood ash
Wood ash is the residue left after burning straw and weeds. It is rich in potassium (K₂O content is about 15%) and is highly alkaline. It can be used as fertilizer and insect pests.
As soil base fertilizer, before sowing or transplanting, evenly spread the wood ash on the soil surface (50-100 kg per mu), plow into the soil, loosen the soil, prevent root rot, and is especially suitable for planting tuber crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, increasing yield by 10%-15%.
For leaf insect prevention, sprinkle the wood ash on the leaves with a fine sieve when the dew is not dry in the early morning, which can drive away piercing and sucking pests such as aphids and red spiders;
For snails and slugs, spread a 5 cm wide wood ash belt around the plants to form an “isolation zone”.
It should be noted that wood ash cannot be mixed with acidic fertilizers (such as ammonium sulfate), and it should not be applied alone for a long time to avoid soil alkalization.
- Manure
Manure has comprehensive nutrients, but it must be fully decomposed. Direct application of raw manure will burn the roots and may also carry pathogens and insect eggs.
Chicken manure fertilizer is a high-nitrogen “quick supplement”. The fermentation method is to mix chicken manure with straw and sawdust in a ratio of 1:2, add a decomposing agent, pile it into a trapezoidal pile, cover it with straw mats, and turn it over 2-3 times for 20 days in summer and 40 days in winter until it is odorless and dark brown.
Applicable crops are leafy vegetables (such as cabbage and lettuce). After planting, 100 kg of decomposed chicken manure is applied per mu, which will thicken the leaves and make them more tender.
Sheep manure fertilizer is a mild and long-lasting “slow-release fertilizer”. Its advantages are loose texture and balanced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. It can be directly mixed into nutrient soil after decomposition. It is suitable for potted vegetables (such as tomatoes and strawberries). Add 50 grams of sheep manure to each pot. There is no need for frequent topdressing during the growth period, and the fruit is sweeter.
- Cake fertilizer
The residue after oil extraction such as bean cake, vegetable cake, and peanut cake is rich in protein and trace elements, and is a high-quality organic fertilizer after fermentation.
The steps for making cake fertilizer liquid are to crush the cake fertilizer, put it into a container with clean water at a ratio of 1:5, seal and ferment for 1 month, and stir it once a week during this period.
After fermentation, take the supernatant and dilute it with 20 times water to water the roots, and bury the residue at the bottom of the flowerpot as base fertilizer. The effect is that when planting cucumbers and tomatoes, applying cake fertilizer liquid during the flowering period can increase the fruit setting rate, make the fruit flavor more intense, and reduce deformed fruits.
- Foliar fertilizer
For the symptoms of vegetable deficiency, homemade foliar fertilizer can be quickly supplemented, which is safe and efficient.
Urea + potassium dihydrogen phosphate is a universal foliar fertilizer with a formula of 0.5% urea (to promote leaf growth) + 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate (to promote flowers and preserve fruits). It is sprayed with water and is suitable for tomatoes and peppers during the fruit expansion period. Spray once every 7 days for 2-3 consecutive times, and the weight of a single fruit increases by 15%.
The filtrate of plant ash can supplement calcium and prevent cracking. The usage is to add 1 kg of plant ash to 5 kg of water, soak for 24 hours, filter, and spray the supernatant. It can prevent and treat tomato navel rot and cabbage heartburn. The calcium supplement effect is better than chemical calcium agents.
The core of growing vegetables at home is to “grow natural flavors in a natural way.” From decomposed organic fertilizers to kitchen waste, from plant ash to cake fertilizer, these natural fertilizers can not only make vegetables grow strong, but also protect the health of the table.
It should be noted that natural fertilizers are not omnipotent. When encountering serious nutrient deficiencies or pests and diseases, scientific methods still need to be combined for intervention, but always remember: less dependence on chemical fertilizers and more ecological balance can make every bite of vegetables full of the smell of sunshine and soil.
