[Goldfinger]

I have a bit of each left over from the last two growing seasons (went a bit daft in my first year  ), and was wondering which is best for which veg, do I only need one type?

Or is this a daft question, (Do they do basically the same job, (got the same nutrients etc))??

This year, should I only get one fertilizer, or a bit of each??

[Yorkie]

FBB is essentially an organic version of growmore.  They are slow-release balanced fertilisers.  Chicken poo is higher in one element - nitrogen, I think (could be wrong) so will be used in a more targeted way.

Potash stimulates flowering
Phosphorus for roots
Nitrogren for leaves

[mumofstig]

FB&B and Growmore are basically the same, just that Growmore is non -organic.
The pellets are higher in nitrogen, good for brassicas/other greens.

so I use FB&B on everything but the brassicas, they have pellets.
The OBs use Growmore for everything  

So it's all a matter of choice....................................


sort of snap Yorkie

[sunshineband]

and to add a little bit --- I use chicken pellets for leeks when I plant them out as well 

[Auntiemogs]

I'm glad you asked that GF, I have often pondered over that one.  Another mystery solved!  Thank you guys.

[Goldfinger]

At least I know what NOT to buy when I do run out....

Growmore!  - basically a none organic FBB?     

[Ian_A]

I use chicken pellets for most things and fbb for brassicas and leeks.

And I buy shedloads of them when they are on offer in our local garden centre

[gazza975526570]

I use chicken pellets for most things and fbb for brassicas and leeks.

And I buy shedloads of them when they are on offer in our local garden centre

Yeah me too - chicken pellets are the main thing i use - easy to spread, fairly reasonable and always seem to do the job. Just wish the local fox didnt like them as i often find his muck left where i have put them!!

[Salmo]

NPK Levels in Natural Fertilisers 
                              N Nitrogen % P Phosphorus % K Potassium(Potash) % 
Bloodmeal                               12                        0                                    0       
Bonemeal                                3.5                      18                                   0
Hoof and Horn                        12                         0                                    0
Fish, Blood & Bone                   6                          6                                    6
Chicken Manure Pellets            4                        2.5                                 2.3

Bloodmeal - quick release nitrogen for top dressing
Bonemeal - slow release, some nitrogen and lots of phosphorus.
Hoof and horn - slow release nitrogen
FBB - quick release nitrogen and slow release nitrogen and other nutrients
Chicken manure - same as FBB. Good use of waste from intensive chicken farms.

The source of fish in FBB is sometimes questionable. It may be organic but if tons of sandeels have been scooped out of the oceans just for fertilizer do we really want to use it.

[stompy]

The source of fish in FBB is sometimes questionable. It may be organic but if tons of sandeels have been scooped out of the oceans just for fertilizer do we really want to use it.

I agree to a certain point but what do we use then?

We can use Growmore but thats none organic, or you can use BF&B and thats none ethical but you have got to make a choice and go with it or slowly but surely your crops will begin to diminish.

So the choice is either none organic or none ethical!

Great choices ehh.   

[JayG]

I think Stompy and Salmo have just about summed up the choices, although "Rooster" dried chicken manure, which over the years I have seen, and then not seen, in garden centres  claims to be approved by the Soil Association and also sourced "from Poultry farms, which follow the highest standards of humane animal husbandry." (Not quite the same thing as free-range I suspect, otherwise they'd say so, but presumably not from battery farms either.)

Their site also claims that it's now available "at all good garden centres."

http://www.rooster.uk.com/

[Salmo]

Chicken manure is probably the most ethical. Poultry farmers are not in business to produce manure.

These are of course all second best to making your own compost, using farmyard or horse manure and occasionally giving your soil a rest, which may include growing green manure.

Most soils will grow perfectly good crops without anything else. Maybe a little lime occasionally.

[stompy]

Most soils will grow perfectly good crops without anything else. Maybe a little lime occasionally.

Only for so long though, not indeffinately.

And chicken manure pellets don't give the broad range of the other 2 fertilisers!

[smeagal]

Excellent thread for the numpty grower.
How about amount to be used in containers and pots??
The instruction always give amounts per square meters but I am an old hippy who still uses pounds and ounces and feetand inches and pints and gallons.
I have never understood a dustbin being so many ltrs.
So just for me can someone interpret it into english
Thanks
Smeag

[mumofstig]

a handful per square yard is about right for most things, I find