Stuff a garlic bulb in April, and you'll be in for a powerful punch.
Get Your Winter Garlic and Onions Blooming!
Want those greens lush and those bulbs plump? You'll need a spot of spring nourishment! Here's a lowdown on some do-it-yourself fertilizers that'll work just as well as the store-bought mixtures.
1. Urea (Carbamide)
This is one popular choice for nitrogen. It's quick, easily absorbed, and budget-friendly. How-to: Mix 1.5 tablespoons per 10 liters of water and drizzle it straight onto the row.
2. Ammonium Nitrate
A go-to for gardening gurus, it offers a mix of fast and slow-acting nitrogen. Recipe: 2 tablespoons per bucket of water for your geraniums' first feast.
3. Ammonia (Ammonium Hydroxide)
Makes your breakfast eggs? Think again! This household item works like a charm when it comes to fertilizers. The nitrogen here? Active and ready to go! Proportions: Stir in 3 tablespoons of a 10% solution into 10 liters of water. Prepare to witness an almost instant bloom!
4. Ammonium Sulfate
This fertilizer gives you a two-for-one deal: nitrogen and sulfur. Sulfur helps in better nitrogen absorption and warding off rot. Important: Fear not, this fella doesn't hoard nitrates in fruits!
Now, when should you dump this goodness onto your plants? Around mid-April for middle latitudes. In the north, lay off the water until May starts. Key takeaway? Warm soil and green growth, baby!
And why go through all the trouble? Without nitrogen, garlic can grow feeble, with yellow leaves. With proper nourishment, it'll sprout healthy greenery and hearty bulbs.
These simple, everyday fertilizers, tried and true, are there for you. Just remember, no overdoing it, buddy! Always stick to the instructions. Enjoy your gardening spree!
Bonus Tips: Organic fertilizers like compost, well-rotted manure, pelleted chicken manure, or blood meal are fantastic for garlic. For onions, a high nitrogen fertilizer like blood meal should be your pick. Apply fertilizers in early spring and follow up once needed throughout the growing season. And hey, garlic loves loose, loamy, well-draining soil with lots of organic matter. Skip over-fertilizing with nitrogen in cold climates to avoid top growth that might suffer frost damage. Happy planting!
[Source: Garden Life Zen Channel]
- Urea, a popular choice for nitrogen in home-and-garden gardening, can be made into a do-it-yourself fertilizer by mixing 1.5 tablespoons per 10 liters of water and then drizzling it onto the row for lush greens and plump bulbs.
- The gardening enthusiast's go-to, Ammonium Nitrate, offers a combination of fast and slow-acting nitrogen. It can be mixed with 2 tablespoons per bucket of water for geraniums' first feast for a successful growth.
- Ammonia, a household item, works as effectively as store-bought fertilizers with its nitrogen content. By stirring in 3 tablespoons of a 10% solution into 10 liters of water, gardeners can witness an almost instant bloom, enhancing their gardening lifestyle.
- Ammonium Sulfate, providing nitrogen and sulfur, is perfect for improving the absorption of nitrogen and fighting off rot. It should be used without fear of it causing excessive nitrates in fruits.
Home-gardeners should apply these fertilizers around mid-April for middle latitudes and May in the north, ensuring warm soil and green growth. Although making these fertilizers is an alternative to store-bought mixtures, it is essential to adhere to the instructions to prevent over-fertilization and guarantee a healthy lifestyle for their plants.
Bonus tips for gardening enthusiasts include using organic fertilizers like compost, well-rotted manure, pelleted chicken manure, or blood meal for garlic. High-nitrogen fertilizers like blood meal work best for onions. Fertilizers should be applied in early spring and followed up as needed throughout the growing season. Additionally, garlic prefers loose, loamy, well-draining soil with lots of organic matter. Over-fertilizing with nitrogen in cold climates should be avoided to prevent top growth that might suffer frost damage for hearty and healthy bulbs. Happy planting!
[Source: Garden Life Zen Channel]
