Question from Zenna:
I am just beginning to switch to organic gardening and would like to know the best way to fertilize my garden and outdoor pots organically.  I live in Southern California about 7 miles from the ocean in Irvine.

Answer from Pat:
To fertilize organically, we first need to think of nature. Plants and animals die and fall to the ground, plants drop leaves and twigs. Birds, animals, and fishes leave droppings. All this organic waste rots and adds nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil. Rain falls and washes the nutrients into the ground. Forests burn depositing ashes which also add potassium. Pulverized rocks provide trace minerals. All together ideally in a rainy climate all these ingredients become a layer of rich, fertile soil in which plant roots find all the sustenance they need and plants flourish. Throughout history, since the advent of farming, humankind have seen how nature works and fertilized their fields with bones for phosphorus, wood ashes for potassium, manure for nitrogen, and in many cases compost for beneficial bacteria. Ancient man even discovered how to add certain ground rocks to soil that needed it, and the Indians told the Pilgrims to bury dead fishes under their corn for a great harvest. Now we have to find ways to translate these natural and historic events into things we can do as easily as possibly in our own gardens. (Beware of using wood ashes, however, in western gardens, since these add too much alkalinity to our soil which in most cases is already too alkaline. (There are other ways of adding natural potassium, such as greensand or SulPoMag.)

But going back to nature in this way requires some thought and decision-making. When we used synthetics we just went to the nursery or hardware store, read a few labels, grabbed a package of this or that bagged, granulated, or bottled liquid fertilizer and that was that. As organic gardeners, the choices are wider, but the payoff is greater. For example, many of the substances we could chose for fertilizing are actually free for the taking. (For a few ideas, please see my downloadable chart of “Generic Fertilizers and Soil Amendments” under the heading “Fertilizers” on this website. Stick it in the back of your copy of my book, since it was meant to be in there anyway. Whenever my book says “See the chart of generic fertilizers on page 28, it means this chart. The publishers regret it was left out and it will be in the next printing.) Now here are some guidelines and ideas:

Container-grown plants respond best to timed-release or liquid fertilizers. Thus it follows that the best way to fertilize your outdoor pots and do so organically is to use fish emulsion mixed with water according to package directions. Fish emulsion, in general, has always been one of the best liquid fertilizers available, and most brands are fully organic. Once you start using it, you’re likely to be surprised and pleased to see how well your container-grown plants will respond to regular applications of it. Read the label since various strengths and types are available and a few brands have synthetic fertilizers added, though of course we don’t have to be purists. (As I’ve said many times, being an organic gardener is not a religion.)

Fish emulsion is good for all container-grown plants, including succulents, and it is gentle. Don’t be too concerned about the odor because it soon wears off, though odorless types are available and these are useful for houseplants.  When mixed according to directions, it won’t burn roots. For most container-grown plants, apply the diluted fish emulsion solution once or twice a month during the growing season. Succulents in the ground need little or no fertilizer, but in pots they should be fed occasionally during the warm growing months. (See remarks on page 273 of my organic book for more on fertilizing succulents.)

In regard to plants in the ground, there are many ways to fertilize organically. I know some organic gardeners who send for a truckload of clean, aged, horse manure (horse manure that has been picked up daily by a conscientious horse owner), and have it spread it all over their garden in fall and let the winter and spring rains wash the goodness into the ground. Once again, after spreading the odor soon dissipates. One of these gardeners has often told me she finds this is all the fertilizer her garden plants ever need. One of my daughters layers horse manure with alfalfa (as described in my book) and after it composts for three months, her gardener spreads this onto the ground around plants. This is all the food they get in her established garden. Another way is to purchase organic fertilizers especially formulated for specific plants and to use them according to package directions. Some gardeners concoct their own fertilizers from generic sources. Others swear by sheep, rabbit, or aged chicken manure. All these manures are good and it’s just a matter of finding a convenient source. Homemade compost also adds nitrogen to the soil and thus acts as a fertilizer, though it is actually an organic soil amendment. The monthly chapters in my book are filled with specific suggestions, named products, and fertilizer recipes, especially for roses and specialty plants such as cymbidiums. Fertilizers are also discussed and explained in detail in the opening chapter. And once again see the ideas listed under “Fertilizers” on this website.

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