Gardening Chemicals

Growmore.

A general balanced fertiliser used as a top dressing lightly raked into soil at any time, but particularly in
early Spring a few weeks before planting.

Fish, Blood and Bone.

7-10% Nitrogen and 5-10% Phosphoric Acid. Slow release fertiliser. A soil conditioner. Apply well before
planting tender things, as can scorch roots. Dig in a light application.

Sulphate of Ammonia.

20.6% Nitrogen. Good Compost Heap accelerator when sprinkled sparingly on layers.
Assists growth of Brassicas and Potatoes. Application of 1 oz to 2 gallons of water.
Avoid foliage as liable to scorch. Tends to make soils more acid. Apply a day or so before sowing.

Superphosphate.

Full name 'superphosphate of lime'. Has large proportion of gypsum. Will NOT make soil more alkaline.
Has Phosphoric Acid ingredient. Useful fertiliser. Application at ½ to 1 oz per gallon of water.
'Triple Superphosphate' contains 2 ½ times phosphoric acid.

Sulphate of Potash.

48% Potash. Encourages Flowering and Fruiting [or growth of tubers]. Very important determinant of
flavour of fruits and vegetables.
Apply as a top-dressing at ½ to 1 oz per gallon of water. When plants or flowers established and before full
flowering. Inhibits green growth in favour of fruiting.

Bonemeal.

20 -25% Phosphoric Acid. 1-5% Nitrogen
Encourages rooting. Very slow release into soil. Must be used sparingly and well before planting. A long-term dusting in the soil.

Hoof and Horn.

1-10% Phosphoric Acid. 7-15% Nitrogen. As for Bonemeal. Slow release soil conditioner. May be used in conjunction with potting compost.

Sulphate of Iron.

Enables the take-up of essential minerals in the soil.. Can be applied where plants exhibit yellow leaf.
Application of ½ to 1 oz per gallon of water to soil around plants.

Magnesium Sulphate.

Known as 'MagSulph' or Epsom Salts. 10% magnesium. Raked around plants or spray at 2 - 3 oz per gal.

Lime.

Calcium Oxide in a slaked or hydrated version for ease of handling.

Reduces Acid content of a soil allowing bacteria to convert ammonium salts to nitrates.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and earthworms need lime to be effective. Improves Clay soils.
Discourages diseases such as Club-Root, the affect of Slugs, Leatherjackets and Wireworms.
Best applied in Autumn or early Spring by lightly raking into soil.
NEVER at same time as animal manures.
Best to apply Lime and manure in alternate years, otherwise dig in manure first and
apply lime several weeks later
Can be applied to Compost heaps from time. Lime is said to 'sweeten the soil'
Soil Tests measure the 'PH' of a soil. Neutral is '7'. Higher numbers means soil more Alkaline and lower numbers more Acidic. Vegetables would not normally thrive in soils with a PH of greater than 7.5

Cornish Grit.

Often used when potting plants as it 'keeps the soil open." Useful Slug /Snail deterrent

Bordeaux Mixture.

Copper Sulphate and Lime. Effective against Potato Blight and Fruit Tree Scab. Kills fish.

Derris Dust/Liquid.

Insecticide. Beetles, Weevils, Caterpillars, Aphids, Red Spider Mites. Deadly to fish!

Vermiculite.

Inert Cellular flakes used with potting mixtures to increase porosity.

Potassium Permanganate.

A Pesticide, Fungicide and a Weed killer. Affords some protection against Slugs and Snails. Dilute to a
faint purple shade in water and apply to soil around plants.