Garden Chemicals
You may need to enable ActiveX and popups to see this page correctly.
© Hotwells & District Allotments Ltd 2007-2012
Website designed,
implemented and
maintained by
HwDAA Webmaster
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 & 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. I
nhibits 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.