14 Organic Fertilizers and How to Use Them

[@GardeningInCanada]

As a soil scientist I am watching this in love. Everyone needs to care about their soil ❤️

[@bobrobertsNotUrBob]

as they say, a farmer farms plants, an organic farmer farms the soil. words to live by.

[@angelikaszabo1962]

Hey Ashley! Funny meeting you here! Lol!

[@Greenskies321]

I have a few Aquaponics setups and I use their waste in a compost tea and add to soil after. Best fertilizer method I’ve ever done so far

[@GardeningInCanada]

@@angelikaszabo1962 HAHAAH oh heyyyy

[@GardeningInCanada]

@@Greenskies321 I use my fish tank water for my house plant religiously

[@icouldjustscream]

I like sheep poop outside and worm poop inside. I just realized how weird that sounds, but you all are my garden-family so you get it. ♥

[@firstorlast340]

Same. If my sheep were pooping inside I would be very unhappy.

[@mdmust4u]

@@firstorlast340 i dont think he meant it that way

[@firstorlast340]

@@mdmust4u I'll give you a hint. I don't have any sheep.

[@camerongeorge4246]

I thought that said warm poop inside 😂

[@rachaelescober2736]

These are the ratios and some of the suggestions, if you just want to scroll. Alfalfa meal: 2-0-2 Spring suggestion Cottonseed: 6-2-1 Suggested for the fall, weed suppression Bat Guano: 10-3-1 Fast acting fertilizer, compost tea spray Kelp Meal: Many Trace minerals Rock phosphate: 0-3-0 Green Sand: Iron potassium silicate, helps bind sandy soil and loosen clay soil, and increase soil water hold Garden Gypsum: Need soil clay/salt heavy to be helpful Garden Lime: Raises ph in soil Blood Meal: 12-0-0 Fast acting and acidic Bone Meal: 4-12-0 Suggested for raised containers at the end of grow year Cow Manure: 2-1-3 Trusted source- moderate speed Chicken manure: 3-1-2 Hot, and can cause nutrient burn, compost a little bit. Earth worm casting: .5-.7-.1 Fish emulsion or bury a full fish: 2-4-0 Huzzaaahhh

[@rai55]

Here on Long Island, natives (ex: Matinecock) used bunker fish as fertilizer, among other things. I’m so excited (& honored) to try this native method, along with local sea leaves, for the first time this year 🐟🌱🙏🏾

[@patriciacole8773]

I’m loving alfalfa pellets meant for horses as a side dressing fertilizer for all my plants. They thrive. And inexpensive.

[@sparkasaurusdonna]

YAY! This is exactly the video I needed because I'm getting my garden beds ready to plant this next week (we're going to be close to 35 degrees the next two nights)

[@christimezzic8468]

This is my favorite video you’ve made. So informative and takes the guess work out of choosing fertilizers! Absolutely love your knowledge and that you share it!

[@highlandscommunityclub1160]

Thank you! How about a video on homemade fertilizer?

[@mikeemmons1079]

I got one for you dude! A scientist/hobbiest plant nerd in Canada has discovered that hot weather seeds like eggplant and peppers germinate super fast in an "Instant Pot" set to make yogurt. If you have one of those, you have a video.

[@melissasullivan1658]

I’d be curious about this as a video actually, only in a ‘but wouldn’t it basically boil it alive’ curiosity.

[@mikeemmons1079]

@@melissasullivan1658 I know, right? I am gonna see if I can find one in a thrift shop.

[@downunderfulla6001]

Great descriptions of the amendments🍺🍺

[@ahnaahna7278]

Thks so very much. I have been using organic fertilizer for first time for my Vega/herbs. I used the Holly Tone organic on some shrubs that I had to greatly prune 3 years ago, and they grew back looking vital and great. Thks for affirming the Organics. Ahna Georgia/USA

[@brentledford7306]

You can get alfalfa and chicken feed crumble from Tractor Supply for really cheap. Just make sure it doesnt have any medications added.

[@zhrob1]

What is good things are in checken feed?

[@janzebuski3559]

I always lean toward Espoma products. Thanks for going thru all the amendments- I really appreciated the explanations & indications for them! Much needed! Another great & timely video!

[@giseleg929]

Just purchased the worm castings from your website. Looking forward to putting it to use in my little balcony garden!

[@epicgardening]

Awesome! You're gonna love it!

[@rhondadavis1483]

I started my own worm bed bc of all of your instructions. So excited, and my grandkids love them as well😂

[@MrFarva85]

Kevin it makes me so happy you and Mark are KZbin garden friends. I appreciate the knowledge and content you share.

[@scroogemcduck1462]

Mark is such a great guy

[@nolanlynch2430]

Yup, Kevin and Marc are awesome!

[@johnliberty3647]

@@scroogemcduck1462 The Steve Irwin of Plants?

[@saltycat662]

I love Mark and his dad jokes lol.

[@plants4thewin]

Thank you for mentioning worm castings for those on a budget...great video as usual

[@L3fT0H4nD]

I appreciate you explaining each of these in one video for a good reference. Thanks Kevin!

[@tinam9844]

This was amazing information, thank you for sharing the knowledge. This will help me with my new raised beds I will be doing this year and years after.

[@nutritionfacts727]

Thank you so much foe this video!! Love love love explanation

[@RebeccaMartinez-nh6je]

I use Cotton Burr Compost. The plants love it.

[@125drz3]

I really wanted that 1% organic material in my garden.... I like it

[@staceymoniz]

I love that you and Mark are cross promoting each other's channels now. Living in Hawai'i I can relate to both of you!

[@enriquearredondo696]

You Sir, are the best. Thank you.

[@salehfarah]

watched this , subscribed , like , shared , bell reminder , commented ....your the man

[@ryanleblanc2925]

Made a couple buckets of Comfrey tea this year. Dumped one full bucket into the compost pile, and add a bit to my watering can for any plant I'm hand-watering.

[@delucastudios3097]

it’s a fertilizer?

[@ryanleblanc2925]

@@delucastudios3097 yes, and free :) cut it all down to the ground and steep in water or just mix the cut leaves into your compost pile.

[@delucastudios3097]

@@ryanleblanc2925 thank you

[@N3ss3s]

I don't know why I expected to have a video about organic material fertilizer, but I am happy about the info either way :D

[@Edv1718]

My dad use egg shell and shrimp shells as fertilizer and they are effective.

[@gardeningwithzachary2175]

I like gardening I live in the north and I'm growing in containers but you can still use fertilizers and mulch

[@jenniferdawson2536]

FASCINATING!

[@sarahdee374]

I'm always suspicious of the motivations when folks review sponsored products. BUT I love all Espoma products, and appreciate Kevin's guidance on use.

[@epicgardening]

This was more of a using their entire product line to educate type of approach I feel!

[@krammer6764]

I’m sure you get a lot of thank you Kevin but I would also like to share my thank you as I am new to gardening and feel like I learn something new everyday from your channel, I could even say proudly that I feel like going back to school to study Botany

[@lovelynage]

Well, I just purchased a ton of Alfalfa Hay for my guinea pigs...So, this comes on perfect timing. 😭 Guess I'm good in that department. 🥰

[@brooklync8137]

you can buy the pellets really cheap at horse feed stores 50lb for $10 in some places

[@alphanumeric1529]

@@brooklync8137 Is that alfalfa treated with persistent herbicides?

[@nancywebb6549]

Rabbit pellets contain salt.

[@melissagoodwin2602]

Can you do a video on testing for ph and making adjustments in the soil

[@mwoods4608]

You can do like baking soda and vinegar or something I saw another video on KZbin

[@flatsville1]

Good, clear rundown on fertilizers & amendments.

[@janinebean4276]

I’d love a video about the sustainability of different kind of organic soil amendments!

[@Twinklewithin]

Can you add all fertilizers at once or do you stagger their application. Btw I appreciate how well spoken ur teaching style is

[@jksatte]

I love your blessings and my FL sand needs it.

[@naomicobacha2560]

I started container gardening in 2019 i've used espoma product.

[@trishdavi7049]

Did you, or will you do, a making your own fertilizers video? Also fertilizer compost tea....it's almost nettle season. Some of us utilize that wild weed for compost teas. Other high nutrient wild weeds would also work well & without the expense of bought ingredients

[@teresaadela1533]

My soil was so bad that most of the plants were suffering. I bought gypsum and just threw it everywhere (Lot of them). fast forward, everything is giant now (Clay soil). I didnt give any other fertilizer, but I just bought kelp meal, so I hope that helps to make fruits bigger n tastier

[@leftyrighty7682]

Keep up the great content !! Super helpful for someone just starting out. Currently have my first ever vegetable it’s a “ Viva Italia “ Tomato!! 🍅

[@nickgerding5796]

What would happen if you combined all of these in a pot and planted something in it....

[@sumaraahmad5567]

Thanks for making this comprehensive and easy to understand 💯

[@funnylaugh.1069]

Love your videos!!

[@losclaveles]

Gypsum: you correctly said sodic and then talked about salt. No, it kicks sodium off cation sites, and then the sodium combines with chlorates in the soil to make salt, which is water soluble and can be gotten rid of with heavy watering (and good drainage). The Gypsum also helps with the drainage, as sodic soils don't get together instead each particle repels the other, making it very difficult to drain. Replacing that sodium ion with a calcium ion does the opposite, the soil particles want to bunch together, thus making roomnfor water to pass/drain

[@overthenever4262]

Love yr channel bro 👍🌹👍 So ... informative !! 🌴 Thank you so much 🍀👍🍀

[@robertdaniels1442]

Great teacher man

[@FioreCiliegia]

Just make sure that if you are using guano, make sure it’s ethically sourced because in some cases it disturbs the bats greatly

[@Slayer--]

Free the woooh--a--n bats

[@crystalroberts1777]

I took notes. I’m officially a garden nerd 🤣🤭

[@cielrobinson]

2 days ago planted my potatoes with bone meal:potash at a 6:1 ratio, 1tbsp per potato. i don't know what i'm doing, but i hope it works! cats broke into the bone meal after less than 3 minutes with it on the counter

[@musaid9835]

I really needed a video like this, only know what two of them were for. Thanks!

[@KatarinaClaire]

Love this breakdown, Kevin! Super useful to have this quick analysis of the various garden amendments, their pros, cons and applications. This is going to become one of my go-to reference videos!

[@epicgardening]

Glad to hear this!

[@rhondadavis1483]

Mine too! Of course, I save most of Kevin’s (and Mark’s) videos! Thanks so much for all the explanations for the different uses. All of your videos are down to earth and easy to apply.

[@CactusCaffeine]

This is so helpful! I go to a garden center and get overwhelmed with the variety of fertilizers that is available. This is a great start. 👍🏼😃

[@madcyborg]

This is a great video!! Just got my soil test results in.. Nitrogen is low so blood meal now, Potasium was low too... end of January as snow melts will dig each hole in the weed cloth.. amend and let rain leech to make bio-available for plants this coming season... Great video... got a plan of attack in 20 mins.

[@karenlatham4053]

I wish they sold Espoma products in my area..

[@ghmichel72]

Definitely took notes, I’ve learned a lot from this video ✊🏾

[@rivkahlafille1031]

Fascinating! I use fish emulsion on everything in my garden, and I've rarely had any plants that didn't respond incredibly well to it, but unlike the rest of these fertilizers, you usually mix it with water then spray it on the leaves themselves. It's stinky but holy cow do I see tired plants start perking up in less than a day! I love love LOVE it!

[@LB-vl3qn]

Very helpful, thank you. ~ Lisa

[@daved5023]

potassium, take wood ash, then strain it with water, take water to allow to dry in the pan. there you have raw potassium. POT ASH is derived from wood ash. or was, now it comes from rock. potassium carbonate.#epicgardening great video kevin

[@dodopson3211]

Is it in a form plants can instantly use or will it need bacterial help? Also cant you just skip the "allow to dry" step and use it to just water your plants?

[@4609kathy]

Any chance you have all this written down so it can be printed out. All your information is useful, but a lot to remember.

[@ArizonaHighDesertHomestead]

Awesome video and very informative. I need to utilize this info in my future homestead plans

[@maureengaka12]

Thank you so much Kevin for constantly sharing endless amounts of information to help gardeners worldwide, keeps a lot of us motivated to grow our own food despite the challenges faced along the way!

[@kevindelk]

I don't do much cover crops besides spring and summer. I'm just going to cover with straw over the winter. How soon should I refresh the soil before spring comes around?

[@tylerg6241]

You're right, that fish head video is great. Thanks for this great info. More organic-nutrient content please :)

[@randyo6019]

So glad you’re doing this video Kevin. Gets very confusing. How you feel bout Agrothrive liquid fertilizer? I’m currently growing greens and peppers in Atlanta GA. Thanks for the tips buddy!

[@rhondadavis1483]

I’d like to know how he feels about Agrothrive as well. I’ve been using it for a year here in NC and my garden is thriving(pun intended😂) I even had my first winter garden and it did great. Of course we here in NC had a pretty mild winter.

[@jaymartinson3236]

Great video, but I wish you would have covered Espomas fertilizer mixes, like Garden Tone.

[@grannygct]

Thank you, Kevin, for your video on the various organic fertilizers. Every time I go to a nursery, I stand in front of the fertilizers shelf and not knowing which one to buy. Thanks to your video, I can now have some ideas on which one to buy. You just made me a more knowledgeable gardener in this department!!! Love and look forward to all of your videos. Happy Spring!

[@ryanissa3353]

Thank you for the vidoe.

[@amerfs4587]

Could u pls bring back garden with me

[@knotsofplants6686]

This is an excellent video, thank you so much for breaking everything down!!! Do you have a video explaining the importance of NPK?

[@angiedurbin938]

Thank you so much! This is very very informative. Love it!

[@WildflowerFarm417]

Rabbit Manure!! It's a cold manure and the creators of the manure are cute and tasty!!

[@debbietampasheher3682]

I've used epsoma for years because it's the only organic one available at my local home depot Edited a typo lol. I often forget to read what I typed before clicking send!

[@sporeyourowngood9694]

great video. thanks for all the information. are you sponsored by espoma?

[@epicgardening]

Yes we work with and love them

[@gemmamorson7998]

This was bloody great! Thanks. I literally just wrote a post on NPK and plant deficiency for my Patreon.

[@kepler180]

thanks eric!

[@cherylchild]

I was waiting for you to mention horse manure. It's the only way I can justify feeding two horses for over 20-years (since I'm a terrible rider)

[@pretty95138]

very very helpful video...do you have something similar, fertilizers for container gardening? would be good to know how often and what to do for growing veggies, fruits, and flowers in pots.

[@angelikaszabo1962]

Blood meal and Bone meal is also good to deter animals! Especially cats who like to poop in my containers! Silly kittys! What is your opinion on Sheep Manure? We have it as an option here in Canada. My ex mother-in-law swears by it. I have used it in the past 3 years, but I have not had an opportunity to compare it to anything else. Love your videos! Hello from Alberta, Canada.

[@annmarieferrer8232]

I have rabbits and heard their manure is garden gold. Im just wondering what is the npk and how liberal can i be with it?

[@abagailrhea3932]

I think with rabbit and goat poo it comes out of the animal partially composted so it doesn't burn plants when you put it on, that is my understanding anyway. I would put a (gloved) handful in the planting hole then side dress with it later, maybe at the 1 month mark. Since it doesn't burn I don't imagine you can overdo it. Put as much as you want! It's free!

[@kimfleming8097]

I'm completely new to gardening, but I am growing vegetables in pots inside my apartment. I am learning so much from your videos. Always a confidence booster! Thanks

[@anthonyshea5946]

Gunna need to rewatch in early fall for bed amendment. Awesome content and very helpful!!!! Always been wondering about the fertilizers.

[@carolgibson-wilson4354]

I'm saving this. Thanks 🤗💕

[@lanifsautia]

Yasss! Finally a good video about fertilizers 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🥰

[@deniseb2571]

SO helpful! Thanks 🌱

[@redwoodninja5334]

Very informative! Thanks!

[@jma80804]

I use to use bat guano until I learned harvesting it is not a sustainable practice. Disturbances of bat habitat has cause pup loss and the abandonment of caves, a real problem in certain areas where bats are a primary source of pollination. There are plenty of alternatives.

[@bhazleton]

Would love an in depth analysis of the metal content in these products.

[@agobelle]

This is awesome! What's your thoughts on dry molasses? I've been seeing that mentioned in the citrus container communities to feed the microorganisms .

[@gtrgenie]

Dollar store sardines in water for $1. Put in planting hole. Boom 🌱💪🏾

[@queenSummerKeli]

Just the whole can per planting hole?

[@gtrgenie]

I put the whole can or split between 2 plants. Just make sure it’s sardines in water not oil or anything else. You can ask butcher dept at your local store for fish waste etc. What Kevin said regarding worm castings from your kitchen scraps, I couldn’t agree more. Great for the planet and plants. Good luck👍🏽

[@matteomerendino1942]

Yeah lets feed the fishing industry for growing plants ...why dude why haha

[@Master_Yoda1990]

@@matteomerendino1942 what’s wrong with the fishing industry, most markets sell mostly farm raised fish, not to mention asking for scraps isn’t supporting the fish industry, you’re just recycling it saving it from the landfill which is more worthwhile than making sure you’re not supporting an industry. To clarify, by markets I meant grocery store

[@matteomerendino1942]

@@Master_Yoda1990 fish farms are really bad in every aspect btw (sustainability, product health and microbio security ecc..) I dont know every reality we live in but here in southern Europe there Is no market for fish scraps. It Just doesn t exist that you Ask for the scraps so i di not thought about "only the scraps"

[@addie899]

I have bunnies and use bunny poop as a fertilizer. Works amazing! Doesn't need to be composted. I just toss in into the garden or bury it under an inch or so of dirt. My plants are super happy & have grown massive!

[@lisamelton8087]

I'll have to try that. I've heard that before. I have a free range rescued house rabbit that's litter box trained (and poops a LOT), so I'll use the "dry" poop to sprinkle on my new garden to grow his veggies. Completing the circle of life ☺🐇.

[@lwhite530]

As a new gardener I’m confused with all the fertilizers and what to buy and use for which plant and why and how and when.

[@ryanissa3353]

Most are fine. For a general use, choose an organic all-around fertliser. My favorite brand is Dr. Earth.

[@nataliakurz543]

Kevin, this was so timely !!! I just applied a little bone meal and garden tone (I saw on your channel!) before I planted corn. Now I know maybe it wasn’t the smartest with the bone meal.... it’s my first yet gardening, and you have helped and inspired so much! Thank you!

[@joepeeer4830]

ty

[@franktobar8764]

i appreciate your base information about these products. I would like to save this video to my KZbin play list, so can you open up the option to save it.

[@tigerlilly03152012]

I have so many questions.

[@brittmyzone8agarden]

Very comprehensive! Question though my neighbor has goats and I was going to ask them for the manure.. any thoughts or suggestions about using goat manure?

[@zhrob1]

From what I understand you can apply raw goat manure directly to soul as it is one of the few which will not burn a plants roots

[@brittmyzone8agarden]

@@zhrob1 thank you!

[@FabulousHealthtlc]

I grow in raised beds. Wouldn't it be nice if the manufacturers of the potting mix put a soil composition on the bags? Then we wouldn't have to get it tested. I am a veganic gardener. It's really hard to find vegan all purpose fertiliser. I'd love you to do a video on veganic food gardening. Thanks for the video - very informative - as usual.

[@fry9000]

Was introduced to Kevin through Mark’s channel. Both nice blokes (haha)

[@mariafolch8067]

Who is Mark? I keep on reading about him. I feel like I have seen him in Kavin's videos; but, can't picture his face.😏

[@fry9000]

@@mariafolch8067 Self Sufficient Me

[@mariafolch8067]

@@fry9000 🌱I don't get it!!. You are the one saying that you were introduced to Kevin through Mark's channel. So, why do you say "Self Sufficient Me"?

[@fry9000]

@@mariafolch8067 Mark’s youtube channel is called Self Sufficient Me m.kzbin.info/door/JZTjBlrnDHYmf0F-eYXA3Q

[@mariafolch8067]

@@fry9000 🌱Thanks🌱

[@DivaGardening]

Thank you for information