And now, Fertilizer 101!

You may be thinking, "Wow. I don't need to know all this!"

You do if you want to understand how fertilizers work on your plants. Plants need different fertilizers at different growth cycles. I don't fertilize my Amorph tubers or my young seedlings because it may burn their root systems.

With some nutrients the nutrient values, which are expressed as NPK, seem low, like 2-1-3. And on others it can be high, for example 14-24-16. Nutrient values (N-P-K) are expressed as total percentage of weight as packaged. Organic nutrients typically tend to have lower NPK values than chemical nutrients. Don't let this fool you, you can easily burn your plants whether you overfertilize with organic or chemical fertilizers!

Powder nutrients tend to have higher NPK values than liquid nutrients because the liquids are already partially diluted with water. What really matters is how strong these nutrients are when you dilute them as recommended.

OK, what does NPK stand for?

N = Nitrogen. Nitrogen is the first major element responsible for the vegetative growth of plants above ground. With a good supply, plants grow sturdily and mature rapidly, with rich, dark green foliage.

P = Phosphorus. The second major element in plant nutrition, phosphorus, is essential for healthy growth, strong roots, fruit and flower development, and greater resistance to disease.

K = Potassium (Potash). The third major plant nutrient, potassium oxide, is essential for the development of strong plants. It helps plants to resist diseases, protects them from the cold and protects during dry weather by preventing excessive water loss.

Read up on the recommended dosage for your plants and if you are unsure, give them a more diluted fertilizer than recommended. Less is better. If your plants are heading into dormancy or are dormant, do not fertilize them at all. I fertilize my larger seedlings less often than I do my big guys. The big ones get it about every other watering and the small ones get a half-strength dose every 3-4 waterings.

These are suggestions only. Please learn what works best for you.

The learning isn't over. Next, how to pronounce and understand botanical Latin!