Q&A for How to Add Potassium to an Organic Garden

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  • Question
    What's the difference between certified organic and conventional fertilizer?
    Ben Barkan
    Garden & Landscape Designer
    Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
    Garden & Landscape Designer
    Expert Answer
    Basically, there are restrictions on the types of chemicals, the types of insecticides, and the types of fertilizers that a certified organic farm can use. Sometimes they are more earth conscious, so for example, certain pesticides would not be allowed on a certified organic farm. Usually, it's more natural, but not always. There are many exceptions and many instances where certified organic farms are less sustainable. It's not necessarily always true that certified organic farms are safer or more natural. It depends 100% on the ethics of the grower.
  • Question
    What are the ingredients and characteristics that someone should be looking for in their fertilizer?
    Ben Barkan
    Garden & Landscape Designer
    Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
    Garden & Landscape Designer
    Expert Answer
    It depends on what you're growing. If you want to grow organically, you will add quality compost and a little bit of nitrogen fertilizer. You don't need to add other things. If you're looking for a fertilizer that does everything, you want a balanced fertilizer. If you look at the front of the bag of fertilizer, there are three letters, NPK, representing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with their quantities, for example, 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. This is much more potent and a lot easier to over-apply. You have to be very careful. An organic fertilizer might look like 3-3-3 or 3-5-2. It's generally weaker and you have to generally apply more of it. What you apply is based on the requirements of your plants. Some plants want more fertilizer than others.
  • Question
    Where can I purchase any of the potassium sources from the article that are OMRI approved?
    Community Answer
    Check your local plant nursery, home improvement store, or search online for OMRI certified products.
  • Question
    Is comfrey leaf a potassium source?
    Community Answer
    Yes, comfrey leaf is a great green manure. It adds nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and works well as both a soil amendment and compost additive.
  • Question
    What will add nitrogen quickly?
    Community Answer
    Urine. Just water it down about 20:1. You could buy something at the store.
  • Question
    What could cause leaves to be yellow at the edges?
    Community Answer
    I have found chlorine in municipal water will yellow leaf tips. I make sure to let water stand a couple hours before watering to evaporate the chlorine. It tastes better too!
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