A drop of the good stuff

Just like us, plants need a regular supply of good food in order to grow and thrive. KG editor Steve Ott takes a look at some of the more natural ways we can provide them with a square meal

- Steve Ott

Growing crops in a veg plot or in pots is quite intensive and demanding on soil and plants alike. We drive them hard and expect a lot from our little patches. Of course, gardeners have known for centuries that in order to keep those harvests coming year after year we have to give something back in return in the form of quality sustenance.

After years of using what some would say is a heavy-handed approach – ladling on high levels of man-made feeds – the trend now is to adopt practices which are much more in tune with nature, using products made from natural materials, whether bought in or made at home, and to combine this with a softly, softly approach to the soil. It’s less about digging and more about encouraging the soil’s natural qualities and the flora and fauna that call it home to maximise yields without causing problems to the environment.

HOME-MADE MIRACLES

Of course, gardeners have added well-rotted manure, garden compost and leaf mould to their soil for a very long time. These bulky organic materials only need to be added every year if the soil needs a great deal of improvement – for example, on heavy, sticky clay or very free-draining sandy soil. These natural materials do contain valuable nutrients, but are just as important for their ability to improve the texture of the soil and to top up levels of friendly fungi, bacteria and other bugs. Soil improvement happens by virtue of the humus in the rotted material, which acts as a kind of glue. It sticks the tiny particles together into larger crumbs, allowing water to drain yet to remain coated around the lumps where the roots can find it and air can permeate in between allowing the roots to breathe.