Table of Contents
Growing a thriving mail order garden requires careful attention to soil health and plant nutrition. Making your own homemade fertilizer is an effective, eco-friendly way to provide essential nutrients to your plants without relying on commercial products.
Benefits of Homemade Fertilizer
- Cost-effective compared to store-bought fertilizers
- Environmentally friendly and reduces chemical runoff
- Customizable to suit specific plant needs
- Easy to make with kitchen and garden scraps
Basic Ingredients for Homemade Fertilizer
- Compost or composted manure
- Banana peels (rich in potassium)
- Coffee grounds (nitrogen source)
- Eggshells (calcium source)
- Seaweed or kelp (trace minerals)
Simple Fertilizer Recipes
Banana Peel Fertilizer
Boil banana peels in water for 15 minutes. Let the mixture cool, then strain and use the liquid to water your plants. This provides potassium and other nutrients that promote flowering and fruiting.
Coffee Ground Compost Tea
Mix used coffee grounds with water in a 1:5 ratio. Let it steep for 24 hours, then strain and apply as a liquid fertilizer. It adds nitrogen and improves soil microbial activity.
Eggshell Calcium Powder
Dry and grind eggshells into a fine powder. Sprinkle around plants or mix into soil to boost calcium levels, which strengthen plant cell walls.
Applying Homemade Fertilizer
Apply your homemade fertilizer during planting or as a regular feed throughout the growing season. Use liquid fertilizers every 2-3 weeks and sprinkle dry amendments as needed. Always water thoroughly after application to help nutrients penetrate the soil.
Tips for Success
- Test your soil to understand its nutrient needs
- Avoid over-fertilizing to prevent plant stress
- Use organic ingredients to maintain soil health
- Store homemade fertilizers in labeled containers away from children
Creating your own fertilizer is a rewarding way to nurture your mail order garden sustainably. Experiment with different ingredients and recipes to find what works best for your plants and local conditions.