Choose Organic: Why organic fertiliser is a must

Our aim as organic gardeners is to work in harmony with natural systems and minimise and replenish the resources our gardens consume. However, in some instances we work against nature. In a natural environment, a carrot develops a long, fat root which provides food for the plant until it produces flowers, then seeds. With its mission complete, the carrot dies and the root slowly rots back into the soil, replacing almost all the nutrients it absorbed. However, we come along and pull it out, so we need to complete the cycle by replacing the nutrients we remove. This is where organic fertilisers come in.

Synthetic chemical fertilisers force plants to produce many more amino acids than needed for natural growth. They build up in the leaves, providing a bug-buffet of nutrients, very quickly leading to a pest infestation.  They also harm the beneficial soil life that is so important for healthy plants

They are derived from living things (blood, manure, seaweed and bone) or naturally occurring minerals. They are large compounds which, when added to the soil, are broken down by microorganisms. This promotes a healthy soil population and emulates the natural process of supplying a slow, steady trickle of nutrients to the plants.

Synthetic chemical fertilisers, on the other hand, are manufactured in a highly concentrated, water-soluble form. When applied, they dissolve quickly into the soil water and the plant has no choice but to absorb them. This forces it to produce many more amino acids than it needs for natural growth. These build up in the leaves, providing a bug-buffet of nutrients, very quickly leading to a pest infestation. They also harm the beneficial soil life that is so important for healthy plants.

Even when gardening organically, we need to control pests. The first defence is prevention, which all starts underground. Healthy soil = healthy plants = more resistance. And healthy soil is full of humus. This broken-down organic matter is the “life force” of the soil, providing homes for billions of organisms, such as fungi, bacteria, algae, insects and worms. The more of these we have in our soil, the stronger our plants are.

Above ground, the more balance and diversity we plant, with a wide range of herbs and flowers to attract beneficial insects, the less pests and diseases there are. If you do have an infestation, no matter how bad it is, don’t be tempted to grab a chemical pesticide “just this once”.

They don't discriminate between a pest or pollinator, and kill off any beneficial insects in range, removing any hope of a natural predator eating the pests.

Using toxic chemicals to grow healthy vegetables is an oxymoron — these are chemicals that are harmful to humans, with exposure resulting in everything from birth defects, tumours and blood disorders to endocrine disruption and genetic changes.

 There are many natural solutions, including the following:

• To stop snails in their tracks use brass scouring wool. Tease it into long sausages and secure this around the edges of beds. Snails will not cross it.
• The simplest solution for aphids is to catch them early and simply blast them off with a jet of water.
• The least toxic method of dealing with infestations is a home-made oil spray.

Organic insecticidal oil

1 head garlic (peeled)

4 onions

1 tablespoon hot chillies

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 tablespoons grated Sunlight soap

Finely blend the garlic, onion and chillies with the oil and soap. Cover and leave for 24 hours. Seal and refrigerate.

To use: Mix 1 tbs of oil per 1 litre of water, strain and spray directly onto insects and leaves, covering both sides. It is effective on all soft-bodied insects (such as aphids and whitefly), mites and small beetles.

SOURCES: Jane's Delicious Garden by Jane Griffiths (Sunbird Publishers)

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