Basic: Prepare the Soil and Liquid Fertilizer

By urban farmer -
The medium to plant your crops contributes extensively to the success rate of your harvest.

Below is a tried and tested method to prepare your soil.

Materials you need:

  • The pot or container that you wish to plant your crops in.
  • Garden soil
  • Compost
  • Organic fertilizer
  • Plastic sheet
  • Watering can with water

Step 1: Get ready normal garden soil. Most nurseries sell them in 5 to 10 kg bags

Step 2: Get ready compost to mix with the soil. Compost improves the texture and drainage of the planting medium. Most nurseries sell them in 5 to 10 kg bags.
Fig 1. Compost

Mix 70% soil to 30% compost.

Step 3: Get ready 1/4 cup ( 200 ml cup) of organic fertilizer or about 20 pellets.
Fig. 2 Organic fertilizer
Step 4: Mix the soil, compost and fertilizer together and put them into the pot.
Fig. 3 Well mixed medium ready to 'rest' and plant crops

Water the soil well ( about 2L to 3L of water for a 20 cm diameter pot) and cover it with a plastic sheet. Leave the pot to rest for 10 to 14 days before using it for planting.
 
Below is a tried and tested method to prepare/use your fertilizer to enrich the soil throughout the whole planting cycle.
 
The organic fertilizer can be used directly by digging a hole about 5 to 10 cm away from the stem of the plant and apply about 20 pellets or 1/8 of 200ml cup of fertilizer to each plant.
 
For vegetables however, to do the above for each plant is very very time consuming. I find using liquid fertilizer and water over the plant to fertilise it a more efficient way.
 
Prepare a bucket with cover. Ideal size will be 20L. Fill the bucket with water and add 500g of the organic fertilizer. Cover and let it rest for 7 to 10 days. The pellets should break down and the water mixture turns dark and cloudy. General guide is 25g fertilizer to 1L of water for the fertilizer I use.
 
When you are ready to use the fertilizer mixture, dilute the mixture above with water, ratio 1: 20 in a watering can. Use the diluted mixture to water the vegetables. Typical frequency will be twice a week.
 
Water the vegetables with normal drain/rain/tap water after each application of the mixture above. This is to prevent residue salt to rest on the leaves of the vegeables and 'burn' the leaves.
 
 
 
 



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