Storing Soluble Fertilisers
Chris gives us a tutorial on how to store and look after your soluble fertilisers during the off season…
I would not be without soluble fertilisers, they are invaluable in getting the quality, colour and health for bedding plants prior to planting out and of course provide the bulk of nutrition for greenhouse crops such as Tomatoes, Peppers and Cucumbers.
To get the best value it is often beneficial to buy in bulk, but soluble fertilisers can absorb water if not stored correctly and either go very watery or crystallise making accurate dosing much more difficult, although it has to be said the nutrients in the fertiliser are seldom affected.
I find that periodically decanting fertilisers from the plastic bags they are bought in to small plastic containers not only ensures that the bulk of the fertiliser is not exposed to the air for very long but ensures that no wet measuring spoons come into contact with it either. I simply make a small cut in the bag, tip out what I need, squeeze out as much air as possible and then reseal immediately with sticky tape to keep out moisture in the air from causing spoilage. This way a bag can literally last for years.
The container you decant it into is also important, above all it should have a really tight-fitting lid to prevent moisture getting in. I have used margarine and Ice cream containers in the past, but have found that the lids do not fit securely enough to exclude moisture. This has often resulted in crystallisation of some powdered feeds in a very short time and even between weekly feeds of Tomatoes.
Over a course of a season this crystallisation can become so severe that the fertilisers can separate into liquid and crystals! – although this is in extreme cases and very much fertiliser dependant with many ammonium based fertilisers being very prone to this condition.
Elixir supply white plastic storage tubs with lids which I have used for the last couple of years to decant soluble fertilisers into. The lids fit really well, but are easy to remove when you need to. These keep soluble fertilisers in fantastic condition, even when left in the fluctuating temperatures of a greenhouse. Furthermore, they are white, so reflect light thus helping to keep the inside of the tub cool. I simply write on the outside of the tub using a plant label marker pen what the contents are going to be and fill them up!
For all my growing needs, I currently have five Elixir Bumper Crop soluble fertilisers decanted into one litre containers, Soluble Tomato Feed, High Nitrogen Feed, High Potassium Feed, High Phosphorous Feed and Early Season No1 Feed. Each I can quickly measure out with a spoon drop into a watering can add water and feed – quick and simple when your plants need a boost or their weekly nutrition.
In addition, I also have a 5-litre plastic storage bucket to keep my Elixir EX4 General Purpose Premium Fertilizer in. This is not a soluble fertiliser, but I use this for mixing into composts and for spoon feeding onto troughs of strawberries and herbs. The bucket ensures that the fertiliser stays dry, great for when you are out and about and get caught out by a heavy spring rain shower.
Chris Jones
Based in Shropshire Chris has many years experience both in growing projects of his own and passing on his expert outdoor knowledge to others through growing and gardening societies. Keep an eye on our blog posts and newsletters for his seasonal articles to keep you well informed on all things outdoors.
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