Contact our office for information on soil testing. Most Long Island soils require the application of a fertilizer to grow vegetables or flowers satisfactorily. Fertilizers available today contain nutrients from chemical or organic sources and therefore give you a choice in selecting garden fertilizers. A quart mason jar holds approximately 2 lbs. The fertilizer should be broadcast before planting and thoroughly mixed with the soil.
Some vegetables benefit from a sidedressing of fertilizer during the growing season.
Care should be taken to prevent any fertilizer from coming in direct contact with the seed, as it may cause injury. It is advisable to have a nutrient test run in addition to a pH test, where this situation exists. In addition to applying a commercial fertilizer, it is recommended that animal or poultry manure be rototilled or spaded under before planting, as the best means of increasing the organic matter content of garden soils. Cow, horse or duck manure are to be preferred for garden soils, specially if the manure is well-rotted. Where animal manures cannot be obtained at reasonable cost, peat moss, leaf mold, compost or any other source of organic matter can be added.