Blue Grain is an artificial fertilizer that is very controversial among hobby gardeners. If you want to use it in the garden, pay attention to the composition.
Almost every gardener has probably come into contact with blue corn at some point. While some no longer want to do without the complex fertilizer, others argue about its effectiveness, especially when it comes to exotic species that require special care. The fact is that most plants and crops have to be fertilized in order for them to thrive or produce a rich harvest. You can only do without additional fertilizers if the soil is rich in nutrients. Otherwise, the hobby gardener has to help out, whether it has to be the blue grain fertilizer, which incidentally is often used in commercial horticulture, you decide for yourself.
Blue Grain Fertilizer - What is that anyway?
Blaukorn is a chemically produced complete fertilizer (reading tip: history of fertilizers), which is commercially available as granules or in liquid form. The granules are used most frequently, the small beads are colored blue, hence the product name.
Use of blue grain in the garden
Because blue grain fertilizer (blue grain for short) is a universal fertilizer, it can be used for all garden and potted plants. Theoretically, blue grain can also be used for lawn care, but extreme care is required here. If too much fertilizer is spread, the lawn will "burn"! If plants are fertilized with blue grain, make sure that no heaps of fertilizer form. In the case of an overdose, the plant can be damaged right down to the roots. Blue grain should be used sparingly, less means more (read the manufacturer's instructions carefully).
Liquid blue grain fertilizer is always "diluted" with water. The mixing ratio can be found on the bottle. Whether with granules or in liquid form, you fertilize between March and October. However, the ideal time is spring (March to May), as the temperatures are not that high and it rains more often.
Blue Grain Composition
Blaukorn belongs to the complex fertilizers because it consists of several main nutrient elementsconsists. The exact composition varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. In professional circles, blue grain is also referred to as an NPK fertilizer (N for nitrogen, P for phosphorus, K for potassium) due to the ingredients. Depending on the manufacturer, the blue grain also contains plant growth-promoting trace elements.
Complete fertilizer 12/12/17 + 2 +8 - what does that mean?
The above combination is pretty much the standard composition of blue grain. That means as follows:
- Nitrogen 12% (Nitric Nitrogen and Ammoniacal Nitrogen)
- Phosphate 12% (water soluble)
- Potassium 17%
- Magnesium 2%
- Sulfate 8%
There are now many different compositions on the market, for example combinations such as 14+7+17+2 or 21+5+10(+3+6) are possible. The latter also contains sulfur in addition to magnesium.
The ideal blue grain composition for hobby gardeners?
We recommend paying attention to the composition in the ratio 14+7+17+2. With this composition, the phosphate content that is already present in garden soils has been greatly reduced, making the Blaukorn mixture significantly more environmentally friendly.
This mixture is usually sold commercially under the name Blaukorn Novatec:
By the way, no-name blue grain fertilizer is already available for around one euro per kilogram, but you have to dig deeper into your pocket for branded products.
Blue Grain: Toxic or not?
The fact is, blue grain is an artificial fertilizer and therefore not comparable to compost. If you only want to use your garden ecologically, Blaukorn has no place there. Likewise, you should not fertilize with blue seed if children are playing in the garden or if pets are allowed to roam freely there.
With vegetables, blue grain ensures a high yield due to its composition. So if you want to bring in a rich harvest, you will gladly use this complete fertilizer. Blue grain is therefore beneficial for the growth of plants, but it is of relatively little use to the soil. If you fertilize too much and too often with blue seed, it can even happen that the soil becomes completely oversaturated with potassium and phosphate.
Warning: Don't confuse blue grain with the similar looking slug grain. In addition, you should never apply the blue grain fertilizer in an organic garden.
How is blue grain spread?
The blue grain granules are applied (ejected) by hand. Be sure to wear gloves.
- When fertilizing plants, you should make sure that the soil is as dry as possible. After fertilizingHowever, you must then water the corresponding areas well. The same applies to lawns.
- If you would like to fertilize potted plants with blue grain, it is best to use the liquid version or dissolve the granules in water.
- Blue Grain should be kept out of the reach of children! Make sure your pets don't drink from the coasters of fertilized plants!
Dose Intensity
The intensity of the dosage naturally depends on the individual needs of the plant (e.g. the growth phases in spring, fruit formation in early summer, etc.). As a rule, however, a thin scattering of the beads on the plant soil is sufficient.
Hint:
If you want to plant fresh plants in the bed in spring or autumn, you can fertilize the soil with blue grain for at least two weeks, preferably four weeks. You can then place the plants in the very nutrient-rich soil after the resting phase.
Instead of blue grain, however, we recommend working horn shavings into the planting hole as a nutrient supplier.