5 bulbs in the green and some flowering for £1 or a tray of 18 for £3, including Iris, Daffodils, Hyacinths in various colours. Come and grab yourself a bargain spring selection now.

Are you looking for cheap, organic and local fertilizers for your garden? No need to look too far away. According to an article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55(21) September 2007, human urine may be just what you are looking for. Here is the abstract:

“Human urine was used as a fertilizer in cabbage cultivation and compared with industrial fertilizer and nonfertilizer treatments. Urine achieved equal fertilizer value to industrial fertilizer when both were used at a dose of 180 kg N/ha. Growth, biomass, and levels of chloride were slightly higher in urine-fertilized cabbage than with industrial-fertilized cabbage but clearly differed from nonfertilized. Insect damage was lower in urine-fertilized than in industrial-fertilized plots but more extensive than in nonfertilized plots. Microbiological quality of urine-fertilized cabbage and sauerkraut made from the cabbage was similar to that in the other fertilized cabbages. Furthermore, the level of glucosinolates and the taste of sauerkrauts were similar in cabbages from all three fertilization treatments. Our results show that human urine could be used as a fertilizer for cabbage and does not pose any significant hygienic threats or leave any distinctive flavor in food products.”

The authors report that “Urine-fertilized cabbage plants achieved their maximum growth earlier than other cabbages; that is, the cultivation time may be shorter in urine-fertilized cabbages. If the cultivation times were to be shorter, then the land use could be more effective” (Pradhan et al 2007, 8661) and that “The use of urine fertilizer could reduce the demand for industrial fertilizer to some extent, which would reduce the environmental pollution released during fertilizer manufacture and transportation.” (Pradhan et al 2007, 8662)

The study was done in Finland where, the authors write: “The use of urine fertilizer is not very common, but it is increasing in some areas of Finland.” (Pradhan et al 2007, 8657)

Warning: you must dilute urine. There seems to be different views as to how much to dilute. Julie Williams recommends that you dilute urine to 10-15 parts water to 1 part urine for application on plants in the growth stage and that you dilute to 30-50 parts water to 1 part urine for use on pot plants.

References

Pradhan S. K.; Nerg A. ; Sjöblom A. ; Holopainen J. K.; Heinonen-Tanski H. (2007) Use of Human Urine Fertilizer in Cultivation of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)––Impacts on Chemical, Microbial, and Flavor Quality, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55(21); pp. 8657-8663. DOI: 10.1021/jf0717891

Snow at King Billy playing fields this morning. May not get to do some gardening after all!

Remember not to fertilize ornamental garden plants that appear to be well and productive. Overfertilization, most especially too much nitrogen, leads to overly succulent, weak growth and can encourage pests like scales and aphids.

Cold and windy here in Cottingham but the sun is shining which is a blessing.

Had a new shipment of Green Jem products in including loppers, single handed shears, secateurs, axes, adjustable rakes and trowels, twine, shovels, latex gardening gloves, trugs for £3.99 each in black which are really nice. Come and have a look if you are in the neighbourhood, new stock arriving all the time. Great bedding plants and shrubs, bulbs and seeds. If you need to brighten up the garden now come and see our garden centre at Discount Plants Garden Centre, Park Lane in Cottingham. Just ask for Derek.

Glorious sunny day and the greenhouse has started warming up! Lots of new plants and shrubs in and everything is coming into a vibrancy of colour.

Our website address has just been published in the Cottingham Times so we hope for a few new visitors to the website and more importantly to the garden centre down Park Lane in Cottingham. It's funny how many people see our sign on the way to other garden centres and then end up becoming regulars even though they never knew we existed! LOL

We have a whole new range of Green Jem products coming to our store soon and will try and update the products page on the website when they arrive.

Thank you to all our paid advertisers on the website and those visiting the site for your support in keeping independent traders alive in Cottingham.

The terrible winds forecasted to rip through Britain haven't been to bad in Cottingham as yet. It's been very dark weather with heavy rain at times but the wind has been much lighter than winds last week so far when I had to replace two panes of glass in the main greenhouse.

Plenty of Primula polyantha red variety in stock at only 50p each. Really beautiful bedding plant.