Fertilizer depends on what you plan to grow. Root crops and fruiting plants have different requirements then leafy greens. A few inches of good organic compost is much better then those "even number" fertilizers which are only salts and kill the microbes in the soil that plants rely on. For roses Vitax Q4 should be mixed with the soil prior to planting and then used as an annual dressing every Spring. With flowers and vegetables it should be applied prior to planting. Vegetables should be top dressed with Vitax Q4 once or twice during the growing season.

A good layer of organic compost will supply your plants with everything your plants need to grow strong and healthy. Blood meal, fish emulsion, seaweed are excellent sources of supplemental fertilizer if there is some obvious deficiency. They are now available in powder & pelleted form. However, many herbaceous perennials prefer a lean soil over a rich fertile soil. An outstanding all-purpose fertiliser, Q4 Pelleted Fertiliser is a favourite amongst experienced gardeners and a ‘must have’ product. The peat is medium age, light brown colour, and provides excellent aeration and water holding capacity.

Vitax Q4

The ideal situation is to have the best of both worlds: an organic-based fertiliser with enhanced nutrient content which includes all of those plant nutrients that are required in smaller amounts, but are nonetheless essential for plant growth and performance. I should also mention that ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons and camellias need specific fertilisers; they are fussy feeders and cannot cope with the high nutrient levels of general fertilisers.

OK not exactly 6000 miles, but we have the Atlantic Ocean between us. You're profile says Cumbria, UK, I'm a Yankee. Often those synthetic fertilizers will cause an unnatural growth spurt (like taking hormones) but will flop over because of undeveloped root system. Of course all solid fertilisers need to break down in the soil to release their nutrients; organic fertilisers do that slowly. So what if you want to supply readily available nutrients to your plants to get them going and give them a real boost? Some plants, such as tomatoes, are greedy feeders and need topping up with nutrients throughout the season. In these instances you use liquid fertilisers: ones that you dilute in water and apply. The nutrients are in solution and are therefore readily available to the plants. An outstanding general purpose fertiliser, supplied in easy to use, pelleted form, Vitax Q4 has been a firm favourite with both amateur and professional gardeners for many years. It contains all the plant foods and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit. Apply 200 g/m2 (6 oz/sq yd) before planting in soil. Spread 35 g/m2 (1 oz/sq yd) as a regular feed at 3-4 week intervals.Contains all the vital plant foods and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit Synthetic fertilizers have long-term negative effects. Synthetic fertilizers kill beneficial microorganisms in the soil that convert dead human and plant remains into nutrient-rich organic matter. Nitrogen- and phosphate-based synthetic fertilizers leach into groundwater and increase its toxicity, causing water pollution. Fertilizers that leach into streams, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Synthetic fertilizers increase the nitrate levels of soil. Plants produced from such soil, upon consumption, convert to toxic nitrites in the intestines. These harmful nitrites react with the hemoglobin in the blood stream to cause methaeglobinaemia, which damages the vascular and respiratory systems, causing suffocation and even death in extreme cases (when blood methaemoglobin level is 80 percent or more). Synthetic fertilizers damage the natural makeup of soil in the long term. Plants that grow in overly fertilized soil are deficient in iron, zinc, carotene, vitamin C, copper and protein. As plants start into growth, after the dormancy of winter, it’s time to think about feeding to get the best results from your garden in the coming season. Winter rainfall (we’ve certainly had our fair share of that in the UK) washes soluble nutrients from the soil which can leave them in short supply for plants at a critical time. Insufficient nutrients mean slower, weaker, growth which can result in disease and fewer flowers. You will undoubtedly be planting some new shrubs and perennials too; these need the right nutrients in the soil to get them going, so using the best fertiliser at the time of planting is important. Apply before planting or for established plants, in early spring. When top dressing, apply evenly to the soil surface beneath the leaves and branches of the tree. Apples, Pears, Plums: 175 g/m2 (5 oz/sq yd). Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries: 140 g/m2 (4 oz/sq yd). Strawberries: 70-100 g/m2 (2-3 oz/sq yd). Some products may be delivered straight to your door from one of our suppliers and these products will be labelled within the product description.

Using soil improvers like composted animal manures means it's not necessary to do a second application of chemical fertilizer such as Growmore in the same year. Can anyone else agree that Growmore or Vitax Q4 are good fertilisers that do what they say and feed your plants consistently well? Vitax Q4 won a Which? Best Buy award because plants produced better growth and more flowers than with other fertilisers during trials. I didn't say you are lying to me, I said I'm receiving conflicting advice. If you are correct, you are saying the others are lying. Thanks for all your replies and advice, particularly Bamboo for a straightforward answer relevant to the question.

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Originally developed for use as a base fertiliser in John Innes composts, and still approved for use in John Innes formulations, Q4 has proved an extremely versatile fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of crops. Vitax's TraditionalQ4 Universal Compost is ideal for all year round growing of bedding, pot plants, hanging baskets and tubs produced from graded Irish Moss Peat. In addition to being an ideal top dressing for salad crops and ornamentals, Q4 is the perfect base fertiliser for use in both loam-based and soil-less composts. Use 140 g/m2 (4 oz/sq yd) before sowing and planting, or for established plants as an annual dressing in the spring. Chrysanthemums: Apply 200 g/m2 (6 oz/sq yd) before planting in soil.