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Blue grain is probably one of the most controversial fertilizers sold on the market. The blue-colored beads, hence the name, represent a so-called multi-nutrient fertilizer that combines all the necessary nutrients in a ready-made mixture and greatly simplifies the application compared to conventional fertilizers. However, the artificial fertilizer may only be used for certain plants, since the composition is simply too strong for many plants or leads to nitrite pollution.
composition
Before you can use Blaukorn, you should first know about the composition. This fertilizer is the first chemically produced fertilizer that was developed by the BASF group in 1927 and combines the three basic nutrients in a ready-made mixture.
These are:
- Nitrogen (N): important for plant growth, regeneration and pest resistance
- Phosphorus (P): important for flower and root formation and photosynthesis of the plant
- Potassium (K): important for the water balance, disease and weather resistance and strong plant tissue of the plant
The combination of these important nutrients make blue corn the first form of the so-called NPK or NKP fertilizers; special ready-to-use fertilisers, which are available either as granules in various grain sizes or in liquid form. In addition to the three main nutrients, blue grain usually has the following two additives.
Blue Grain as Fertilizer
- Magnesium: regulates the energy balance of the plant and has a positive effect on photosynthesis
- Sulfur: optimizes the use of nitrogen by the plant and helps in the formation of numerous enzymes and vitamins
The typical blue fertilizer for agriculture can be found under the following names.
- Nitrophoska: 15% N, 5% P, 20% K, 2% magnesium and 8% sulfur
- Nitrophoska special: 12% N, 12% P, 17% K, 2% magnesium and 8% sulfur
These are completely unsuitable for use in the home garden and should never be used for this. The only variant of blue grain that is suitable for your garden due to its composition is marketed by Compo under the name "NovaTec".
The composition as follows:
- 14% N, 7% P, 17% K, 2% magnesium, 10% sulphur, zinc and boron, slightly different mixtures are possible
A special feature of this product is the incorporated 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate, which works as a nitrite inhibitor, preventing the accumulation of nitrate in the soil for a period of up to ten weeks. Blueseed is a chemically manufactured mineral fertilizer that, if used in excess, will quickly burn plants, making it such a controversial fertilizer. In addition, due to the way it is produced, it must not be used in organic gardens, as it disturbs the ecological balance there.
Tip: NovaTec is also often offered for professional horticulture as Entec, although it is the same product.
fitness
For which plants is blue grain suitable?
Since blue grain has a high nutrient composition, only certain groups of plants may be fed with the fertilizer. It is often said that actually all types of plants can be supplied with the fertilizer, but as an example, nasturtium suffers from the use of blue grain, as do poppies or bog plants. For this reason, it is important to know which plant species can benefit from the fertilizer and make sufficient use of the nutrient mix. It should be noted here that taxa with high energy requirements in particular like to be supplied with blue grain over a short period of time. The following types can be mentioned here.
Blue grain as fertilizer for the lawn
Plants in the vegetable patch
For this, the blue grain is most commonly used. Since many vegetable plants sprout quickly after the winter and should produce high yields, the use of the complex fertilizer can be worthwhile due to its direct effect. The following species in particular are catered for.
- Cauliflower (bot. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)
- Tomatoes (bot. Solanum lycopersicum)
- Broccoli (bot. Brassica oleracea var. italica)
- Beetroot (bot. Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)
- Endive (bot. Cichorium endivia)
- Potatoes (bot. Solanum tuberosum)
- Onions (bot. Allium cepa)
- Lettuce (bot. Lactuca sativa var. capitata)
- Kidney beans, including pole and bush beans (bot. Phaseolus vulgaris)
- Lamb's lettuce (bot. Valerianella locusta)
- Spinach (bot. Spinacia oleracea)
- Peas (bot. Pisum sativum)
- Radish (bot. Raphanus sativus var. sativus)
- Kale (bot. Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.)
- Brussels sprouts (bot. Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
- Cucumbers (bot. Cucumis sativus)
- Carrots (bot. Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
- Kohlrabi Brassica (bot. oleracea var. gongylodes)
- Parsley (bot. Petroselinum crispum)
replanting plants
Reblooming species are plants that usually flower two or more times a year and therefore require a higher supply of nutrients. The blue grain provides an additional energy boost in summer, which allows the plants to sprout faster. These include the following in particular.
- numerous types of roses (bot. Rosa)
- Lady's mantle (bot. Alchemilla epipsila)
- Delphiniums (bot. Delphinium)
- Fine Ray Asters (bot. Erigeron)
- Cranesbills (bot. Geranium)
- Ornamental sage (bot. Salvia nemorosa)
- Globeflower (bot. Trollius europaeus)
Evergreen and nutrient-requiring garden plants
Depending on the nutrient requirements of evergreen species, they benefit from the benefits of the blue grain. You should pay attention to the respective taxa, because not all evergreen species require many nutrients. An example is Rhododendron (bot. Rhododendron), which does very well with fertilizer. An example of said garden plants are taxa of the currant (bot. Ribes) and cherry laurel (bot. Prunus laurocerasus).
Nutrient-requiring potted plants
If you want to supply potted plants such as angel's trumpets (bot. Brugmansia) with the fertilizer, this can also be done. For this, however, the grains must first be dissolved in water and administered. However, the following applies here: the more nutrients the plant needs, the more beneficial blue grain can be used, but the dosage must be slowly introduced depending on the species.
Blue grain is a chemical mineral fertilizer
Plants sensitive to salt
Believe it or not, plants that are sensitive to salt can be perfectly fed with the blue grain fertilizer. This is because the potassium is not present in the fertilizer as a chloride, but as a sulphate, which does not have a negative effect on the roots. Of course, the dosage has to be right here, otherwise they will definitely die.
Nutrient-requiring onion plants
When species such as tulips (bot. Tulipa), crocuses (bot. Crocus), hyacinths (bot. Hyacinthus) and daffodils (bot. Narcissus) want to bloom in spring, they need sufficient nutrients over a short period of time. For this reason, the blue granules are particularly suitable as the first basic care for the onion plants.
Please note that the fertilizer is only suitable in the garden, greenhouse or in liquid form for potted plants. Indoor and balcony plants should never be fertilized with blue fertilizer, as this would immediately salt the substrate and either let the plants die or burn them.
Tip: Blaukorn is often offered for strawberries (bot. Fragaria) and lawns, but the success rate varies greatly. For some gardeners, the fertilizer works wonders, while for others, even with the right dosage, the lawn will burn and the strawberry plants will die; therefore, you should refrain from using the fertilizer on these garden plants.
application
In order to be able to use Blaukorn correctly, a few things must be observed so that the artificial fertilizer does not pollute the soil. A big advantage of NovaTec is the low phosphate content. Today's gardens tend to be over-fertilized and this nutrient in particular is in abundance, which can make using blueseed in the right dosage even more environmentally friendly. Its use is particularly recommended when a plant suffers from a lack of nutrients and is about to die. Then the energy boost works wonders.
Spread blue grain in the bed
The application as follows:
- Timing of the first fertilization: spring during the vegetation and growth phase
- then every 4-6 weeks
- Above all, potted plants without drainage must wait at least four weeks before the next fertilization
- if fertilizer is applied too quickly, salts from the fertilizer are deposited
- this leads to burning of the roots
- fertilizer is never used on hot, dry days
- the soil should be slightly moistened
- spread the grains over the moist soil according to the manufacturer's suggested dosage
- never distribute directly on the trunk or main shoot, but with some distance
- never spread on visible roots
- fewer seeds are used for potted plants
- the fertilizer does not have to be worked into the soil
- after spreading, the earth is heavily moistened so that the grains are more easily decomposed
- then always water sufficiently, especially on warm days, as this allows the salts to spread more effectively in the soil
- never fertilize young plants with blue fertilizer
Tip: carry out a soil analysis before using Blaukorn, because this shows exactly whether the use of the fertilizer is worthwhile.