Soil and fertilizer when sowing and cultivating

While the seed itself usually needs little nutrition to germinate, most larger plants need more nutritious soil. In this article, we give you our best tips for soil and fertilizer for sowing and growing.

In Norway, the season for sowing and growing is short, and many seeds must be pre-cultivated – meaning you sow the seeds indoors to then plant them outside later. Pre-cultivation helps us extend the season and grow many exciting varieties, even here in the cold north. But which soil is best for sowing seeds?

Sowing soil is the best soil for most seeds. It is low in nutrients, so you don't have to worry about the roots being stressed or burned, and it is airy – perfect for the roots of the smallest plants.

More nutritious soil is needed when the seeds have germinated and have their first "true leaves," the leaves that come after the very first seed leaves. Vegetable and herbs soil is a good choice for plants you grow yourself.

TIP! If you want to avoid changing soil after only a short time, you can choose a two-part solution when sowing. Fill the bottom of the pots with more nutrient-rich soil, and add 2–4 cm of sowing soil on top. As the plants grow up and the roots grow down, the plant will get more nutrients from the soil below the sowing soil.

As they say, there are no rules without exceptions. Not all types of seeds need sowing soil in the beginning. Plants that can be sown directly in the open field, such as cabbages, peas and carrots, can be sown in more nutrient-rich soil right away – even if this soil contains fertilizer and has a coarser structure.

A couple of our soil types are safe bets almost regardless of what edible plants you are growing:

• Herb and vegetable soil
  Herb and vegetable soil is a powerful, naturally fertilized soil for growing herbs, vegetables, fruits, and berries. The soil can be used for organic growing both indoors and outdoors; in the open field, in greenhouses, pots, and in the garden. Perfect if you are going to create a vegetable garden or beds with edible plants.
  
• Natural planting soil
  Natural planting soil contains plenty of natural fertilizer and is suitable for planting most garden plants, including the kitchen garden. This one is also suitable for organic growing.

In addition to the all-rounders above, we have special soil for certain plant types, for example, tomato and chili soil – a specially fertilized soil for growing tomatoes, chili, and other vegetables in pots and planting beds.

Remember that naturally fertilized soil can smell when it has been closed up in the bag, and it is important that new air enters the soil. Open the bag, pour out the soil, and mix it thoroughly before use so that the soil is aerated.

We also have a wide and constantly increasing selection of peat-free soil, with a better climate footprint and just as good properties as regular commercial soil.

Whether you're growing in a kitchen garden, greenhouse, raised beds, or pots, your plants need nutrients to produce a good harvest. We mainly recommend two types of fertilizer for edible plants to encourage flowering of healthier plants and a more abundant harvest.

• Vegetable fertilizer
  This slow-release fertilizer, which comes in granular form, is suitable for all types of vegetables—especially good for tomato plants.
  
• Natural garden fertilizer
  Our natural garden fertilizer is an all-around fertilizer suitable for organic growing throughout the garden, well-suited for edible plants.

There are also special fertilizers for certain vegetables, such as tomato fertilizer and chili fertilizer.

TIP! Did you know that you can easily refresh the soil you have in pots, so that you don't have to replace everything before each season?

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