The Fishy Facts Behind Fish Meal

Okay, okay, so the facts behind fish meal are not really all that fishy,  but I couldn’t resist!  The truth of the matter is, fish meal is an excellent, all organic fertilizer that has been used for many, many years on nitrogen hungry plants.  Fish meal is made from either the whole fish body or the bones and internal organs of a variety of fish including salmon, tuna, and herring.  Many of these fish are used by the food industry, and the “leftover” parts can be dried, extracting any remaining fish oil, and then ground up into a fine powder.

It is a quick release fertilizer, offering high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus.  Nitrogen will help your plants grow strong and healthy, while phosphorus will assist in helping your plants mature early and grow vigorously.  It also contains some trace elements, which are needed to control your plants’ metabolic functions.

Great as an early season fertilizer, fish meal is a good soil conditioner and is great to use in new vegetable or flower beds because it will help in root development.  Most fish meal fertilizers will last for 6-8 months, providing the majority of its benefits early on.

A Few Recommended Brands:

Dr. Earth Premium Fish Meal

• Includes seven strains of beneficial soil microbes
• Good for use on vegetables, flowers, trees, and shrubs
• Fast release fertilizer that will feed for a long time
• High in trace elements
• Beneficial to all types of plants
• Contains Dr. Earth’s Superactive soil and seed inoculant

Grow More Fish Meal

• Supplies slow release nitrogen, phosphate, and amino acids
• Includes trace amounts of potash
• Stimulates vigorous growth and deep green coloring in your plants
• Long lasting
• Offered in 3lb, 10, lb or 50 lb bags

Planet Natural’s Organic Fish Meal

• Strong, natural source of nitrogen
  
• Uniquely processed to retain maximum nutritional value without using high temperatures or synthetic chemicals
• Assimilates quickly by plants
• Can help “green-up” your lawn
• Good for flower and vegetable gardens and rose-beds

Not So Fishy After All

Honestly, the benefits of fish meal are pretty clear–not really anything fishy about it!  Nitrogen, phosphorus, trace minerals…check!  Strong, vigorous plants…check!  Deep, green coloring…check!  You can’t go wrong!  Until next time, take care and happy gardening!