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Writer's pictureKayla Kurkowski

Blood Meal

Updated: Feb 14



What is it?

Blood meal is a byproduct of slaughterhouses and is essentially dried animal blood. It is a water-soluble fertilizer that can be applied as a liquid. Its addition to soil increases nitrogen levels very efficiently. Nitrogen levels tend to fluctuate readily in soils, as many plants are heavy feeders of nitrogen. This is particularly beneficial if your planting beds are used year after year and are susceptible to nutrient depletion. Feeds vegetable plants that are heavy feeders of nitrogen. Such plants include asparagus, broccoli, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, melons, peppers, pumpkins, squash, and tomatoes.


How to use it?

A good baseline application rate of blood meal is one cup for every twenty square feet, but a soil test is necessary.


Before adding blood meal, identify the qualities of your existing soil. By analyzing your soil with a good soil test kit, you can find out the nutrient content and pH level.


Blood is best applied in spring to ensure the proper growth of vegetables, flowers, and plants. The good thing about blood meal is that you only need to add a little to reap its benefits.


There are two ways to add blood meal. You can mix it directly into the top inches of the soil or dilute it with water before adding it. Make sure to read the package instructions to find out which one is recommended by that particular company.


If you think the soil needs more, feel free to increase the amount, but it's always better to not overdo it. Remember, excess nitrogen can burn plants at their roots.


Benefits?

There are many known benefits of using blood meal for growing stronger roots and encouraging greener, healthier blooms. Above all, it is an affordable, organic option that serves as a quick nutrient-booster of nitrogen. Here's why gardeners love blood meal:1. Rich Source of Nitrogen


Bone meal provides a rich, consistent source of nitrogen to the soil and the plants. High nitrogen levels can increase the acidity of the soil, which is excellent for crops like squash, peppers, radishes, and onions. If you have a vegetable garden, your soil will need nitrogen rapidly to nourish the roots. Therefore using blood meal and bone meal together can be highly effective.2. Improve Soil Quality


Another great benefit of blood meal is that it helps balance and heal the soil. During the growing season, your gardening bed can quickly run out of essential nutrients as the plants need it. Once you add blood meal, the soil returns to its natural balance and continues to nourish the roots.3. A Lush, Attractive Garden


Gardeners notice a visible difference in the greenery of their plants after blood meal enrichment. High in nutrients, blood meal fertilizer helps produce incredibly lush, plentiful, and deep-green foliage. Blood meal is ideal for adding a long-lasting depth of color to your green space. And who knows, that might just beckon colorful birds and butterflies as well! Blood meal is even better for vegetable gardens with greens like kale, Brussel sprouts, and lettuce. These veggies are nitrogen-hungry and require this nutrient for plant growth.4. Balances out Nitrogen to Carbon Ratio


If you're using compost piles for soil enrichment, you can add blood meal to equalize the carbon to nitrogen ratio. The brown material in the compost, like wilted, dried leaves, paper or straw, all contain carbon. Using blood meal ensures a balanced dose of nutrients to the soil and plants.

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