Blue Grain: Application, mode of action & Toxicity

Learn all about how blueseed is used, the pros and cons, and if blueseed is poisonous.

Blue Grain is a universal fertilizer and contains a variety of nutrients that plants need in general. However, opinions differ on this complete mineral fertilizer. Some are completely enthusiastic about Blaukorn, others don't want to hear about it. Below is everything you need to know about blue grain.

What is blue grain?

Blaukorn is a typical artificial fertilizer made from inorganic s alts and a compound fertilizer, also known as a complete fertilizer. Complete fertilizer means that the main nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are contained, which is why the term NPK fertilizer can also be used. Nitrogen is extracted from the air industrially (using the Haber-Bosch process), potassium and phosphorus are mined in deposits. The first fertilizer of this type was called Nitrophoska and was brought onto the market by the company BASF in 1927. The advantage of mineral fertilizers such as blue grain is that they take effect very quickly. This supports the growth and flowering of the plants. A nutrient deficiency can be reacted to quickly thanks to the quick availability of the nutrients. For easier application, the blue grain fertilizer is granulated and can therefore be easily applied and distributed. Incidentally, the fertilizer is called "blue grain" because of the blue color of the fertilizer pellets.

Blue Grain Recipes

The different Blue Grain products that are available for purchase all have different compositions and NPK ratios. Cheap products often contain chloride, which can be harmful to sensitive crops. For example, potatoes, berries, beans and many other vegetable and ornamental crops are sensitive to chlorine in fertilizer.

If you want an adapted fertilization in your garden, you will not be able to avoid subjecting your soil to a thorough examination. Our garden soils are generally adequately supplied with phosphorus ifnot even oversupplied. Therefore, a high phosphorus content in a fertilizer is not absolutely necessary. A soil analysis shows you which nutrients are sufficiently available and which are still missing in your beds.

Benefits of Blue Seed

The advantages of blue grain (resp. mineral fertilizers) are the following:

• Fast Effectiveness
• No training is necessary
• Nutritional information on packaging is accurate and reliable
• Different dosage forms (liquid, solid)

Disadvantages of Blue Grain

Of course, there are also some arguments against blueseed, especially for gardeners who care about the he alth of the earth and the environment:

• Blue grain does not build up hummus
• The diversity and activity of soil life is not encouraged
• Plants can be damaged and weakened by overdosing or misapplication
• Risk of excess nutrients leaching into groundwater

So you can see that while blue grain has a few advantages, the disadvantages outweigh the disadvantages for most applications. Whether or not you use this fast-acting fertilizer in your garden is of course up to you - but it should be used carefully. After all, primarily organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic lawn fertilizer offer adequate and more sustainable options.

Fertilising with blue grain: application

Blue Grain should be used (if at all) from March to September. The granules are scattered on the ground around the plants. The application should be done on cloudy days and in rainy weather, otherwise there is a risk that the plants will be burned. Moisture is also necessary for the fertilizer to dissolve. The grains should also not be left on the plants and their leaves, as this can also lead to burns.

It is advisable to carefully scatter the grains and then pour them in. Since the nutrients from the blue grain are available very quickly, over-fertilization can quickly occur. In addition to an increased susceptibility to invasion by plant pests (e.g. aphids), there is also an increased risk that the excess nutrients in the soil solution will be washed out into the groundwater.

Blaukorn in solid form can also be dissolved in water for use, but you should be careful when mixingbe careful. Two to 3 g of blue grain are sufficient for 5 liters of water. Since the grains are often difficult to dissolve, you can leave the solution overnight and stir it thoroughly before use. Thoroughly wash the watering can after use to remove residue from the bottom of the can. Blue grain granules are best used a week before sowing or before planting out. This gives the fertilizer time to take effect and dissolve in the soil. If desired, blue grain can also be used in small doses during the growing season.

What plants can blue grain be used on?

The compound fertilizer can be used on vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers. You can also use blue grain on fruit and various shrubs as well as ornamental plants such as rhododendrons. You should be careful when using blueseed on potted and flowering plants. The blue grain fertilization often increases growth and the formation of flowers is reduced.

Even plants that prefer nutrient-poor soil should not come into contact with blue corn. You can recognize nutrient-poor soils by so-called indicator plants, for example: cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), red fescue (Festuca rubra agg.) or meadows - Horntrefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

Application recommendation for blue grain with NPK ratio 12 - 12 - 17 +2

Here you will find a list of recommended quantities for different cultures and comments on what you should pay particular attention to:

Blue Grain for Berry Bushes

For berries like raspberries (Rubus idaeus) or blackberries (Rubus sectio Rubus) you should fertilize 80 to 150 g per m². Divide this amount over the year. It is best to fertilize two-thirds in spring and one-third after harvest. For currants (Ribes) or gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) you can use 150 to 300 g per bush.

For strawberries (Fragaria), the application rate is 60 to 80 g per m². If used for several years, the gifts are divided into two thirds after harvest and one third in spring. If the strawberries are only used once a year, we recommend fertilizing in August before planting out.

Blue Grain for Fruit

For fruit trees that stand alone, the amount is around 80 g per m²sufficient. Spread the fertilizer over the area that covers the treetop. In orchards, you fertilize around 50 g per m² in spring and 30 g in the months of May to June - after fruit set.

Blue Grain for Ornamental Plants

For roses (pink) you should divide the fertilization into three parts: one third in spring, one third after the first bloom and one third at the end of July. In summer, 160 to 180 g per m² are sufficient. For decorative flowers such as tulips (Tulipa) or daffodils (Narcissus) a quantity of 60 to 80 g per m² is sufficient. To do this, use two-thirds of this amount in the fall before planting out and one-third in the spring before those flowers fade. With rhododendrons or cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) you need to fertilize a little more than with flowers, namely 60 g per m². Before vegetation starts, give two thirds of this amount and after flowering the remaining third. Young bushes should get less. In the case of rhododendrons, it is also advisable to cover the ground with pine litter.

Balcony flowers can be supplied with fertilizer when planting. To do this, simply mix it into the potting soil. About 30 g of blue grain are used for every 10 liters of soil. But be careful when watering, because this mixture should not touch the leaves. An amount of 60 to 100 g per m² is recommended for ornamental trees such as silver or blue fir, pine or other coniferous trees, with younger trees receiving a smaller amount. If you use blue grain with magnesium, the latter will ensure that needle tanning does not occur unless it is caused by insects.

Blue Grain for Vegetables

Pulses such as beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) or peas (Pisum sativum) do not need very much fertilization. For peas, 40 g is enough and for beans you can use up to 80 g. For these crops, a single application before sowing is sufficient. Fruit vegetables, which include tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), peppers (Capsicum) and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) count, have a greater need for nutrients. You should therefore apply around 60 g per m² of blue grain. Half of this amount is used before sowing or before planting, and the remaining half is spread between the plants as they grow. lettuce (Lactuca sativa), lamb's lettuce (Valerianella) or endive (Cichorium endivia).with a quantity of 40 to 70 g per m².

Approximately half of the amount is used before sowing or transplanting and the remaining amount is sprinkled gently between the plants during growth. Cabbage vegetables need a little more attention. You should apply a fertilizer quantity of 150 to 250 g per m² here. Use half before planting and split the remaining half into two applications four weeks apart.

Is blue grain poisonous?

Since nitrate is present in the blue grain and in the water that comes into contact with the fertilizer, problems can arise. Nitrate (NO₃^-) in itself is not toxic, but it is converted into nitrite (NO₂ ^-) and this substance leads, for example, to blue addiction (methaemoglobinemia) in small children. In the case of such a cyanosis, which is delayed by blue grains, the content of methemoglobin in the blood is increased and thus causes a low supply of oxygen. Symptoms are drowsiness, headache, confusion. Ultimately, this can even lead to a coma and death. Methaemoglobinemia can be treated with an antidote (methylene blue) or with a blood transfusion. But the condition of the blood can also normalize even if harmful substances are no longer supplied. Because of this danger, especially for infants and young children, there are strict guidelines on how much nitrate can be in baby food.

If blueseed comes into contact with your skin, you should simply wash the area with plenty of soap and water. If the blue grain comes into contact with your eyes, flush them for several minutes. To do this, hold your eye open under running water. If blueseed is swallowed, it is advisable to drink plenty of water afterwards, but do not induce vomiting. With all of these recommendations, it is always important that if you experience any discomfort, you consult a doctor and take the packaging and label with you.

If you use blueseed in the garden and you are concerned that your children or pets may swallow some, you should handle it with care. Do not leave the fertilizer packs open and store them in an inaccessible place. Instead of just sprinkling the grains on the soil, work the beads into the soil and don't leave any water in which blue grainsolved, stand around. If you want to be on the safe side, you should completely avoid blue grain and other mineral fertilizers with the same risk potential. Instead, primarily organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer can provide a remedy for optimal plant nutrition. In addition to being harmless to humans, animals and the environment, its production is significantly more resource-efficient and therefore more sustainable. The use of our Plantura organic fertilizer not only optimally nourishes your plants, but also promotes soil life in your garden.

Blue Grain and Pets

Like us, our pets should not eat blueseed. If you are concerned that, for example, your dog has eaten blue corn or drank water in which blue corn was dissolved, you should keep an eye on him. Symptoms of blue grain poisoning are vomiting, salivation, convulsions, shortness of breath, tremors, bloody stools and circulatory failure. In the worst case, death can occur if you do nothing. If you observe these symptoms, be sure to take your pet to the vet. Make sure the airway is clear (do not muzzle) and remain calm. Do not attempt to induce vomiting in the pet, leave treatment to a veterinarian. He will probably administer charcoal tablets to bind the toxins.

Risk of confusion Blaukorn

The blue pellets are very similar to another product often used in the garden, namely slug pellets.

But slug pellets consist of completely different minerals than blue pellets, namely iron(III) phosphate. Rodenticide, or more simply rat poison, is also often colored blue. The bait for rats or other unwelcome rodents can have different colors and shapes. They often appear as blue pellets.

Many people prefer to use organic garden products these days. In this article you will find information about the properties and benefits of organic fertilizers.