Discover the difference between organic foods and their traditionally grown counterparts when it comes to nutrition, safety and price. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Once found only in health food stores, organic food is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. And that's created a bit of a dilemma in the produce aisle. On one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that's organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol.
Vegetable Gardening: Selecting a Fertilizer. All plants need nutrients for growth. Gardeners can provide supplemental nutrients to plants by applying fertilizers in the form of composted organic material, synthetic fertilizer, or a specific mineral such as iron.hen selecting a fertilizer, look at the three numbers on the bag. They will read something like 15-0-15 or 16-2-8. The first number represents the percentage of nitrogen in the bag, the second refers to phosphorus, and the third number is the amount of potassium.
By Charlie Nardozzi and The Editors of the National Gardening Association from Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition. As garden vegetables grow, they undergo an intensive process that strips nutrients from the soil. Adding fertilizer keeps soil in optimum shape to feed your garden.Choosing the right type of fertilizer and adding the right amount depends on the soil and the plants you're growing.Soil tests are a great way to know what to add.eciphering the numbers. Commercial fertilizers are labeled with three numbers that indicate the fertilizer's nutrient ratio â for example, 12-12-12, 5-10-5, and 4-12-0: The first number indicates the percentage of nitrogen (N). The second number shows the percentage of phosphate (the type of phosphorus, P2O5).