Dr Forest

Made by growers, backed by science

Handmade in Stockport

Our Fruit and Vegetable Fertiliser 4-5-6 is a carefully formulated blend of premium organic ingredients to produce a slow-release powdered fertiliser crafted for a wide range of fruits and vegetables – delivering increased yields of larger, sweeter, more flavourful produce all season long.

This versatile all-purpose formula provides a balanced supply of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Humic Acid, and Micro-Nutrients, plus natural growth promotors from seaweed and malted barley. It combines traditional, time-tested organic materials with premium regenerative ingredients to support robust growth, abundant harvests, and exceptional taste across crops like tomatoes, peppers, beans, leafy greens, root vegetables, berries, and more.

Benefits of Our Fruit and Vegetable Fertiliser

• Balanced Nutrient Profile: Supplies essential NPK along with Calcium, Magnesium, Humic & Fulvic Acids, and trace micro-nutrients (from boron to manganese) – promoting strong vegetative growth, root development, fruit set, and enhanced sweetness/flavour without excess nitrogen dilution.
• Blend of Fast and Slow-Release Nutrients: We source each nutrient from multiple premium inputs (e.g., potassium from potash, polyhalite, dried worm castings, castor meal, and seaweed) for immediate availability plus sustained release.
• Premium Ingredients - We only use the finest ingredients possible whether that is Micronised Rock Phosphate which due to its fine particle size is easy for the plant to uptake or the Yorkshire Polyhalite mineral used at Wimbledon to keep the grass green.
• Increased Yield and Flavour: Rich in phosphorus and potassium for more fruits of larger size and better quality, with micro-nutrients ensuring sweet, complex flavours. Natural growth enzymes and hormones from Scottish seaweed and diastatic malted barley boost overall plant vigour, aroma, and nutrient density.
• Premium Ingredients: Only the finest sources, including micronised rock phosphate (for easy uptake), Yorkshire polyhalite (used at elite venues like Wimbledon for sustained nutrition), Scottish seaweed, dried worm castings, basalt rockdust, clay minerals, and fermented biochar.
• Organic & Sustainable: All ingredients are certified organic and sourced as locally as possible in the UK, with fully compostable packaging.
• Multi-Input Fertiliser: Unlike single-ingredient products (often waste-based and imbalanced), our blend of 13+ premium sources ensures perfect nutrient harmony and complete essential elements.
• Local Sourcing – We buy British ingredients where possible such as our Scottish Seaweed and Yorkshire Polyhalite and produce the fertiliser on-site in Cheshire.
• Builds Soil Health: Promotes beneficial microbes, improves structure, water retention, and long-term fertility – avoiding salt build up from synthetics that harms soil and flushes out good organisms.
• Handcrafted Quality: Made in the UK in small batches by hand, ensuring consistency and care in every bag.
  

Ingredients:

Sulphate of Potash, Yorkshire Polyhalite, Rapeseed Meal, Clay Minerals,  Fermented Biochar, Micronised Rock Phosphate, Calcined Phosphorous & Nitrogen Meal, Humic Acid, Mealworm Manure, Silica Meal, Basalt Volcanic Rock Dust, Diastatic Malted barley & Seaweed Extracts. 

Why use organic fertilisers?

1. Microbial nutrient processing: Nutrients require microbes to break down, generating secondary metabolites that enhance flavour, aroma, and nutrient density – why organic produce often tastes superior.
2. Reduced nitrate levels: Dramatically lower nitrates (30–50% vs. synthetics) for cleaner, healthier, better-tasting fruits and veg.
3. Reduced pollution: Non-water-soluble nutrients resist leaching, preventing runoff and ecosystem harm.
4. Enhanced soil health: Adds organic matter, boosting microbial diversity for better performance, fewer diseases, and resilient crops.
5. Slow-release nutrient delivery: Gradual release from polyhalite, alfalfa meal, etc., lasts weeks/months – minimising burn and applications.
6. Improved soil structure and water retention: Binds particles for better aeration, drainage, and drought resistance.
7. Support for biodiversity: Encourages earthworms, mycorrhizal fungi, and beneficial organisms for natural pest deterrence and fertility.
8. Lower environmental footprint: Renewable UK-sourced materials reduce emissions and support sustainable farming.

Directions for Use:

Soil Preparation (Pre-Planting or Transplanting)

• Soil Beds/Raised Beds: Apply 100–200 grams per square metre. Work lightly into the top 10–15 cm of soil. 
• Single Plants: Mix 1.5 - 2 tablespoons (22.5 - 30 grams) into the soil around the plant at transplanting. Leave a 10 cm gap between the stem and the fertiliser ring to prevent root/stem burn.
• Potted Plants/Containers: Mix 1–3 teaspoons (5–15 grams) per litre of soil or potting mix. Mix thoroughly for even distribution. 

Ongoing Feeding Start applying fertiliser 10–14 days after transplanting (once plants are established and showing new growth). Apply every 2–3 weeks during active growth (vegetative stage through early flowering/fruit set), then reduce to every 3–4 weeks during fruit/flower maturation to focus on quality, flavour, sweetness, and yield over excess foliage. Always monitor plants and adjust:

• Rows/Beds: 100–200 grams total per metre of row (spread 50–100 g each side). Apply in a narrow band 10–15 cm from the plant stems, lightly scratch into the top 2–5 cm of soil, then water thoroughly.
• Single Plants (In-Ground or Raised Beds): 1.5 - 2 tablespoons (22.5 - 30 grams) per plant. Sprinkle in a ring around the drip line (10–15 cm from stem) and incorporate lightly into the soil surface.
• Potted Plants: Apply 0.5 - 1 teaspoons (2.5–5 grams) per 10 cm of pot diameter. (For example: ~7.5–15 grams total for a 30 cm pot diameter; ~15–30 grams total for a 60 cm pot diameter.) Apply evenly as a narrow band around the outer edge of the pot (away from the stem). Lightly scratch or mix into the top 2–5 cm of soil.

Application Tips

• Use a tablespoon (not a dessert spoon). If unsure, 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon, or use weight measurements for accuracy.
• We strongly recommend mixing the fertiliser with an equal amount of compost before applying. This reduces dust, coats the granules in microbe-rich compost to aid slow nutrient breakdown, activates beneficial biology (including EM and biochar), and improves flavour and yield across fruit and veg crops.
• Always water deeply after each application to activate the slow-release nutrients, move them into the root zone, and prevent surface buildup (especially important in containers). In UK conditions, consistent deep watering is essential to activate organics effectively.
• Observe your plants and adjust rates/frequency:
  • Pale or yellow lower leaves, slow growth → possible deficiency → use higher end of range or apply more frequently (closer to every 2 weeks).
  • Excessive dark green foliage, leggy growth, delayed flowering/fruiting, or reduced flavour → too much nitrogen → reduce amount, stretch to every 4 weeks, or skip an application.

Late-Season Care Reduce or stop feeding in late season (last 4–6 weeks, once main harvest is underway or fruit/veg is ripening). Excess nutrients late in the season can dilute flavour, reduce sweetness, and cause splitting/cracking. Ease off watering slightly when crops are ripening — this concentrates sugars, acids, and volatiles for better taste and storage quality.

Additional Tips

• Test soil annually (target pH 6.0–7.0) to optimise rates — this fertiliser is balanced but cannot correct major deficiencies or pH issues alone.
• Complementary amendments (mycorrhizal fungi at planting, foliar seaweed extract during growth) greatly enhance nutrient uptake, root health, flavour compounds, and overall plant resilience.
• Store in a cool, dry place. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Wear gloves if sensitive to dust. Organic and slow-release — safe for beneficial insects, pollinators, and soil biology when used as directed.

Supporting Research on Organic Fertilisation for Yield and Flavour in Fruits & Vegetables

• Global meta-analysis (2023) of 7859 data pairs: Combined NPK + organic sources improved yield by ~31% and nutritional quality (sugars, vitamin C, carotenoids, etc.) by ~12% on average, with vegetables/fruits highly responsive; balanced multi-nutrient organics excel for flavour.
• Trials on tomatoes and mixed crops: Balanced organic NPK (with seaweed, humic acids, etc.) increased sugars (up to 45%), vitamin C, and flavour compounds while sustaining yields; multi-source slow-release supports better quality than single-ingredient fertilisers.
• Studies on organic amendments (worm castings, seaweed, polyhalite): Enhanced micro-nutrients, soil health, and secondary metabolites for sweeter, more aromatic produce with 15–30% flavour boosts.

Recommended Amendments to Enhance Results 

To further optimise flavour, aroma, yield, and overall plant health, consider incorporating these complementary amendments alongside your core fertiliser regime. Each has been selected based on robust scientific evidence showing benefits for peppers, particularly in organic or regenerative systems.

• Mycorrhizal Fungi: Inoculate seedlings or apply at planting (slurry method recommended). AMF extend root systems for better uptake, increasing fruit yield (up to 20–50%), soluble solids (Brix for sweetness), ascorbic acid, phenols, aroma compounds, and stress tolerance. Meta-analyses confirm higher antioxidants and sensory quality.
• Seaweed Extract: Apply as foliar spray every 7–14 days. Acts as biostimulant with hormones and bioactives; research shows boosts in yield (up to 65% under stress), soluble solids, flavonoids, vitamin C, and flavor profile, plus enhanced aroma and nutrient efficiency.
• Liquid Calcium Sulphate (Gypsum): Apply as soil drench every 2–4 weeks. Provides available calcium without pH change; trials link to firmer fruit, reduced disorders, better shelf life, and consistent quality in variable conditions.
• Additional Humic Acid (or Humic/Fulvic Acids): Use as soil drench every 2–4 weeks. Chelates nutrients, stimulates roots/microbes; studies report 15–30% higher Brix/sugars, antioxidants, and flavour/nutritional value.
• Cover Crops (e.g., Rye, Radish, or Legume Mixes): Sow in autumn/winter, incorporate as green manure in spring. Builds organic matter, suppresses diseases; long-term trials show enhanced pepper yields, soil health, and reduced issues.

Dr Forest Fruit and Vegetable Fertiliser is an evidence-backed, versatile organic feed designed for maximum yield and unforgettable flavour across your garden