When it's time to fertilize new plants, use compost! Instead of using store bought fertilizer you should start recycling food waste by composting and using the rich properties of the recycled food to fertilize the soil.“It‘s usually marked as such, but if not, look for a high middle number on the fertilizer packs.  ‘N-P-K’ stands for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; these are three primary nutrients for healthy plant growth.  Phosphorus, particularly, helps promote healthy root growth.”

Foods high in potassium and phosphorus - apples, apricots, bananas, brazil nuts, brown rice, cantaloupe, figs, honeydew, kiwi, legumes, lima beans, milk, oranges, orange juice, peaches, potatoes, prunes, raisins, roasted peanuts with skin, spinach, squash, vegetable juices, wheat bread, white rice, winter squash., tomatoes, avocados, potato, celery, carrots, broccoli, watermelon, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, corn, dates, green beans, green peppers, lettuce, kidney beans, onions, papayas, parsley, pumpkin, peas, romaine lettuce, strawberries, sweet potato. Note that potassium is found in the skin of many vegetables

Foods high in nitrogen are generally meat products. Due to the foul odor that they produce in the warm months of the year you may want to add some nitrogen rich soil in lieu of adding animal products to your compost. Eggs being an eggception. ;)      

So remember, the moisture and rich nutrients that compost cultivates takes away any stress of keeping a garden and adds to the livelihood of your harvest. Not to mention you are recycling. Compost is a great way to enrich your soil and give vitality to the plants you are about to see grow and be fruitful.                                           

Go here for more information on Nashville recycling and for here for more information on Nashville composting.