Q: What does cottonseed meal do for a garden and how much do you apply?

A: Cottonseed meal is an excellent organic fertilizer. It releases nutrients as the meal is decomposed by soil microorganisms. Because the bacteria and fungi are most active when the soil is warm, cottonseed meal provides plant nutrition throughout the growing season. A typical nutrient analysis is 6-1-1. Shallow-rooted plants such as azalea, blueberry, boxwood and rhododendron respond very well to cottonseed meal fertilizer in spring and summer. Apply 10 lb. per 100 sq. ft. of garden, making sure to incorporate it into the soil for best results.