Effective Use of Vegetable Garden Fertilizers
Fertilizers boost plant health and help grow a bigger harvest of leafy greens, juicy tomatoes, and other vegetables. But with all the choices on the market today, choosing the right fertilizers for vegetable gardens can be difficult. When you finally decide on a product, figuring out how to use the fertilizer can be even more confusing. Whether you have a conventional or organic garden, the tips in this simple guide will help you choose and use the best vegetable garden fertilizer.
1. Do a soil test.
Before applying fertilizers to your garden, it is always a good idea to test your soil. Soil testing can be done at home with a test kit, or you can send a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension office for more accurate results. These tests will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking, so you can choose the best fertilizer for your vegetable garden.
2. Create a schedule.
Different plants have different fertilizer needs, but keeping track of when to apply fertilizers to specific plants can be tricky. For example, pumpkins are very heavy feeders and often need to be fertilized every 2 to 3 weeks, while tomatoes only need to be fertilized once every 4 to 6 weeks. By keeping track of these dates on a calendar or in your gardening journal, you can ensure you always apply fertilizer at the right time.
3. Pick the right fertilizer.
If you go to a plant nursery to buy fertilizers, you can easily get overwhelmed with all the options. Some fertilizers are made from all-natural ingredients and are suitable for organic gardens, while you can find granular and liquid fertilizers that provide different benefits to plants.
Fertilizers with high levels of nitrogen are most beneficial for leafy greens while fruiting plants such as tomatoes grow best with fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium.
One option is to use high-nitrogen fertilizers early in the season to support leaf growth, then switch to fertilizers with higher levels of phosphorus and potassium as plants begin to flower and fruit. Alternatively, you can use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer throughout the year, which works well on most vegetables.
Some quality fertilizers for organic vegetable gardens include:
Alfalfa meal
Kelp meal
Soybean meal
fish gravy
4. Remember safety.
Depending on the type of fertilizer you are using, you may need to wear protective equipment during application. This includes gloves, goggles, and a mask. Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions on your fertilizer label to determine what type of equipment you need.
5. Simplify the application.
You can spread granular fertilizers by hand, using a hand spreader can make fertilizer application even faster and ensure coverage throughout your vegetable beds.
Liquid fertilizers should usually be applied through a watering can or garden sprayer. Some fertilizers can be added to simple plumbing fixtures, making fertilizing your garden a breeze.
6. Keep an eye on your plants.
The way plants grow can tell you a lot and you can often tell by their appearance whether your plants need fertilizer. Plants with striped leaves or pale leaves with visible veins may have a nutrient deficiency that can be corrected with fertilizer. However, if plants turn yellow or brown or begin to develop deformed leaves, it may indicate that they are over-fertilized.
7. Apply fertilizers at the right time.
The best time to apply granular fertilizers is usually when heavy rainfall is expected. Rain washes the fertilizer into the soil, making it easily accessible to plants. Or apply granular fertilizers to the soil before watering your vegetable garden.
Instead, liquid fertilizers should be applied in the morning or evening when temperatures are cool and dry. This will give your plants more time to absorb the fertilizer and make the leaves less likely to be affected by the sun.
8. Know when you shouldn't fertilize.
During the summer, you may want to dial back the amount of fertilizer you use. This is because plants affected by heat or drought do not absorb fertilizer properly and the salts in fertilizers build up around plant roots, reducing their ability to absorb water. You may want to avoid fertilizing some perennial vegetables in the fall because this is their dormant period Grafts can work together to improve your soil and produce healthier plants.
9. Use compost with manure.
Many gardeners think they have to choose between compost and compost, but these two garden products actually work even better when they're combined. Compost is rich in nutrients and improves soil structure and drainage, while compost often contains micronutrients that compost does not. By using these two ingredients together you can further improve your soil and produce healthier plants as well.
One of the best ways to use these products together is to amend garden soil in the spring or fall with quality compost or aged manure. Then when the growing season begins, start applying a dose of compost and compost tea.
10. Incorporate fertilizers by companion planting.
Some plants improve the soil and promote the growth of nearby plants. When used in conjunction with compost, these companion plants can improve the overall health of your garden and help you produce an even bigger harvest of fresh vegetables.
Some great companion plants to improve soil naturally are beans and peas. By growing these plants in a mixed vegetable garden, you can reduce how much fertilizer you need to use throughout the season.
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