Vegetable Fertilizer Guide


Fertilizing your vegetables at the appropriate time will keep your plants healthy and producing fruit. There are many types of fertilizers to choose from as well as many natural fertilizer around the house. Be careful to not over fertilize which can lead to heavy foliage without much fruiting.
 
 
We always recommend using organic fertilizer whenever possible. When we say 10-10-10 that is the ratio of Nitrogen (N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K) in the fertilizer. Nitrogen provides plants with the ability to produce more chlorophyll thus making foliage grow quickly. Phosphorus aids in root development, bloom size and quantity. While Potassium does many things like protecting from disease, aiding root development and increase photosynthesis. All are important factors throughout the life of most vegetables.
 
Vegetable Before Planting After Planting
Asparagus Mix organic matter in with soil at time of planting. Add 5 lbs of bone meal per 100 sq. ft. of asparagus. Spring and fall side-dress with 3 lbs of 10-10-10 fertilizer.
Beans If necessary use 1 lb. of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. Side-dress each plant with 1/2 oz. of 5-10-10 every 4 weeks until harvest is over.
Beets Work aged compost into soil. If not available work 4 cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer into every 20 ft. row. If growing slow add 2 cups of 10-10-10 into every 20 ft. row.
Broccoli Add 3 lbs. of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. Side-dress 1 month after transplanting with high nitrogen fertilizer such as urea or ammonium sulfate.
Brussel Sprouts Work 2-4 lbs of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. Add 1-2 lbs of 5-10-10 every month to every 100 sq. ft.
Cabbage Mix organic matter or old manure into soil. Or add 3-4 lbs. of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. 4 weeks after transplanting add 4 lbs. of 10-10-10 per 100 sq. ft.
Carrots Add 1 lb. of 5-10-10 to every 50 ft row of carrots. At 6″ tall add a fish fertilizer as a side-dressing. Add a thin layer of hardwood ash for sweetness.
Celery Add compost the fall before. Side-dress every few weeks with a manure tea or 1 tsp. 5-10-10 per plant.
Corn Work 3-5 lbs of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. When 8″ tall apply 2 lbs. of urea or ammonium sulfate per 100 sq. ft. When silk appears add 2 lbs of superphosphate.
Cucumbers Add compost or well rotted manure. When vines begin to run add a handful of 5-10-10 fertilizer to every plant.
Eggplant Use manure or add 3 lbs of 5-10-5 fertilizer per 100 sq. ft. When fruits begin to appear add 2 lbs. of 5-10-5 per 100 sq. ft.
Lettuce Work 4 lbs of all purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 sq. ft. When lettuce reaches 10″ add a side-dressing of fish or seaweed fertilizer. If not available add 1 lb. of 10-10-10 per 100 sq. ft.
Melons Use old manure or compost. Add 5 lbs of 5-10-10 fertilizer for every 100 sq. ft when vining begins. Again when fruits begin to appear.
Okra 2 lbs of 10-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. of okra Side-dress with 2 lbs of 10-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. when 10″ tall, when pods appear, and one month later.
Onions 5 lbs of all purpose 10-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. Twice add 5 lbs of 10-10-10 fertilizer once when 6″ tall and again when onions begin to bulb.
Parsnips Add 2 lbs of a 5-10-10 fertilizer 1-2 weeks before planting. When foliage reaches 6″ tall add 2 lbs. of 5-10-10 fertilizer
Peas A week before planting add 2 lbs of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. After first harvest apply 1 lb. of 5-10-10 to every 100 sq. ft.
Peppers Add 2 lbs. of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. Once a month add 1 lb. of 5-10-10 fertilizer to every 100 sq. ft.
Potatoes Thoroughly mix 4 lbs. of 5-10-10 fertilizer into every 100 sq. ft. of potatoes 4 weeks after emerging add 4 lbs of 5-10-10 or a mixture of compost, seaweed and fish emulsion
Pumpkins Mix old manure and 3 lbs of 5-10-10 fertilizer in every 100 sq. ft. When vines begin to sprout add another 3 lbs of 5-10-10 fertilizer
Radish Nothing Nothing
Rhubarb Give each plant 1/2 cup of 5-10-10 in early spring. After harvest add another 1/2 cup of fertilizer to help root growth.
Spinach Use 1 lb. of all purpose 10-10-10 for every 100 sq. ft. of spinach Nothing
Squash Add compost or 3 lbs of 5-10-10 fertilizer into every 100 sq. ft. Add 3 lbs of 5-10-10 again when 1′ of growth and again when fruits begin to appear.
Tomatoes Add 3 lbs. of 5-10-10 organic fertilizer per 100 sq. ft. of tomatoes Side-dress once with 2 lbs of 5-10-10 when fruit begins to set and again after first harvest