Urban Farmer Garden Fertilizer Guide

Feed the Crop, Not a Guess

Start with a soil test, match nutrients to the crop and growth stage, measure the label rate, and water granular fertilizer into the root zone.

Open the crop chart Calculate an application

The order matters

Test, choose, measure, apply

Fertilizer supplements soil fertility; it does not repair poor drainage, compaction, incorrect pH, inadequate light, or irregular watering. A soil test can show that a nutrient is already sufficient—and should not be added.

1 · Test

Know the baseline

Use a soil test to identify pH and nutrient needs before choosing a fertilizer.

2 · Match

Choose the crop formula

Use the exact Urban Farmer product analysis in the chart below when that crop-specific product applies.

3 · Measure

Follow the label rate

More is not better. Excess salts and nutrients can injure roots and reduce flowering or yield.

4 · Water

Move nutrients into soil

Keep granules off foliage and stems, work in only as directed, and water after application.

Store-matched recommendations

Urban Farmer crop fertilizer chart

N–P–K and rates below match the current Urban Farmer product descriptions. Always read the physical package before applying because labels and formulations can change.

Crop or group	Urban Farmer fertilizer	N–P–K	First application	Follow-up	Exact label rate	Product
Most garden vegetables	Organic Vegetable	3-5-4	At spring planting	When plants begin producing fruit	1 cup per 20 sq. ft. each application	Shop 3-5-4
Tomatoes	Organic Tomato	3-4-6	At planting	When fruit sets	2 tbsp per plant each application	Shop 3-4-6
Peppers	Organic Pepper	3-6-6	At transplanting	When fruit sets	2 tbsp per plant each application	Shop 3-6-6
Sweet corn	Organic Sweet Corn	6-3-3	When corn is about 6 in. tall	When tassels appear	½ cup per 10-ft. row first; 1 cup per 10-ft. row at tasseling	Shop 6-3-3
Potatoes	Organic Potato	3-6-6	At planting	When sprouts reach 6 in.	½ cup per 10-ft. row each application	Shop 3-6-6
Onions	Organic Onion	3-4-3	At planting	When stalks reach 1 ft.	1 cup per 25-ft. row each application	Shop 3-4-3
Asparagus	Organic Asparagus	4-3-1	When growth first appears in spring	Late summer	1 cup per 25-ft. row each application	Shop 4-3-1
Strawberries	Organic Strawberry	4-5-5	When spring growth begins	When fruiting starts	2 tbsp per plant each application	Shop 4-5-5
Blueberries, blackberries, grapes, raspberries and similar fruit	Organic Fruit	6-4-4	Early spring	When fruit begins to appear	1 tbsp per plant plus 1 tbsp per year of age, maximum 8 tbsp, each application	Shop 6-4-4
Culinary and garden herbs	Organic Herb	3-6-6	At transplanting	After the first harvest	2 tbsp per plant each application	Shop 3-6-6
Flowering plants	Organic Flower	3-1-2	Apply according to crop timing and package	Only as package directs	1 lb. per 100 sq. ft. or 1 tbsp per plant	Shop 3-1-2

Label-rate calculator

Estimate one application

Select an Urban Farmer fertilizer and enter the matching unit shown. The result estimates one application only.

Your application

FertilizerGarden area (sq. ft.)

Estimated amount for one application

FertilizerVegetable 3-5-4

Measured amount5 cups

Application stageAt planting

Recheck the package before use. Do not use this estimator when the physical label differs, a soil test recommends another rate, or the plant is drought-stressed.

Understand the analysis

What N–P–K tells you

Nitrogen

Supports leafy growth and green color. Excess can produce lush foliage at the expense of roots, flowers, or fruit.

Phosphate

Supports energy transfer and root and reproductive development. Add only where the soil test and label support it.

Potash

Supports water regulation, overall vigor, stress response, and crop quality.

The numbers are percentages by weight—not a recipe ratio. A 3-4-6 product contains 3% total nitrogen, 4% available phosphate, and 6% soluble potash.

Application timing

Match feeding to plant growth

Before planting

Use the soil test to correct pH and broad fertility. Incorporate amendments only to the depth and rate directed.

At planting

Use only the listed crop formula and rate. Keep concentrated fertilizer away from seeds, stems, and tender roots.

Rapid vegetative growth

Heavy feeders such as corn may need a crop-specific nitrogen-forward application at the stated growth stage.

Flowering and fruit set

Follow crop-specific formulas; excess nitrogen at this stage can favor leaves over flowers and fruit.

After harvest

Some perennials and herbs use a label-directed postharvest feeding to rebuild roots or regrow foliage.

Stop when stressed

Avoid feeding severely dry, heat-stressed, frozen, flooded, or damaged plants until the underlying stress is corrected.

Avoid expensive mistakes

Fertilizer troubleshooting

Leaves are lush but flowers or fruit are limited

Excess nitrogen is one possibility. Stop adding nitrogen, review the product rate, and also verify sunlight, temperature, pollination, and crop maturity.

Leaf edges scorch after feeding

Concentrated fertilizer or salts may have injured roots. Irrigate appropriately if drainage is good, remove granules touching stems, and do not reapply.

Plants remain pale after fertilizer

Nutrients may be unavailable because of incorrect pH, saturated roots, cold soil, root injury, or disease. Diagnose the root-zone condition and use a soil test before adding more.

Granules remain on the surface

Follow package directions for gentle incorporation and water-in. Keep fertilizer off foliage, crowns, and stems.

Growth stalls during drought or heat

Fertilizer does not replace water and may add stress. Restore suitable moisture and wait for active growth before any label-directed feeding.

I do not know which product to use

Start with a soil test and the exact crop guide. Use the general 3-5-4 vegetable formula only where a crop-specific Urban Farmer product is not listed and the label fits the need.

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