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It's virtually impossible to know how to fertilize your vegetable garden without first knowing your soil's pH and nutrient level. Send a soil sample to your local extension office for the most accurate, reliable results. Do not put fertilizer near the stem, and remember to water after application, Zettl adds.īefore you run to the garden center and fill your cart with fertilizer, take these crucial steps to set your garden up for success. Two to three weeks after planting, you can spread fertilizer around the soil just below the outer canopy of the plant. "Fertilizer can easily burn young plants, so I generally use organic matter, such as aged compost, to amend the soil before planting," she says. Prior to planting, Zettl recommends taking a gentle approach. If your soil is lacking nutrients, then fertilizer or compost can be cultivated into the top several inches of soil. How to Apply Vegetable Fertilizerįirst, perform a soil test to determine whether your garden truly needs fertilizer (more on that below). Potassium encourages strong root development, while phosphorous helps flower and fruit production. Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, which is why lawn fertilizers typically contain a larger percentage. This balanced mix supports overall plant health. For example, 10-10-10 means the fertilizer contains 10% of each element. The numbers on each bag of fertilizer represent the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or N-P-K, within. "This larger number of nutrients has been shown to result in better flavor and higher nutrient content," she adds. Synthetic fertilizers usually contain only three out of 17 essential elements for plants, whereas organic fertilizer usually contains all of them, says Burpee horticultural expert Brie Zettl.
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Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, need soil bacteria and fungi to break them down into absorbable components. Synthetic fertilizers are available for plants to absorb more quickly because they're already in soluble form. Organic fertilizers consist of naturally occurring materials, while synthetic fertilizers contain manufactured materials. Vegetable Fertilizer Basicsįertilizer can help boost your plants' bounty, but how does it work? In short, fertilizer replenishes and supplements soil with the nutrients your vegetables need to grow healthy roots, foliage and fruits. Not sure where to start? Here's exactly how to create a garden fertilizing schedule tailored to your plot's needs. When determining how to fertilize your vegetable garden, you'll need to develop a fertilizer calendar based on a variety of factors. You nurtured seedlings all winter, transplanted them outdoors successfully and now, you're protecting them from pests, watering regularly and dutifully pulling weeds.īut there's one piece missing from your plant-care puzzle: fertilizer.