Fertilizing is a fundamental element of vegetable gardening. Selecting the ideal fertilizer will meet specific plant nutrient needs while simultaneously increasing crop production and improving soil health.
Discover how to fertilize your vegetable garden properly for maximum harvest success, by learning when, which types, and how to apply fertilizers.
Planting
No matter if they come from seeds or transplants, vegetables require ideal growing conditions in order to flourish. As well as sunlight and water, vegetables need plenty of essential nutrients in their soil that promote blooms and yield increases. New vegetable gardens may benefit from fertilizing before planting while established gardens may require periodic fertilizing sessions throughout the season to keep healthy crops.
Site Selection
For optimal vegetable growth, choose an area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If this isn’t an option for you, opt for plants that tolerate shade instead or grow them in containers.
Amend the Soil Vegetable plants thrive best when their soil contains plenty of organic matter such as compost and ground or shredded leaves, but amending the soil early with this material can help it retain more moisture, meaning less frequent irrigation needs.
To prepare the soil for planting, mix in enough organic matter so that it’s neither too sandy nor compacted. A soil testing kit can help determine exactly how much organic matter will be required in order to prepare the ground for specific crops.
Once your garden is planted, water seedlings and transplants daily until established; mature plants should be watered less often depending on weather and temperature conditions. Soil should remain moist without becoming waterlogged, while checking it frequently to prevent dry out or flooding which could stunt growth and cause diseases to appear.
Fertilizing
Vegetables require various nutrients for growth, with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) being the three key ones. Most vegetable-growing kits provide a nutrient mix designed to meet most crops’ needs; adding granular fertilizer at planting time or before rain, such as during evening hours, is one way of providing them with their full dose. It’s best to do this when possible so the fertilizers can soak into the soil rather than sit atop it – for maximum impact.
Fertilizing
Most vegetables require proper fertilization in order to thrive, with amounts dependent upon both type of vegetable and its location in climate. To assess what is required in your garden soil, send a sample off for testing with a lab; they’ll tell you which organic or chemical fertilizers need to be applied and in what quantities. Too much nutrients applied at once is inefficient at best and could even result in damage or death to plants if applied too heavily.
Ideal scenarios require adding fertilizer before planting. This practice reduces runoff or leaching losses and allows organic matter to slowly release nutrients during the growing season, as well as helping prevent excessive weed growth that competes for those same nutrients as vegetables.
Plants thrive best in soil that drains quickly and has a high organic matter content, while soil that is too dense, clay-like or sandy creates an unsuitable growing environment and hinders nutrient uptake by altering pH levels.
When planting from seeds or transplants, mix water-soluble fertilizer into the soil before sowing or transplanting seeds or transplants. Apply an extra dose of nitrogen-rich fertilizer three weeks post transplant or when peas, beans and cucumbers start blooming – or both! Manure or other organic material also provide nitrogen in this form – for maximum efficiency, scatter well-rotted or composted manure or commercial granular vegetable fertilizers over your planting beds several weeks prior to your intended planting dates following package instructions regarding rates and application methods for best results.
Avoid overfertilizing during early growth stages to avoid stunting plant development or encouraging leafy growth at the expense of fruit production. Overfertilization may also lead to an accumulation of salts that are toxic for certain vegetables; if your soil test indicates low boron levels, mix 1 tablespoon of borax per gallon of water and spray evenly across your vegetable beds.
Weeding
An abundance of weeds in a vegetable garden can compete for water, sunlight and nutrients with your crops – not to mention spreading diseases and providing hiding places for harmful insects. Weed control techniques range from mulching and hand pulling to using herbicides – just remember to follow their package directions when applying any herbicides!
At the core of managing weeds lies prevention. Birds, animals and people all present can spread weed seeds into your garden unknowingly; most soil contains seeds waiting to take hold when given the chance; to avoid this situation use organic mulches such as straw or leaves to cover soil and reduce light exposure.
Before adding fertilizers to the garden, conduct a soil test and follow its recommendations. Without testing, it can be hard to know what your garden requires; without one you could waste money or endanger plants by applying too much of an ineffective type of fertilizer.
Many vegetable gardens require nitrogen-rich fertilizer. A common recommendation is one pound of 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 (or 5-10-10) fertilizer per 100 feet of row; these numbers indicate the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found within each fertilizer product. It’s best to apply the fertilizer just prior to planting so its benefits can penetrate deeper roots before transplants arrive and begin acting upon them.
Nitrogen-rich fertilizers come in various forms, such as ammonium sulfate or blood meal. You can apply these using either a spreader, your hands or even a garden trowel; just remember to water immediately following application to help move nutrients deeper into the soil.
Vegetables require several essential nutrients in order to flourish, with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) being the three most crucial. While other nutrients may also be essential, too much of any can pose serious issues: too much nitrogen can impair plant growth while encouraging insects and disease damage, while excessive phosphorus could result in chlorosis. A soil test conducted by an analytical laboratory can provide insight into your veggie plants’ needs.
Watering
Most gardeners find they must supplement the natural nutrients present in their vegetable gardens with fertilizers to promote blooms, foliage and fruit; increase yields; and minimize disease issues. It is highly advised to have your soil tested prior to planting in order to identify exactly which nutrients your specific soil requires and in what quantities. These tests can be obtained through private companies as well as university cooperative extension offices.
Vegetable plants require various nutrients for healthy development, but the primary needs include nitrogen (for plant growth), phosphorus for flower and fruit development, and potassium to reduce stress from diseases and insects. Vegetables usually respond well to balanced fertilizer products; if in doubt about which to choose, consult either your local agricultural extension service office or container recommendations on back.
Watering is essential to the success of any vegetable garden. Frequent and shallow irrigation encourages roots to stay near the surface where nutrients are more easily available; while less-frequent but deeper irrigation allows roots to penetrate further down into the earth and absorb needed nutrients. Avoid overwatering though as too much may cause compaction of soil layers and inhibit root penetration.
Water your vegetable garden once every week in summertime; on sandy soils this may require twice weekly irrigation; while for heavier clay or loamy soils once should always suffice in maintaining adequate plant moisture levels.
If your soil test reveals that your plants require additional nitrogen, an ideal time and place for you to apply a side dressing of 1/2 cup of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24) is as vegetables are growing – rain or sprinkler irrigation will quickly wash it into the soil where it becomes available to plants as they soak it up.