For most vegetables, granular dry fertilizer specifically marked “vegetables” or “edible crops” is often the best way to fertilize them. Avoid liquid fertilizers if planting seeds or seedlings – liquid ones can damage young roots.
Work granular fertilizer into the topsoil and water it in before planting, depending on a soil test and plant development. Repetition may be required throughout the growing season depending on its response to applications of additional nutrients.
Spring
Fertilizer helps plants flourish by providing essential nutrients they cannot acquire from soil alone. Fertilizer contains three primary elements – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – in various ratios for different forms of growth. Most vegetables, root crops and leafy greens need plenty of nitrogen to promote fast, healthy growth; others may need additional phosphorus for fruiting while still others require potassium for deep rooting and stability.
Vegetables grown during spring typically need only minimal fertilization prior to planting time, typically an organic version that blends easily into garden soil. When using organic fertilizer, make sure not to overdose as this could damage vital microorganisms that exist naturally within it.
If you are growing long-season vegetables such as corn and squash, an extra application of fertilizer could prove helpful before the big growth spurt of summer arrives. Spring planted herbs, such as lettuce, arugula and kale as well as most non-flowering vegetable plants should use a granular fertilizer with a high first number for nitrogen content; for flowering varieties such as peppers and eggplants which produce fruit flowers then need additional applications after fruit set as well as another one when plants begin producing fruit later.
If you are growing vegetables in containers, adding a light top-dressing of fertilizer every week is beneficial as the roots can more readily absorb its nutrients. Mix dry granular fertilizer into the soil prior to planting or work it around existing plants on the surface of the container before watering your garden to thoroughly incorporate the nutrients. Liquid fertilizers can burn their roots.
Summer
Vegetable plants require regular fertilization for proper growth, particularly heavy feeders from Brassica and Nightshade families. Fertilizer applications in spring and midsummer will ensure that vegetables reach maturity faster and produce abundant harvests.
Vegetative plants require ample amounts of nitrogen, which may not always be readily available in garden soil. Therefore, when applying nitrogen fertilizer it should only be done after the crop has made significant progress but before beginning to produce flowers and fruit; otherwise premature application could delay maturity and yield loss.
Before fertilizing vegetables, the nutrient content of your soil should be tested in order to avoid over-fertilization. A soil test kit is relatively affordable and available from garden centers or online sources.
When adding additional nutrients, granular organic fertilizer is the safest choice for vegetables, since its less likely to burn their roots than liquid forms of fertilizers. When mixing up this type of granular fertilizer according to package directions and working it into the ground around your veggie plants, be mindful not to disturb seedlings or transplants too much!
Liquid fertilizers can be used both foliar feeding and ground sprinkling. When applying liquid fertilizers, make sure that you mix it with water first as instructed on its label. It is best to apply your liquid fertilizer early morning before the sun rises as this allows your plants to quickly absorb its benefits.
As with most gardening issues, fertilizing your vegetables requires some trial-and-error to determine the most efficient time and method. However, for beginners interested in vegetable gardening it may be a good idea to begin using an all-purpose fertilizer in the spring before following the schedule provided above for specific crops throughout summertime.
Fall
As soon as possible before the first frost, apply general vegetable fertilizer or blend suitable for your plants. If you already planted vegetables, opt for granular organic fertilizer instead of liquid ones, which can burn young roots. Spread it around your garden bed, making sure to work it into the top 3 to 5 inches of soil without covering leaves or stems with fertilizer. For liquid plant food solutions, follow their directions carefully and water thoroughly when applying.
As with all fertilizing efforts, it’s vital that one follows UF/IFAS recommendations on appropriate rates and application times in order to minimize runoff into local water bodies and pollution of nearby ecosystems. Furthermore, don’t fertilize when rain is imminent as rain will wash any fertilizers off landscapes into storm drains and other bodies of water for further pollution.
Most commercial fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as the main nutrients; however, crops often require additional micronutrients that cannot be found in commercial fertilizers. To accurately gauge what your vegetable garden requires before beginning planting it is best to conduct a soil test first – this will reveal levels of each nutrient in your soil as well as what to add for optimal growth.
Vegetables are heavy feeders, and can quickly deplete soil nutrients. Fertilizing replenishes them to ensure a successful harvest. Fertilization may also be especially essential if you’ve previously grown vegetables in that same spot as previous crops may have depleted its resources.
Fertilizer should be applied at the appropriate times, as certain types of vegetables are sensitive to too much fertilizer. Legumes (beans and peas) absorb nitrogen from the air and store it in their roots, only needing small additional amounts at planting time. Cucumbers and tomatoes are particularly vulnerable, as too much nitrogen can delay their flowering or fruiting processes and lead to disease outbreaks.
Winter
Once your vegetable seedlings were transplanted into your garden plot, you took care to protect them from pests, provide adequate water, and pull weeds regularly throughout their growing season. Now is an opportune time to evaluate how successful the growing season was and see what adjustments could be made; weather, pests, disease are all factors to be considered; one factor you have control over however, is applying fertilizers directly.
An effective fertilizer program is critical to optimizing vegetable plant production. Even soil rich with organic amendments may benefit from regular fertilization to promote robust plants that thrive. Timing your application of fertilizers is equally crucial; applying too much too soon could cause spurts of tender new growth that succumb more easily to cold temperatures, potentially ruining your crop in the process.
As with anything, using a soil test to assess what type of fertilizer your vegetables need is the key to success in gardening. Once you know what nutrients are deficient, you can apply balanced garden fertilizer based on what the test recommends; but remember, over-fertilizing is just as damaging.
If you are applying liquid or water-soluble plant food, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on rates and application times. When possible, avoid applying it if rain is expected within 24 hours as this could wash it away and pollute waterways or storm drains resulting in water pollution. To minimize leaching of nutrients into hard surfaces, sweep up any fertilizer spills immediately – this helps ensure your vegetable garden soil remains healthy and productive for many years!