Fertilizer is a powerful tool that can help plants thrive if used appropriately. If applied incorrectly, it can not only harm plants, but also the environment.
Vegetable Gardening in Florida
When to Fertilize
Regular fertilizer applications keep plants vigorous and productive. When plants grow reluctantly or start turning yellow, fertilizer may help. If plants are vigorous and green, you can wait a little bit before applying more fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can burn plants. Tomatoes and beans given too much fertilizer grow lots of foliage but little fruit.
Vegetables growing in porous, well-drained soil should be fed frequently. Usually a balanced fertilizer is applied every three to four weeks throughout the growing season. Don't stop applications when fruit appears—continue to apply fertilizer as needed to ensure continued production.
Vegetables growing in clay soils will need less fertilizer than those in sandy soils. One application every four to six weeks after planting is typically enough. Crops growing in organic soils may need little additional fertilizer—again, just use foliage color and plant vigor as guides. In gardens where the soil is sand enriched with organic matter, one or two additionalapplications at intervals or three to four weeks is usually enough.
We usually suggest that you select something with 2% phosphorus or less in accordance with Florida State Law, but edibles are the exception. But you may not need extra phosphorus in your vegetable garden; a soil test can help you determine which nutrients you truly need.
Types of Fertilizer
There are many options for how you convey nutrients to your plants. Many gardeners use a combination of different fertilizers and techniques. Try using granular products or manures to supply the main nutrients and liquids to correct minor deficiencies or quickly boost growth.
Dry Fertilizer
Dry fertilizer can be applied in many ways. Scatter it over the entire garden, down a row, or ring individual plants. You can broadcast dry fertilizer (1 pound for each 100 square feet of garden or 100 feet of row) over the entire garden plot before planting. Then after planting, side-dress along the plant rows. The fertilizer should be applied 2–3 inches to the side of, and 1–2 inches below, the seed level or plant row. Avoid applying fertilizer when foliage is wet, and water after applying it to remove particles from foliage. For best results, use small amounts or light concentrations of fertilizer, and spread it over the root zone.
Animal Manures
Composted animal manures used in place of inorganic fertilizer are best applied as a side dressing—this means they’re placed next to rows.
Water-soluble Fertilizer
Water-soluble fertilizers are often useful as a quick boost for vegetables. Liquids or crystals mixed with water are applied as frequently as once a week. The nutrients, easily distributed by a gardener with a sprinkling can, are readily available to plants. These fertilizers are especially handy for container-grown plants.
Foliar feeding, a technique of spraying plants with dilute liquid fertilizer, is rarely part of regular maintenance. Instead, use it to provide a special boost or to supplement micronutrients like iron, manganese, or zinc.
Preventing Pollution
To prevent water pollution from nutrient leaching and runoff, always follow these steps when fertilizing your vegetable garden.
- Follow UF/IFAS recommendations. Ideal rates, application timings, and formulas are different for different plants.
- Keep fertilizer off hard surfaces. If fertilizer gets spilled on a hard surface (like a driveway), sweep it up and dispose of it. Fertilizers can wash into storm drains and from there into a nearby water body.
- Don't fertilize before a heavy rain. If rain is forecast in the next twenty-four hours, hold off on applying fertilizer. Rain can wash fertilizer off landscapes or cause it to leach into groundwater, contributing to pollution.
- Know your water source. If you use reclaimed/recycled water for irrigation, keep in mind that it can contain nutrients, including nitrogen, and adjust the amount you fertilize accordingly.
FAQs
Fertilize spring seedlings and transplants with a soluble fertilizer mixed with water then switch to a granular vegetable fertilizer as the plants grow. Mix dry fertilizers into the top 2-4 inches of soil. Water-in fertilizers after application if rainfall is not expected.
When to apply 10-10-10 fertilizer to vegetable garden? ›
"Generally, nutrients are best applied in the spring through mid-summer," Kleinguenther says, but there are nuances. With vegetable gardens, spring is best, but it depends on the plant, Langelo explains.
What is the most effective way of applying fertilizer? ›
The most effective way to apply fertilizer for maximum yield is through precision methods like soil testing and variable rate application, which tailor fertilizer types and amounts to specific crop and soil needs, optimizing nutrient utilization and minimizing waste.
What is the best garden fertilizer for vegetables? ›
Plant-based fertilizers such as cottonseed meal has been proven to work well, as do many of the animal-based products such as composted manure. Manure must be composted, or broken down over time, so the nutrients are released slowly. This will minimize the risk of burning the plants with a shock of too much nitrogen.
How to properly fertilize your garden? ›
All dry fertilizers should be worked or watered into the top 3 to 5 inches of soil with hoe or spade work after being applied to help the fertilizer leach down toward the plants' root zones. If your plants are already growing, cultivate them gently so that you do not damage any roots.
How do you apply fertilizer to plants? ›
Simply apply the fertilizer around the base of the plant, extending to the drip line. For vegetables, place the fertilizer in a strip parallel to the planting row.
What is 20-20-20 fertilizer used for? ›
NPK 20 20 20 is a highly concentrated, balanced plant fertiliser. It contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It is ideal for growing plants in poor quality soils as it provides a high amount of each of the three essential plant macronutrients.
What time of day to fertilize a vegetable garden? ›
Always follow the manufacturers recommended rates and application methods. Fertilize outdoor plants in the coolest part of the day, such as early morning or late evening, especially in hot summer weather. Always water in fertilizers well to distribute nutrients throughout the soil profile and to prevent burning.
Can you put too much fertilizer on vegetables? ›
Too much fertilizer can potentially cause a chemical burn on the roots of your plant. In severe cases, it can also cause the whole plant to wilt and die. This is something that you might see happen within a few days of fertilizing. You'll need to act quickly if your plant has been overfertilized.
What fertilizer makes plants grow the fastest? ›
Nitrates (The leaf makers)
These fertilizers are high in nitrogen. Nitrate helps plants to grow faster by encouraging the formation of more & more leaves. Common Nitrates: Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium chloride, Calcium-ammonium nitrate, Urea.
Commonly available fertilizer analysis that are great for tomato seedlings include 8-32-16 and 12-24-12. Mix the fertilizer with water according to package directions. If fertilizer is applied too frequently, or too much product is used at one time, your tomato plants may be damaged.
Which vegetables don t like fertilizer? ›
Avoid using organic fertilizers made primarily from processed manure when preparing the soil for beets, carrots, and other root crops. Manure can contribute to scabby patches on potato skins and forked roots in carrots and parsnips.
How often should I fertilize my vegetable garden? ›
Vegetables that are growing in well-drained, porous soil need to be fertilized about every three to four weeks throughout the plants' growing season. Continue to apply fertilizer to your plants even when you see fruit or veggies appearing. The fertilizer ensures the plants will continue to produce.
What is the best fertilizer for cucumbers? ›
Cucumbers need moderate nitrogen and high phosphorus and potassium, so an organic plant food with the first number lower than the last two (like 3-4-6) is good. Keep plants well watered to avoid bitter-tasting cucumbers.
Which vegetables don't like fertilizer? ›
Root vegetables that do not like manure:
- Beetroot.
- Potato.
- Carrot.
- Parsnip.
- Radish.
When growing vegetables, it is always advised to give additional food to the plant to maximize the harvest. Apply either a granular fertilizer once every 3-4 weeks during the growing season or you can use the water-soluble option where you mix it when watering, but once a week.
Should you fertilize vegetable garden before or after rain? ›
7. Apply fertilizer at the right time. The best time to apply granular fertilizers is usually right before a heavy rain is expected. Rain will wash the fertilizer into the soil and make it more readily accessible to plants.
Do you fertilize before or after planting vegetables? ›
"Fertilizer can easily burn young plants, so I generally use organic matter, such as aged compost, to amend the soil before planting," she says. Two to three weeks after planting, you can spread fertilizer around the soil just below the outer canopy of the plant.
