Q&A for How to Know What Fertilizer to Use On Your Garden Plants and When to Use It

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How do you know when a plant needs fertilizer?

Ben Barkan
Garden & Landscape Designer
Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, is licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and is a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Ben Barkan

Garden & Landscape Designer

Expert Answer

Check if it has any nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus deficiencies. Deficiencies of these 3 minerals can be roughly diagnosed through leaf appearance. Nitrogen deficiencies lead to yellow and brown leaves; phosphorus deficiencies cause purple-veined and slow-growing leaves; potassium deficiencies lead to curled, distorted leaves. Nitrogen is the nutrient that is most often deficient in plants.

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How do I know which fertilizer to use?

Ben Barkan
Garden & Landscape Designer
Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, is licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and is a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Ben Barkan

Garden & Landscape Designer

Expert Answer

That all depends on the plants you're growing. In general, nitrogen tends to be the nutrient needed in the largest quantity, so look for a fertilizer that has a high percentage of nitrogen. If your plants aren't doing well with that, test the soil's pH, then look for a fertilizer that will help balance it out. Organic compost tends to be healthier for plants, but you can still overfertilize with it, so just be careful.

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What fertiziler should I use for tomatoes?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

You can find fertilizers specifically for tomatoes and other vegetables at your local home and garden center. It's up to you whether you want to try liquid, granular, or spike fertilizer. Just make sure to read the directions! You can also try Epsom salt. It's not really a salt but a magnesium-sulfate blend.

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My fertilization instructions say to fertilize once per week from April through October. Also, "they enjoy leaf feeding as often as you like." What is leaf feeding?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Leaf feeding means spraying the leaves with fertilizer. Get a spray bottle and dilute the fertilizer with filtered or bottled water, then spritz it onto the plant's leaves. Try to do this early in the morning before the sun gets too hot.

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What is the best fertilizer for growing potatoes?

Community Answer

The best fertilizer for potatoes is the tomato and vegetable fertilizer. Generally, you should have the most phosphorous, then nitrogen, then potassium in the ratio. Potatoes are an underground crop, which means they need lots of phosphorous.

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What fertilizer is ideal for succulent plants?

Community Answer

Most succulents are benefited by the addition of diluted liquid fertilizer added to the water every second or third watering during their growing season. Any standard houseplant fertilizer with balanced amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash (20-20-20) can be used.

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What fertilizer do I use to make my lawn dark green?

Community Answer

Fertilize with a 5-10-5 fertilizer, 1 pound per 100 square feet.

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What fertilizer do you use for rockmelon?

Community Answer

Use a basal fertilizer.

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