Row by Row Episode 195: What Fertilizers Should You Be Using

Do you know what fertilizer you should be using? What is the difference in synthetic and organic? Do you really need nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium? With so many questions revolving around fertilizers in the garden, we decided it's time to do a deep dive before we get too far into this 2022 spring/summer season.

Facts About Fertilizers

Did you know that organic fertilizers feed the soil and synthetic fertilizers feed the plant? Any source of organic matter will, sooner or later, become a soil acid after it has deteriorated into the soil. Manure that is applied to the surface without a soil cover can lose 25% of its nutrients in a single 24-hour period on a sunny, windy day. Calcium Nitrate (or nitrate of lime) is produced by reacting nitric acid with crushed limestone.

What Fertilizers Should You Be Using? Part 1

20-20-20 Fertilizer

Our 20 20 20 Garden Fertilizer has a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium that works great for fertilizing plants at all stages of growth. This water-soluble formula dissolves easily in water and can be applied by pouring alongside plants or with an injection system. used on any vegetable or plant in your vegetable garden. It works especially great when used early on heavy-feeding crops like tomatoes, onions or corn and it also helps to stimulate early plant growth in heavy-feeding cool crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi and more!

Micro-Boost

Micro-Boost is a micronutrient blend specifically designed to improve the yield potential of your vegetable garden plants by maximizing nutrient uptake, promoting a robust root system and an overall healthier plant. It can be used on all crops.

Complete Organic Fertilizer

Our Complete Organic Fertilizer is a balanced blend made from 100% all-natural, composted chicken manure. Includes 5% Nitrogen, 4% Phosphorous, 3% Potassium and 9% Calcium. OMRI listed for certified organic production. This formulation also includes 9% calcium which is especially important when growing tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Calcium deficiencies can cause blossom end rot in nightshade (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) species and is indicated by a rotting on the bottom of the fruit. This fertilizer will provide the adequate calcium to prevent blossom end rot and provide a healthy harvest.

What Fertilizers Should You Be Using? Part 2

Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer

Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer is a water-soluble formulation that provides fast-acting nitrogen along with calcium to increase fruit quality and prevent blossom end rot. Great for tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and more! This fertilizer contains ammoniacal and nitrate nitrogen, which results in quick uptake and fast growth responses. Nitrate nitrogen also improves the uptake of potassium, calcium and magnesium by the plant.

Chilean Nitrate Fertilizer

Organic Nitrate Nitrogen nutrient source collected from natural rock deposits found in Atacama desert in chile. Chilean Nitrate Fertilizer provides a non-synthetic, natural source of nitrogen for your vegetable garden. Also known as sodium nitrate, this fertilizer is bagged in a dry, flowable form that is 100% water soluble. OMRI listed for organic use.

For side-dressing field corn, popcorn or sweet corn, apply 3.5 lbs per 1,000 square feet at least 2-3 times throughout the life of the plant. We recommend an initial application prior to the first hilling of the corn. Apply the granular fertilizer alongside the row and cover with soil during the hilling process. For other vegetable crops, apply alongside the plants at a rate of 1 cup per 10 feet. Use a hoe or other hand cultivation tool to mix the fertilizer into the soil. Apply every 2-3 weeks or as needed.