Garden fertilizers fall into two major categories: inorganic and organic. Inorganic fertilizers are manufactured from rock, petroleum and animal sources and are available in many forms, including granular, liquid, pellet and spike.
The nutrients in inorganic fertilizers are concentrated in order to make them quickly available to the plant. Using inorganic fertilizers is a very effective way to quickly supply nutrients to your tomato and vegetable plants.
Organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources such as minerals, animal and plant materials. Examples of organic fertilizers include alfalfa meal, oyster shell, bat guano and fish emulsion. Nutrients are relatively lower in concentration then inorganic fertilizers and are made available slowly through biological processes.
Every garden fertilizer lists the three major ingredients on the front of the container, in this order: Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash. The first number on the label is always Nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes plant growth. The second number is Phosphate. Phosphate plays a major role in rooting and blooming. The third number is Potassium. Potassium plays a key role in overall plant development. You may find the major elements of fertilizers expressed as N-P-K. Comparing organic and inorganic fertilizers side by side, organic fertilizers contain numbers such as 5-7-3 or 2-5-3. Inorganic fertilizers will typically have numbers 11-15-11 or 7-22-8. The number represents the percentage of each major component in the package. Note in each of these examples, the middle number is the highest, putting an emphasis on fruit production rather than plant growth.
Premium organic fertilizers will also contain elements such as Mycorrhizae and Bacillus designed to improve the soil microbiome, as well as enhance nutrient uptake.
The presence of an OMRI seal on the package is your assurance the product has been certified organic according to the Organic Material Review Board.
Fertilizers are most effective when plants can absorb them through the roots. Granular fertilizers are typically applied around the base of the plant at the rate of two cups per ten square feet. Liquid fertilizers are mixed and used to water at the base of the plant, being careful to avoid getting the foliage wet. Beyond basic ingredients, fertilizer effectiveness is determined by several factors, including soil structure, soil pH and soil fertility. If you have questions, stop in and let’s have a conversation about which fertilizer is best for your vegetable garden.
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