Vegetable plants are the hardest to grow since they need proper maintenance and care. Plus, a slight negligence can spoil all of your healthy growing veggies plants in just a few days.
Remember that there are three main components upon which the fate of your vegetable garden depends. These three components are light, moisture, and nutrients.
Until your plants are soaking in proper sunlight, there would not be any problems like yellowing of leaves, chlorosis, etc. Similarly, your plants would get the optimum moisture from the rain and soil, unless there are no competitor plants around the veggies, fighting for the limited amount of moisture.
Lastly and most importantly, your plants absorb the nutrients from both the soil and air. If your vegetable plants are not thriving and growing as they should be, despite proper watering and sunlight exposure, the problem will undoubtedly, the lack of nutrients in the soil.
Thus, in this condition, the only thing that can save you is the best fertilizer for vegetable garden. These fertilizers would impart the required nutrients to the soil which in turn, help your plants to grow at an exponential rate. Resultantly, you’ll get healthier, larger, and desirable yields.
Therefore, for the convenience of our readers, we have reviewed some high-rated products and pen down our observations in this article. So, Either you are confused whether a product is worth purchasing or just an overrated thing, or either you are searching for the best Vegetable fertilizer, scroll down the list and get the answer!
Table of Contents
Best fertilizer for vegetable 2022 Comparison Table
Eight best fertilizers for vegetables
1. Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer
Inorganic fertilizers are not usually recommended since they possess high amounts of chemicals in them. These chemicals not only hinder the soil’s natural ability to regenerate minerals but are also quite unsafe for humans and animals.
This organic fertilizer is made to solve this problem since its manufacturer has not added any sort of toxin to the formula. On opening the packet, all you will see is manure, fishbone meal, fish meal, alfalfa meal, potassium sulfate, and proven probiotics – not any genetically modified organism to destroy your seedlings.
Another impressive feature of this Dr. Earth vegetable fertilizer is that it is very easy to use. You don’t need to dig the soil deep down the core nor do you need to spray and count on too many safety measures. Just mix/sprinkler the fertilizer over the soil and water it.
As soon as you add an adequate amount of water to the soil, the fertilizer will get absorbed into the soil automatically and start its work. The nutrients are not only released quickly but plants also start taking up them instantly and keep on unraveling the benefits for various next months.
Some specialized strains of symbiotic Microsoft best including the mycorrhizae are also a part of the formula which induces tolerance against drought and diseases in plants.
- Shows results in two weeks
- Best for tomato and succulent plants
- Easy to use
- Release nutrients rapidly
- Effective for several months
- Purely organic without GMO
- One bag is insufficient for ten plants
- Fishy smell
We tested this fertilizer on some tomato plants and it showed wonderful results by inducing the flowering in the small tomato plants only within two weeks. Thus, if you want healthier and taller veggie plants, especially tomatoes, this Dr. Earth fertilizer could make you get higher and premium quality yields in a shorter span.
2. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Plant Fertilizer
The deficiency of macronutrients is easy to recover however, these are the micronutrients that took huge time and effort to add back to the soil. We cannot add them using the chemical-filled solution since these solutions might increase the concentration of these micronutrients more than what is required.
Miracle-Gro fertilizer is mainly developed to sort out this issue. The manufacturer has added the most optimum amount of essential micronutrients in the formula including zinc and calcium. Plus, these nutrients are also not supplied to the plant readily or all-at-once, instead, the fertilizer releases them into the soil slowly, in a drip-feed method.
In this way, the deficiency of micronutrients gets recovered in vegetable plants at a normal pace that doesn’t disturb your plant’s life cycle. One application of this vegetable fertilizer is enough for about three months.
The most alluring feature of this miracle-gro fertilizer is its rich composition- especially the calcium. If you used to grow vegetables in your gardens, you might have noticed that some plants must undergo severe contagious diseases like the bitter pit, blossom end rot, fruit cracking, etc.
If any of these diseases arise in one plant, your entire harvest may be at risk. Thanks to the optimum level of calcium provided in this fertilizer since this element prevents these ailments by strengthening the plant cell wall which, in turn, produces long-lasting and better quality fruits and vegetables.
- Rich composition
- Provide micronutrients and calcium
- Effective for three months
- Drip feed nutrient release
- Prevent plant diseases
- Affordable
- Contains urea that can harm of engulfing
I used this fertilizer for my container and in-ground plants and I was pleased by the equally mesmerizing outcomes. This fertilizer is not only capable of increasing the harvest but also boosts the quality. The yield we obtained was more than what we were expecting.
3. Jobe’s Organics 9026 Fertilizer
Not any list of best fertilizers could be completed without mentioning Jobe’s fertilizers since the brand has put in enough hard work in their products to make them unique and unmatched.
This jobe’s organic fertilizer is mainly developed by targeting the vegetable gardens and since we were hearing a great hype about this product from the gardener community, we tested it out.
The product comes in a four lbs plastic bag which means you will need to buy only a single packet to fertilize an area of about 120 square feet. The fertilizer is also granular which makes it easier for the user to use and quick-acting.
Just sprinkler these small granules all over your vegetable garden, water it up, and let the granules diffuse into the soil. The main components of these fertilizers are fungi, archaea, and other healthy bacteria that decompose the already available nutrients in the soil. Resultantly, the plants take them up and develop resistance against diseases, drought, and pest attacks.
The granular nature of jobe’s organics also ensures its slow nutrient releasing the property. In this way, you don’t need to apply the fertilizer over and over again since a one-time application would be enough for several months.
- Suits a wide range of plants
- Covers 120 square feet
- Easy to apply
- Safe to use
- Drip feed mechanism
- Affordable
- Absurd smell
We added this fertilizer in the soil of our vegetable beds and pots growing different types of veggies and got to know the most interesting trait of this compost; it suits almost all the plants – from cucumber to cannabis. All those gardeners looking for a good fertilizer at an extremely affordable price should give Jobs ‘ fertilizer a chance for sure.
4. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Flower & Vegetable
Osmocote fertilizers are known for their not-so-common slow nutrient releasing the property. This plant food possesses a well-balanced (14-14-14) NPK ratio and is developed to achieve the goal of not only producing healthier vegetables and fruits but also strengthening the plant’s root system.
We received an 8 lbs packet and on opening the packaging, we were a little confused by seeing the strange coated granules. Yes, this plant food comes in a specialized resin-coated form which is provided for a good reason.
The coating is semipermeable to water which means the water can pass through the coating to break the inside nutrients down. However, the nutrients will come out of this sphere of coating only when a specific temperature hits.
Thus, in this way, this fertilizer increases the soil strength and nutrient content in summers which makes it suitable for warmer regions or all those gardeners growing summer veggies.
Applying this fertilizer is also quite easy since you just need to dig it a little deep down the topsoil and water it. Since the bag is so large, you don’t need to purchase more than one for a single growing season.
- Large bag
- No need to reapply
- Slow nutrient release
- Suitable for vegetables and flowers
- Safe to use
- Resin coated granules
- Best for summer plants
- Not suitable for colder regions
We tried this plant food for both the vegetative and flowering plants and this mighty synthetic blend helps us achieve stronger roots, lush blooms, and healthier plants. Plus, this fertilizer is also completely safe which ensures you get only the safest and free-of-chemical veggies.
5. Organic Kelp Fertilizer by GS Plant Foods
If you are looking for a liquid fertilizer due to its ability to be absorbed and low maintenance needs, then you should have a look at organic Kelp liquid fertilizer.
This liquid plant food, unlike other liquid fertilizers, is made up of all-natural ingredients and the major one of them is seaweed products. The descriptions stated over the packaging states that these finest quality seaweeds are extracted from the Ascophyllum nodosum. The strong smell is confirming the statement though.
I applied this plant food in my veg garden and there were not any visible results until five days but then, I observed that this plant food is affecting the roots. Roots and root hairs started to expand in size which, in turn, accelerated the seedlings’ rate of growth.
With this stronger root system, the plant’s leaves grew thicker and greener, and eventually, they became stronger enough to cope with harsh weather and environmental conditions including pest attacks and diseases.
I added this fertilizer to my houseplants more than what was recommended but it was really amazing that the plant didn’t show any negative results. No wilting or root burns. Instead, those plants started to grow faster with bigger flowers over them. All credit surely goes to its organic composition which also makes it safe to use.
- Large bag
- No need to reapply
- Slow nutrient release
- Suitable for vegetables and flowers
- Safe to use
- Overdo will not harm the plant
- May attract insects
This liquid feed works incredibly well for producing the biggest watermelon, tomatoes, and some other succulents. On applying it over some flowering plants, some insects, mainly the pollinators, may be attracted to plants which you can prevent by some organic insecticide.
6. Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer
This product is another liquid fertilizer that is suitable for almost all types of vegetables and fruits plants. The main ingredients of this Neptune’s organic fertilizer are fish, seafood, and other seaweed that act as fast additives to improve the soil quality and plant’s overall health.
It comes in the form of a concentrate that needs to be diluted with a huge gallon of water or added along the main drip line. For better growth and higher yields, it is recommended to apply it after every two weeks.
Since the nitrogen content is high in this formula, it can be used for foliar feeding by applying it directly over the leaves. The most impressive characteristic of this plant is its price range. If you buy a single bottle then you don’t need to make any other purchase for less than a year.
- Completely organic
- Grow greener and healthier plants
- Suits a wide range of vegetables
- Usable for foliar feeding
- Economic
- Easy to apply
- Fishy smell
On opening the bottle first, you might sense a very strong fishy smell that’s because of concentrated fish meals. However, the smell is not that unbearable when this solution is diluted. Best valued vegetable fertilizer to get extra aromatic, plentiful, and long-lasting yields.
7. Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food
Almost all the products of miracle-gro are designed to deliver efficient results and this product is also one of them. Regular application of this plant feed can help you get the more beautiful and bigger plants full of blossoms and sprouts.
If we talk about the main objective of this plant food then it’s nothing other than providing essential nutrients to the soil. That’s why this fertilizer is quite important and recommended to use in urban or relatively not-so-fertile lands.
The fertilizer suits almost all types of vegetable plants and possesses an NPK ratio of 18-18-21. In this way, your plants will absorb all the highly needed nutrients from single plant food.
Using this fertilizer is also quite easy as you just need to add the instructed quantity to a water gallon and spray it all over your veg garden using a sprayer. Not only the fruits and veggies, but this plant feed is also quite helpful in growing grass. I found it out when the bald patches of my yard started to grow greener by the end of the month.
Due to being concentrated, the little bag will be enough to feed a large-sized garden for years – effective + economical. The fertilizer is enriched with organic supplements that ensure to prevent any sort of damages like root burn or harming the seedlings.
- Organic
- Safe and easy to use
- Suitable for all plant types
- Spruce up grass
- Improve soil quality
- Bigger veggies
- Box may contain less product than that is mentioned
If you are looking for a way to increase the harvest and enhance the deliciousness of your vegetables, give this fast-acting plant feed a try. Especially if you are living in an urban area where the soil quality is not that good, this miracle-gro fertilizer can help you a lot in establishing a dream homegrown garden.
8. Omri Listed Fish & Kelp Fertilizer
As the name implies, this fertilizer is loaded with fishmeal, kelp, molasses, and the best marine products that are perfectly blended to make your soil more nourishing – especially if you are growing a vegetable garden in outdoor environments. However, it smells quite bad at first.
The bio fish material present in this product is added by the manufacturer after thorough research and consideration, plus, the NPK value of this plant food is also optimum; 7-7-2.
This perfect NPK ratio also ensures to deliver the required quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil so the plants can flaunt gorgeously.
Besides fish meal products, many essential nutrients are also made a part of this fertilizer that make it suitable for almost all types of crops including tomatoes, corn, succulents, and even shrubs.
- Loaded with fishmeal and kelp
- Rich source of macro and micronutrients
- Optimum NPK ratio
- Suits well to the outdoor plants
- Easy to apply
- Stinkier smell
A single application is enough for the entire growing season to assist your plants in bloom brilliantly and stun the juicy fruits and vegetables. For getting better results and sparkling yields, apply this feed to the soil once a week by mixing the recommended amount with water.
Buying guide
Buying the best fertilizer for vegetables is not as easy as buying fertilizers for other plants. You are going to buy an external aid for a plant whose yields are going to be a part of your body in a few months. Thus, besides the ease of use and NPK ratio, there are so many factors that you need to consider at any cost such as
Chemical formChemically, two main types of fertilizers are available to purchase. Synthetic fertilizers are those loaded with lab-made ingredients and designed mainly to boost up soil fertility.
Such sorts of fertilizers act rapidly and give desirable results sooner. However, such ingredients might cause little inconvenience to the skin and might not be safe for kids and pets.
On the other hand, organic fertilizer is stuffed with all-natural materials like manure, fish meal, alfalfa meal, and many other similar elements. This type of plant feed is designed to impart essential nutrients to the soil but at a slower pace.
The results of such fertilizers are more long-lasting than that of synthetic fertilizers. However, since it contains manure, fish, and molasses, it smells extremely absurd.
Physical formYou’ll find the best fertilizer for vegetable in three physical forms; granular, powder, and liquid. Granular fertilizers work on a drip-feed mechanism and release the nutrients into the soil gradually when diffusing.
One application of these fertilizers is enough for three to four months. However, applying them is a little time-consuming since you need to dig them down into the soil.
Powder fertilizers are easier to apply than granular fertilizers since you just need to dissolve the powder into water and spray the water all over the garden.
This type of fertilizers are fast-acting and show quicker results but their effects are short-lived. The same case is for liquid fertilizer which can be applied either by spraying directly or adding to the main drip line. Both the powder and liquid fertilizers need to be applied after every one or two weeks for better results.
Final Verdict
Until now, we have discussed almost all the high-rated and most popular fertilizers for vegetables. Al these products perform well if used appropriately however, out most favorite fertilizers from the list
- Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer due to its purely organic nature without any GMO, instant functioning, and capability of showing visible results in two weeks.
- Jobe’s Organics 9026 Fertilizer due to its wide suitability range, easy application method, safety profile, and being best valued.
- Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Flower & Vegetable due to its extraordinarily slow nutrients release trait fell coated granular form, and lower maintenance needs.
Now you have known which type and brand of fertilizer you should get for your garden. Don’t forget the points of the buying guide to make the most beneficial purchase.