High yield vegetable crops grow in high quality soils -- ones that provide plants with nutrients, moisture and air. Through proper fertilization, gardeners assist soil in providing high yield harvests. Vegetable gardeners avoid applying generic herbicide/fertilizer mixes to their gardens since these mixes may damage vegetable viability. Instead, take a soil test to determine the amount and type of fertilizers to incorporate into your vegetable garden's soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Micro- and Macro-nutrients
Macro-nutrients, like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium aid in root development, foliage development and ultimately, flower and fruit development. Trace elements, also called micro-nutrients, further assist plants by fending off disease and pests. Trace elements like boron, copper, zinc and molybdenum are detected during soil test analysis. Soil scientists, from local university extensions or private agencies, provide home growers with valuable soil analysis and fertilizer recommendations. Scientists make customized fertilizer recommendations by examining the amount of nutrients available in your soil and comparing it with the amount of nutrients crops require. They may also suggest the best crops to grow for your soil conditions.
Fertilizers
Gardeners choose between different kinds of fertilizers -- synthetic, organic, complete and incomplete. Synthetic fertilizers are inexpensive and fast acting but because of a high salt content may kill earthworms. Organic fertilizers help improve soil tilth and are useful in vegetable gardens because they replenish soil structure as they decompose. Organic fertilizers, however, release nutrients as they decompose resulting in slower fertilization. Complete fertilizers provide garden soil with the three macro-nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, while incomplete fertilizers provide only one or two of the macro-nutrients. Such a configuration is necessary for soils with high percentages of one or more nutrients.
Fertilizing Vegetables
Fertilizer mixes are identified by their formulas -- a three number ratio indicating the percentages of macro nutrients available in the mix. A 12-12-12 fertilizer contains 12 percent nitrogen per pound, 12 percent phosphorous per pound and 12 percent potassium per pound. Fertilizers that are 12-12-12 are high in nitrogen making them well-suited for leafy vegetable fertilization. Unless soil tests results advise differently gardeners usually apply 2 or 3 lbs. of fertilizer per 100-foot row. Another high nitrogen fertilizer mix suited for leafy vegetables is 15-15-15. Root vegetables and vegetables grown for fruit or seed require higher percentages of potassium, for root development, and phosphorous, for flower development. Fertilizers that are 6-24-24, 6-12-18 and 8-16-16 are used for these types of vegetables.
Application Methods
Gardeners incorporate fertilizers into garden soil as part of the bed preparation process, but fertilizers can also be added as needed throughout the growing season. Vegetable gardeners fertilize using the banding method. Once gardeners establish rows they incorporate fertilizer in the ground between rows. This prevents the fertilizer from coming into contact with young roots and ungerminated seeds. Early fertilizer exposure damages plants. Later in the growing season mulch and fertilizer are sometimes applied between rows as a side dressing to aid in water retention and provide further fertilization.
