With all your tender loving care, your vegetable garden may need some extra help. Fertilizer has the role to enrich the soil with nutrients. These nutrients are necessary to help the plant thrive and yield a good harvest.
Here are a few useful points related to the use of fertilizers:
- Select the Right Type
Fertilizers are available in three forms: dry, compost/manure and liquid. Dry fertilizer is usually scattered over the plot of land before planting. Compost and liquid fertilizers are applied close to the plant, thus you need to work carefully not to damage your garden as you walk from one plant to another.
- Number of Applications
How many times should you use organic fertilizer for your vegetable garden? That depends on the type of soil. Clay soils need less fertilizing – one application every 4 to 6 weeks after planting. For sandy soils, you should apply the fertilizer once every 3 to 4 weeks.
- Do Not Apply Fertilizer on Rainy Days
If rain is forecast in your area, postpone fertilizing the garden. Otherwise, the fertilizer may run down into the water table and pollute it. Ideally, you should opt for organic fertilizer (animal manures or compost) even if it takes more work to apply it.
If your garden is more than just a hobby, you should hire a specialist to test the soil and recommend the best fertilizer for good results.