Plant Food, Fertilizer & More: A Phalen Plot Primer

Erik Altmann

Erik Altmann

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Plant Food, Fertilizer & More: A Phalen Plot Primer

Here's a quick breakdown of the plant food and fertilizers I'll be using on my garden herbs and veggies this summer.

The Feed Lineup

  • Miracle-Gro All Purpose: The 'Swiss Army knife' of the shelf, provides a basic, fast-acting nutrient boost for general plant health. I'll use this on container herbs about once every 7-14 days, pouring the blend directly into the base of each herb. I do the same with my zucchini in containers too.
  • Miracle-Gro Tomato: This is phosphorus-rich for heavy feeders, and helps with faster fruit production once blossoms appear. I use this more on the front end of the season (first 4-8 weeks), pouring the blend directly to the roots.
  • Jobe’s Organics Heirloom Tomato: This granular blend features a higher calcium concentration, which is critical for preventing blossom end rot. It feeds soil microbes to ensure your heirlooms stay healthy and rot-free from the bottom up. I use this to prevent 'bottom rot' once the tomatoes start to fruit, usually by putting about a teaspoon's worth directly on the base of each tomato plant.
  • Potato Fertilizer: Targeted potassium to ensure those grow bags produce substantial tubers instead of just top-heavy greenery. This is a new one this season! I plan to try it out in a few bags to see if they get greater yields.

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