So let’s go over some essential fertilizer basics.

The ingredients in fertilizer are categorized as macronutrients and micronutrients. And although micronutrients are certainly important, it’s the macronutrients that are going to make the difference between a great harvest and a garden fail.

First, let’s discuss what makes up fertilizer because that will help you understand how to analyze the types of fertilizer at your local garden center.

Macronutrients in fertilizer

Macronutrients are the nutrients that plants require in the largest quantities. They make up the bulk of the nutrients in fertilizer and are referenced in the N-P-K ratio label.

What does NPK stand for?

• (N) Nitrogen=Leaves and Lawns

Plants will use the nitrogen to grow really pretty green leaves. Plants preferentially take up nitrogen so too much will suppress the production of fruit.

• (P) Phosphorous= Flowers, Fruits, and Roots

Plants use the phosphorous to produce and reproduce. So they will grow strong healthy roots and lovely flowers and fruits. All of your flowering and vegetable plants will need adequate phosphorous and not too much nitrogen.

• (K) Potassium=Feed and Fight

Potassium is necessary for the plants to perform any other activities, so plants need adequate potassium to take up nutrients and fight off disease and pests. (yes plants can fight off pests. No, not like a ninja, but by secreting chemical compounds that can be offensive to pests and/or attract predator bugs.)

Here’s a helpful video for more information about what NPK stands for:

Related reading: 5 Unbelievable things epsom salt does for tomato plants. 

The uptake of nutrients is greatly affected by the pH of your soil.

If you’re having trouble with nutrient issues despite adequate fertilization, make sure you check for proper pH. There are lots of tools to check the pH of your soil. Every plant will have a specific pH that it performs best in, but most vegetables will do well in soil with a pH near 6.5.

How do I know if my plants need fertilizer?

Ideally, you would send your soil to be tested at your county extension agency prior to planting your garden. They will test your soil for nutrients and give you detailed information about what is in your soil and what needs to be added.

But if you forget to do that, you can watch your plants for signs of nutrient deficiency such as a loss of green color and yellowing leaves. Other signs of nutrient deficiency include stunted plants, lack of production of fruit, and dropping flowers or fruit.

Choosing the right fertilizer for your veggie garden.

Your first consideration will be whether you want to use organic or synthetic fertilizer. There are pros and cons to each type. We prefer to use organic products, and would only rarely or in desperation use synthetic products.

Organic fertilizer

• Organic fertilizer utilizes natural sources of nutrients like manure, bone meal, and plant material.
• The organic components are not water soluble and don’t wash away.
• Using organic fertilizer will improve the overall health of the soil over time.
• Organic nutrient sources will require some break down in the soil before the nutrients are available to the plants.
• Since they require some breakdown, plants don’t receive an immediate surge of nutrients.
• Many garden soil additives are a good choice for organic fertilizer

Synthetic fertilizer

• Components are treated to become water soluble making them very easy for the plants to absorb.
• Since the nutrients are immediately absorbed and used by plants, plants go through a quick surge in growth.
• Synthetic fertilizers can burn plants if used too aggressively.
• The nutrients are readily washed away with watering and rain, so they must be reapplied often.
• Overuse can lead to algae problems in nearby creeks and ponds due to run-off.
• Over time, gardens treated solely with synthetic fertilizers will actually become more and more depleted of nutrients.

Analyzing the N-P-K ratio

Above we talked about what NPK stands for: Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium, but you need to be able to use the NPK ratio to decipher between fertilizer types.

In a food garden, try an organic fertilizer with increased concentration of phosphorous for robust healthy plants loaded with produce. But don’t wait until they’re yellow to apply it.

Go ahead and add it in before or at the time of planting and reapply every 3-4 weeks.

Using compost in the garden is another way to gently and naturally fertilize your plants. Whether you make enough of your own or have to purchase organic compost, it is great to use as topsoil and potting soil.

Read my article about choosing a compost bin.

A final consideration: heavy feeders vs light feeders

Many flowering and fruiting plants like tomatoes are heavy feeders. These plants will need a steady supply of fertilizer to grow healthily through the growing season. Adding organic fertilizer to the planting hole at transplanting is ideal for these plants.

Root crops fall into the moderate feeder category. They need healthy soil to grow properly. Organic vegetable (no manure) compost is the best choice for these guys.

Greens and beans are the light feeders that will require the least amount of supplementation.

Plant heavy feeders where light feeders grew last year and vice versa. Rotating crops this way is healthier for the soil.

The post What Does NPK Stand For? And Other Fertilizer Basics appeared first on You Should Grow.

Someday, I hope we will grow more than vegetables at home. I plan on having chickens for eggs and meat. Maybe one day we can consider cows or pigs, but that’s a ways down the road.

Because I’m a total nerd, I thought it would be fun to explore why we need these vitamins and which foods are the best sources of each. So here goes…

Vitamin A

Also known as Beta-carotene, vitamin A is necessary for healthy vision, especially night vision, and the immune system.

• Orange colored veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, and orange bell peppers are high in vitamin a
• Dark greens like kale are also rich in vitamin a

Lycopene

Although it is not an essential nutrient in our diets, lycopene is a carotenoid with powerful anti-oxidant properties. It can help protect against heart and artery disease, cancer, and premature aging.

• Lycopene is responsible for the red color of fruits and vegetables.
• It is most abundant in tomatoes.
• Also in watermelons, papaya, red carrots, and pink guava and grapefruit

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is vital for absorbing calcium and maintaining healthy bone structure. Our bodies make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight. Isn’t that cool!?

• Since we create most vitamin D from sunlight, there is not much in our food.
• It is highest in mushrooms, egg yolks, and dairy products.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E stops the production of free radicals in our body and can help protect us from cancer and cardiovascular disease.

• To get adequate vitamin E, spinach tops the list here, but any dark leafy green veggie will be rich.
• Also sunflower seeds and avocados

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is especially important in our ability to stop bleeding. It has an integral role in the clotting cascade.

• If you want to make sure you eat plenty of vitamin K, eat your dark greens.
• Kale, salad veggies, herbs, broccoli, and brussel sprouts

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant like vitamin e. But vitamin c helps us build collagen to make healthy skin, cartilage, tendons, even blood vessels.

• Get plenty of vitamin C by eating yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, citrus fruits
• Also summer squash,zucchini, and broccoli

B Vitamins

The B vitamins have a variety of essential functions including metabolism and making red blood cells. Those are kind of important.

Here I separated out the different B vitamins and listed foods that are highest in those.

• B-9, folic acid: greens, brussel sprouts, avocado, peas, lentils, beans, asparagus, oranges
• B-1, thiamin: beans, greens, peas, sunflower seeds
• B-2 riboflavin: spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, brussel sprouts, eggs
• b-3 , niacin: potatoes, peas, asparagus, avocados, beef, sunflower seeds
• B-5, pantothenic acid: broccoli, avocados, sweet potato, mushroom, eggs
• B-6 : potatoes, winter squash, sunflower seeds, pistachios, beef, avocado, spinach
• B-7, biotin: avocados, cauliflower
• B-12: eggs, beef, dairy, mushrooms (a little)

We need vitamins and minerals for normal body function.

Calcium

Calcium is essential for many body functions including muscle contractions, nerve signaling, and healthy bones.

• The most obvious source of calcium is from dairy products.
• Also the dark leafy greens like kale and spinach, okra, broccoli, and bok choi

Iron

We need iron in our red blood cells for oxygen transfer to cells, normal cell function and growth and development.

• Animal meats are the primary source of iron in our diets.
• Vegetarian options: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, beans, lentils, and beet greens

Potassium

Potassium is necessary for healthy cardiovascular function, digestion, and fertility.

• Healthy sources of potassium include beans, greens, and potatoes.
• Also Winter squash, avocados, mushrooms, and banana

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for almost every function in our body including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, and blood pressure.

• Nuts and seeds are great sources of magnesium.
• Supplement your diet with pumpkin seeds, spinach, beans, avocados, broccoli, and banana.

We all know that healthy food equals a healthy body. I know that I feel better when I eat more fruits and vegetables, and it’s nice to know that I can grow enough at home to supply plenty of vitamins and minerals for my family.

Not that I’m super strict about my diet, but just substituting fruits for sweets and using veggies instead of crackers or chips makes a HUGE difference.

I still eat some fatty foods and indulge in an occasional adult beverage.

And that is okay. Because I also ate some broccoli.

Like I said, I’m a nerd, and I think it is pretty cool to think about growing food as growing vitamins.

The post Veggies You Should Grow To Replace Your Multivitamin appeared first on You Should Grow.

Know your plant hardiness zone

The USDA publishes a map with growing zones. Click here to learn your growing zone. When buying seeds or plants, there will be a reference to the hardiness zone that will indicate how well the plant tolerates extremes of heat and cold. So knowing your hardiness zone is vital to narrowing down what plants do well in your area.

Next, you will need to determine the growing conditions for your garden.  Figure out how much sun you get in the sunniest part of your garden and in the shadiest part. You can start to understand sun exposure by figuring out which direction your growing area faces.

North facing sun exposure

North facing patios will get the most shade.  Many vegetables will struggle with this, but all hope is not lost. You can grow on a north facing patio if you are getting at least 3 or 4 hours of sun.

Lettuce, Arugula, Kale, even mint, oregano, and chives will do well on 3 or 4 hours of sun.

Get heirloom seeds for your garden here.

If you live in a very hot climate, having a partial shade growing area is ideal for growing lettuce and leafy greens in the hot summers.

For shady gardens, consider adding greenhouse where you can hang artificial grow lights. We start our plants in a simple 6 x 10 greenhouse. Sure we’d love to have a larger one, but we are getting by just fine with our little one. It was a moderate investment at around $1000 for the kit, but we have been using it for several years.

East facing sun exposure

If your garden is turned toward the east, you will get the glorious morning sun and afternoon shade. This is a great area for growing carrots, beets, and leafy greens who enjoy some sun, but are sensitive to the hot afternoon rays. And with at least 6 hours of sun, you will be able to get some peppers and tomatoes growing in this area.

Where it is feasible, using a mirror to reflect the sun can prolong your growing time.

South facing sun exposure

South facing patios will get the most sun.  This makes them ideal for growing vegetables.

In the heat of the summer, however, these areas will need the most attention to prevent drying out. Especially plants that are growing in containers.

At our house, we have some peppers and herbs in 20 gallon pots near the front door. It is super convenient for harvesting as needed, but they are in direct sun all day. These guys are going to be sucking up water like crazy.

If we miss a day or are lazy about watering for one day, they will begin to wilt.  Sometimes, I have to stop doing whatever I’m doing and force myself to go water the container plants. Even if I have to go pee. I have to make it a priority, or they will not give me peppers.

A cool tip: we have grown spinach through the heat of the summer by planting them under an a-frame trellis covered in cucumber vines.

West facing sun exposure

West facing gardens will get evening and afternoon sun. If you get 6 or more hours of sun, you will have good luck planting tomatoes, peppers, and squash in this garden.

Like south facing gardens, it can get too hot for some vegetables in a west facing garden. Make sure to provide shade to cool and protect plants like spinach in your garden.

Factors that affect sun exposure

When watching your garden area, factor in the effect trees, houses, and other buildings have on the sun exposure in your garden. Don’t forget that the sun will be slightly different at different times of the year. You can’t map your sun exposure in winter and apply that to your summer garden. This is when using the directional guidelines is most helpful. You don’t want to waste a growing season watching the sun-just guestimate it and learn how to improve for next year’s garden.

Once you have a garden plan using, go purchase seed and check out our seed starting post to get a jump start on the season. And find out which seeds you can just drop and grow.

How does your garden grow? Please leave us a comment! We would love to hear how you compensate for sunlight challenges in your garden!

The post Use Sun Exposure To Plan Your Garden appeared first on You Should Grow.