Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes and Peppers (Natural & Organic)

Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes and PeppersEveryone Loves My Pico De Gallo Salsa

If you’re searching for the best fertilizer for tomatoes and peppers so you can make fresh salsa for your Nachos, then you’re in the right place.

Below you’ll find 11 fertilizers, including my favorite brand.

Depending on where you live – what you’re growing makes a difference, so you’ll want to read the reviews carefully on any tomato and pepper fertilizers you get…

First, let’s talk about salsa…

The secret ingredients for my salsa are fresh tomatoes and peppers.

  • Freshly cut tomatoes and peppers.
  • Fresh chopped garlic and onion.
  • Small pinch of cilantro.
  • Small pinch of salt.
  • Few ounces of olive oil.
  • Adjust to your own taste buds.

Some folks call this recipe – Pico de Gallo – I call it delicious.

best fertilizer for peppers and tomatoesLook:

As a gardener, I love growing fresh tomatoes and peppers together so I can make salsa.

But I also enjoy using fresh tomatoes and peppers anywhere they taste good.

They add such a great flavor to tacos, tostadas, nachos, and just about anything you can smother with salsa or freshly chopped tomatoes and peppers.

Just the idea that something I’m eating came out of my garden makes everything taste better – even if it’s all only mental. 🙂

But, besides fresh tomatoes and peppers, there are so many other good reasons to grow them.

One of these is that they are very easy to grow if you have the right climate, soil conditions, and proper plant care.

And the best places to look for this information are with books or online. The best place I’ve found is to check out the gardening book section at your local library and ask for help to find the right one for you.

Tomato fertilizer

Of course, there’s also a lot of information online.

But if you’d like something specific and easy to use (like I do), then I suggest looking into the Sunset Western Garden Book published by Sunset Magazine.

I have an older edition, but the new one is just as good. It’s very easy to use, has lots of photos so you know what to expect when you go to the garden center or home improvement store and provides information on all regions of the U.S…

Not only will this booklet show you how to grow tomatoes and peppers, but each “planting guide” provides you with information on the ideal growing conditions for your plants, how many to plant in various regions of the country (i.e., states or regions), when to plant them, planting depth, proper spacing between plants, watering requirements, fertilizing needs (including organic), harvesting requirements, and even what diseases or pests to be on the lookout for.

If you think you’ll only use this book in one area of the country (i.e., where you currently reside), don’t get it – especially if you want to grow tomatoes and peppers outside year-round. The reason is that Sunset has a different planting guide for each region of the country. So you’d have to buy a new one every time you moved – which might actually be the best thing because then you would always know what plants would grow great wherever you lived.

I’ve included a link here so you can look inside or take a peek at other garden books online. You might also want to see if your local library has it first before buying your own copy.

Anyway, I know it’s early in the year to be thinking about this. But by now, you’ve probably got your seedlings (or plants) growing and are wondering how to keep them healthy through the summer months.

If you’re like me, then the room is limited – especially since the veggie garden is only available seasonally (from the spring through the fall).

While I really hate to watch my veggies go to seed just before it’s time for me to start tilling up soil, I’ve got to make room for other things (like flowers) during part of the summer. So if you like your veggies but don’t like sharing with them, then snapdragons are probably right up your alley.

Liquid tomato fertilizer

best liquid fertilizer for tomatoes

Now:

We’ll start from the top, with the most reviews, and then work our way down the list.

Depending on the type of tomatoes or peppers you’re growing, you’ll want to adjust the formula for the perfect ratio that’ll feed your plants.

For the best results, read the label so you don’t over-fertilize your plants with the wrong ratio.

Don’t worry. We’ll include your favorites, such as Miracle Gro and Jobes, as well as fertilizer alternatives that come as granule, liquid, and solid formulas.

Take your time and read the reviews – sometimes, you’ll get really good tips from other gardeners’ experiences.

Now, let’s get to what brought you here…

Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes and Peppers

#1 Best Seller
Jobe’s Organics 09026 Fertilizer, 4 lb
5,564 Reviews
Jobe’s Organics 09026 Fertilizer, 4 lb
  • Organic granular fertilizer; Fast acting fertilizer for vegetables and tomatoes for a more abundant harvest
  • OMRI listed for organic gardening by USDA; Certified organic means no synthetic chemicals
  • Contains Jobe Biozome; Extremely aggressive proprietary microorganism archaea that aggressively breaks down material for faster results
  • Jobe’s Biozome improves soil conditions; Helps your garden resist disease, insects, drought and other unfavorable conditions within a growing season
  • Easy pour bag; Fertilizer analysis: (2-5-3) 1.5 pound resealable bag, (2-5-3) 4 pound bag, (2-5-3) 16 pound bag
#2 Best Seller
Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer Poly Bag
  • For more nutritious and tasty vegetables
  • Optimum levels of primary plant nutrients
  • Contains no GMOs, chicken manure or sewage sludge
  • Feeds for several months
  • Made with 100% organic and natural ingredients
#3 Best Seller
Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer | Add to Potting Soil | Strong Root Development | OMRI Listed for Organic Gardening | for Tomatoes, Peppers, and Bulbs, 1-Pack, 3 lb (1 Pack)
  • STRONGER ROOT DEVELOPMENT: Bone Meal is a natural source of vital, readily available organic nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium that promotes strong plant roots, vibrant blooms and more delicious vegetables. Helps to enhance your plants throughout the growing season!
  • ADD TO SOIL: Add to soil or potting mix during seed starting or at any time prior to harvest to fuel strong roots and early, healthy plant growth. Bone meal fertilizer breaks down slowly, releasing nitrogen for robust growth throughout the season. Follow packaging instructions for the amount to use.
  • ORGANIC CERTIFIED: OMRI listed for organic gardening, Bone Meal is ideal for new bedding plants, giving established home flower gardens a boost, and keeping patio containers looking their best and brightest. Helps naturally deter rabbits from your garden.
  • IDEAL FOR FALL BULB PLANTING: Bone meal naturally promotes healthy growth of root and bulb crops and has a fine granular consistency for easy spreading. You can also use when planting flowering bulbs in the fall, such as tulips. Plus, it's Made in the USA!
  • 100% GUARANTEED: Burpee is committed to the success of all gardeners. We treat each order with care to ensure healthy seeds, plants, soil mixes and gardening supplies are sent in excellent condition. Loved by gardens and trusted by gardeners, Burpee has been introducing fresh garden breakthroughs since 1876. Burpee offers only the highest quality, non-GMO seeds, hand-picked by expert horticulturalists.
#4 Best Seller
Miracle-Gro 2000422 Plant Food, 1.5-Pound (Tomato Fertilizer), 1.5 lb
  • Instantly feeds to grow bigger, more bountiful vegetables versus. unfed plants
  • Feed every 1-2 weeks
  • Great for tomatoes and vegetables
  • Use with Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder or any watering can
  • Safe for all plants, guaranteed not to burn when used as directed
#5 Best Seller
Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food, Plant Fertilizer, 4.5 lbs.
  • Contains natural ingredients to feed microbes in the soil
  • Specially formulated with micronutrients to help plants grow strong and produce more fruits and vegetables versus unfed plants
  • Feeds up to 3 months
  • Calcium helps form stronger cell walls, producing better quality and longer-lasting fruits and vegetables. Plus, it helps prevent disorders in edible crops commonly associated with calcium deficiency.
  • For use in ground and in containers
#6 Best Seller
Jack's Classic Tomato Feed 12-15-30 Water-Soluble Fertilizer with Micronutrients, 1.5lb
  • Jack's Classic Tomato FeED 12-15-30 is formulated for vigorous plant growth from roots to green foliage, abundant flowering and fruit set for all tomato varieties and blooming vegetables.
  • Includes a formula containing a micronutrient package of nutrients including Magnesium and Calcium. Magnesium helps with improved feeding results, under diverse soil and growing conditions. Calcium is an effective nutrient to help prevent blossom end rot.
  • This 1.5 lb. tub of water soluable fertilizer can be used on all tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, squash and zuccini to help ensure continued growth and radiant health in your garden and backyard.
  • Jack's Classic includes professional grade fertilizer that is essential in allowing you to feed your plants with the best quality fertilizer for continued plant health.
  • This formula includes easy to understand mixing instructions and feeding schedules to help you out from use on your first houseplant and to your very own backyard farm.
#7 Best Seller
Neptune's Harvest Tomato & Veg Fertilizer 2-4-2, 36 oz
  • Increases Vigor And Volume Of Tomatoes And Vegetables
  • Ideal For Vegetables, Trees, Shrubs And Flowers
  • Helps Plants Tolerate Drought
  • No Assembly Required
#8 Best Seller
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules - Plant Food with Natural & Organic Ingredients, for Tomatoes, Vegetables, Herbs and Fruits, 2.5 lbs.
  • Use Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules to feed tomatoes, vegetables, herbs, and fruits
  • OMRI listed plant food provides vital nutrients for bigger harvests (vs. unfed potted plants)
  • Enjoy Miracle-Gro results with organic and natural ingredients
  • Reapply every 4-6 weeks and water regularly for best results
  • Covers up to 220 sq. ft.
#9 Best Seller
Espoma Organic Garden-Tone 3-4-4 Organic Fertilizer for Cool & Warm Season Vegetables and Herbs. Grow an Abundant Harvest of Nutritious and Flavorful Vegetables – 4 lb. Bag
  • FOR USE ON: Use Garden-tone organic fertilizer for leafy vegetables like lettuce, kale & cabbage as well as warm season crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash & melons.
  • CONTAINS: Garden-tone is a rich blend of the finest natural & organic ingredients enhanced with our exclusive Bio-tone formula; 3-4-4 Fertilizer analysis with 5% calcium. Garden-tone is environmentally Safe - No sludges or toxic ingredients.
  • WHEN / HOW TO USE: Use Garden-tone fertilizer monthly throughout the growing season. Apply to the soil around the drip line of the plant or on either side of planting rows and then water thoroughly. Garden-tone is ready to use and requires no mixing.
  • FOR ORGANIC GARDENING: Garden-tone is approved for organic gardening; It is a registered Organic Input Material meaning it meets all requirements for organic production.
  • MADE IN THE USA: Product of the Espoma Company. The leader in natural organics since 1929.
#10 Best Seller
JJobe’s Organics Garden Fertilizer Spikes, Easy Plant Care Fertilizer for Vegetable Gardens and Tomato Plants, 50 Count
  • All natural, environmentally friendly
  • OMRI listed for organic gardening
  • No mixing or measuring
  • Continuously feeds at the roots
  • Low odor formula

Video Guide for Growing Tomatoes and Peppers

FAQ

#1. What’s the best tomato fertilizer formula? It’s recommended to use 4-18-38 together with Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) and Calcium Nitrate for the ultimate balanced water-soluble fertilizer.

#2 What is the best tomato fertilizer ratio? According to Rabbit Hill Farms, the ideal ratio is 2-1.5-3 Total Nitrogen (N), 2% Available Phosphate (P2O5), 1.5% Soluble Potash (K2O)3%.

#3. What is the best natural fertilizer for tomatoes? You’d be surprised what tomatoes like, but to keep things simple, here is a list of 3 natural ways you can fertilize tomato plants. 1. Coffee grounds. (Acid) 2. Eggshell (Calcium). 3. Banana leaves (Potassium). For more natural ways to fertilize your plants, you can reference this guide.

#4. What is the best liquid fertilizer for tomatoes? Everyone loves Miracle Gro but there are a few liquid fertilizers listed above that are good alternatives.

#5. Is adding Epsom salt to the soil good for peppers? Yes, adding a couple of tablespoons when preparing the soil for planting is a good best practice.

#6. How often should I fertilize my plants? First, fertilize the soil when you’re planting (granules or solid). Then, fertilize again after the plant forms – about the size of a fingertip (liquid). And then fertilize again when the tomatoes or peppers begin to ripen (liquid). Finally, every 7 – 10 days until you pick them (liquid). For more information, please reference this guide.

#7. What’s the best fertilizer?

The best fertilizer for peppers and tomatoes is whatever works best for your plants.

#8. Does fertilizer burn plants?

Powdered or granular fertilizers will never burn your plant, but liquid fertilizers can if you over-apply them. So make sure your nutrients are mixed thoroughly and applied evenly on a regular basis as recommended (especially during hot and sunny days) for the best results.

#9. What is the right way to fertilize my plants?

The most important thing you can do when you’re fertilizing is don’t give them too much – especially if they are young or delicate. For a small plant, 1 tablespoon of liquid fertilizer every 7 days is plenty.

#10. When should I fertilize my plants?

For all plants, you’re better off fertilizing before 6 pm since the sun will help to break down the nutrients in the soil overnight. If you are using granular or solid fertilizers, it’s best to put them directly in the soil before planting.

#11. How much fertilizer should I use?

The basic rule of thumb is, if you fertilize 1 tablespoon per 7 days for 14 weeks, that’s usually enough. If you want to learn more about how often and how much to fertilize your plants please reference this guide.

best tomato fertilizer ratio

No Magic Formula…

I wish there were a magic formula for everyone to use, but it varies depending on the climate, soil, geography, moisture, and the care your plants get.

So regardless of which fertilizer you decide to buy or use, it all comes down to taking care of your plants: water, feed, and deal with insect issues, and in no time – you’ll be harvesting enough tomatoes and peppers to make lots of salsa.

Thanks for reading… please share!

* Updated on 2024-02-28 at 10:37.

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