For containers, I think I would rely mostly on added liquid fertilizing every two weeks. Bill's Perfect Fertilizer[liquid -6-11-5 ] might be a good start.

Remember that the phosphorus and potassium are nearly equal in that formula which is good......P2 05 has 2/7 phosphorus and K2 01 has 2/3 potassium when reduced to element form.

Thank you for the recommendation and responding to my post.

A really stupid question but are potash and potassium the same thing, just referred to by different names?

Also I realize that although they need a lower nitrogen fertilizer, they still need nitrogen, just in smaller amounts than leafy green stuff. I'm assuming this fertilizer contains nitrogen too? When you say liquid fertilizer to be applied every 2-3 weeks, when exactly is this in the growing period? Basically is it when the plant is still young, or not until it's started to bare fruit (with fruit baring stuff such as squash, bell peppers, etc.)

Could you start fertilizing when they're seedlings? I realize you'd have to use a weaker fertilizer, diluting it with water. You'd do so when they have their first set of true leaves right?

Where can you find this Bill's perfect liquid fertilizer please? I've never heard of it. Would it be something available at a local hardware store or gardening shop, or would you have to order it via the internet? If so, where please?

However how much water to fertilizer would you use (please don't just use a ratio, I'm really really bad with math).

If you use a gallon of water, how much fertilizer would you add to it for fertilizing the seedlings? This is just an example, but hopefully you get the gist of what I'm asking.

Potash is a compound with 2/3 potassium. We are using the old labeling system which is deceptive. Phosphate is only 2/7 phosphorus.

I would fertilize with a weak solution when the first true leaves open......maybe a teaspoon to the gallon. As the plants grow larger, they will need more water and fertilizer...maybe two teaspoons to a gallon.

I list a sight to mail order Bill's Perfect fertilizer. This may be pricey for some and there are other good fertilizers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bill's fertilizer

If you are growing vegetables in containers, I would highly recommend the book, "The Bountiful Container". It will answer your questions in great detail, and truly is one of the very best "how to books" on veggie growing that I have read.

The author recommends that you add a slow release fertilizer (like Osmocote, but Walmart and Lowe's offer good off-brands too) to the potting mix at the time you plant. And Then, Additionally, you should give your plants liquid fertilizer at half strength every week or at full strength every two weeks throughout the growing season.

You can use Miracle Grow, though it's expensive and unless you're careful, salts can build up in the soil very quickly. My favorite liquid fertilizer is Fish Emulsion (The Alaska brand is the easiest to find for me.). Don't let the numbers on the bottle fool you. This is a GREAT fertilizer. Plants, especially seedlings love it like no other I have tried. Its one fault is, the smell is just about the worst thing ever. I simply cannot tolerate it inside the house except in the basement. I always laugh at the word "deodorized" on the label. :) And, it sometimes draws cats and other critters to dig in pots, so I put chicken wire over the pots.

I have done trials on plants using FE on one set of pots and MGrow on another set of identical plants. Every time, the FE group does better.

I think you're over thinking it. :-)

I generally don't recommend a soil test unless something is wrong. The assumption here though is that you're adding compost on at least a semi-regular basis. If you're not amending with compost and/or decaying mulch, then all bets are off and you will eventually have problems and will eventually need a soil test because you'll be depleting the soil.

Don't get me wrong - if you are really curious and want to do a soil test, then go for it. Nine times out of ten though, your garden will grow just fine on a steady diet of compost, mulch, and maybe manure. No soil test needed.

That said, every garden can benefit from a little fertilizer now and again, so you're right to ask for recommendations. My old standby is Espoma Plant Tone. It's widely available (Lowes, HD, Agway, even Walmart I think), it's organic, and works very very well.

-Diggity

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Imperative

Did the people that recommended a soil test know you were growing in containers? Soil tests are not relevant to soil-less potting mixes, only to dirt, in-ground gardens.

As to fertilizers, most container gardeners recognize that nutrients leach out of the container every time you water. So unlike in-ground gardening, the nutrients have to be replaced throughout the growing season and on a regular basis.

What is most successful for me and many others is as Donna said above - add the appropriate dose of a slow release fertilizer (Donna mentioned several good ones) to the soil mix when filling the containers and then, once the plants are established in the container you simply supplement it with one of the many liquid fertilizers, diluted, at regular intervals throughout the season.

The brand of fertilizer you choose to use - and there are literally 100's readily available - will determine how much you dilute it based on its N-P-K rating. And the size of the container and the type of plant growing in it will determine how often you apply it.

Several other fertilizer brand names were suggested to you in your post of this question over on the Tomatoes forum so you have several to choose from.

Dave

I put a heaping teaspoon full of general purpose Miracle Gro in bucket with four gallons of pure rainwater in it and use that exclusively to water my tomato and pepper seedlings. I go through a whole bucket every two days, but I am watering over 150 seedlings, and they look oh so healthy, stocky, dark green leaves.

hi kawa,

i sure you would like folage pro by dyna gro you can use it every time you water at the rate of 1/4 teaspoon per
gallon also use pro tek made by dyna gro at the same
rate it really goes a long long way.

if you want you can order both at www.dynagro.com good
luck.

les