For containers I use a fish emulsion product. I won't give the name since I don't really think it makes much difference who makes it. Get whatever is available near you at a reasonable price.

I think if you buy a liquid fish emulsion product and a seaweed based product you have your bases covered for container plants. Both are (can be) liquids so they are easy to just water in when you water the plants, you don't have to mix them into the soil.

I say get both because they have a different ratio of macro nutrients, but there are products that combine both for an 'all purpose' fert.

Also, don't mix more than you will use within an hour or so as letting it sit results in a film developing on the top of the water that doesn't remix with water.

A bit spendy but well worth it....Metanaturals/certified organic liquid nutes...Good stuff. You won't find many organics that are certified....

If you get your soil built up with adequate quantitnes of organic matter then these "fertilizers" will be unnecessary. Until you get to that point you may need to use stuff to help your plants grow, but a carefull look at the products and a refusal by you to use any products that would be harmful to your toddler would be a major step toward being organic.

Container culture is a bit different than growing plants in the ground - supplementing what limited nutrients are contained in potting medium and that are leached out with frequent watering is very necessary for any type of container planting and even more so for edibles, which tend to have high nutrient requirements.

Fish emulsion is a fine choice, compost tea will also work well and there are many liquid organic fertilizer products as well. If you are on the west coast (California?) look for Dr. Earth solutions. An excellent balanced, certified organic formulation.

i like fish emusion and liquid kelp for my containers, but both are low are soluble phosphorus. I also add in some rock phosphate. My veggie container garden does very well each summer.
Compost is the basis for all good garden soil, but it does not substitute as a fertilizer. Compost is a soil amendment.

I am using milk at a rate of 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces of water. I'm not growing veggies but I would not hesitate to use milk on them if I was.

If you have a toddler, then you have adequate amounts of milk left over as rinse water from sippy cups and cereal bowls. Rinse them into a container and water when you need to.

I am using a fert from dried eggs called Pure Start. I have only been able to find it on the web though. The bag says it is safe around kids, but it says to mix into the soil. However, I have just poured the stuff on top and it seemed to work pretty well.

Here is a link that might be useful: PureStart

Thank you fo all your ideas. I finally found someone knowledgable at my garden center who told me to try Dr Earth's 3-3-3 liquid organic concentrate until my plants are established enough to withstand slight soil disruption, and then switch to the dry stuff, and wear protection. He said you don't need to worry about needing the extra P until they are starting to flower or fruit anyway--so this solution is working for now. With 2 kids under 2 I need a quick, easy way to get this done--hence the container garden. I am also planning on using compost as a top dressing when I plant, so that upon watering, the nutrients will go into the soil as an extra boost.
AS
Thanks again!

Can I recommened getting a soil sample done? It may cost a little bit, but you want the best soil possible & the small amount you spend will help out greatly and give you specific soil nutrient requirements

Here is a link that might be useful: Northern Gardener

These are containerized plants the OP is inquiring about, not in-the-ground plantings. Testing potting soils for container planting is a bit of a waste of time and money. Regardless of how the soil tests out of the bag, whatever nutrients it may contain at the outset will rapidly be depleted by leaching from the frequent irrigation needed to maintain containers during the growing season. Periodic fertilizing to replace or supplement depleted or diminished nutrients is a given, especially with those plants requiring high nutrient levels like most edibles.

I disagree that all you have to do is build up your soil with organic matter and you won't need fertilizers. Having good organic soil is not enough. Adding compost will add the micro herd to your soil and condition your soil but it's not enough. You need to feed the soil foodweb as well. They need protein to be happy. Protein meals does the trick, easy to obtain, and cheap to use.

I also recommend Neptune's Harvest Fish/Seaweed combo. This product is a fish hydrolysate which is different and better than fish emulsion.

Just about anything which comes in dry form should also be available in liquid. By offering the dry forms, it eliminates shipping the water with it.

Dirtworks has concentrated 2-4-1 and 2-3-1 liquid mixes as well as a dry seaweed mix. Their application rate is based on lawn and garden area but info on container gardening should also be available. There are many other similar organic fertilizers all over if you know where to look for them.

Martin

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Liquid & Dry Fertilizers