Honey your missing two out of three nutrients. Get some compost and make compost tea. Use that to water the little things-they are starving. Get a book on fertilizer or do a search here and check the compost forum for more advice.--aunt millie

Unfortunately I'm lacking the time, space, and raw materials to make my own compost or compost tea. Anyone have a good recommendation for a really good store-bought organic liquid fertilizer for an herb garden? Peppers, Basil, Chives, Oregano, Cilantro, etc. TIA!

If you want to go organic, I suggest trying an organic nursery (or at least an independent nursery rather than big box stores). I use Neptunes Harvest fish emulsion (2-3-1 I think) and a locally brewed organic fert (3-1.5-2) for my herbs. Herbs and peppers dont need a lot of N. I have some of the Alaska 5-1-1 for stuff that needs high N (lettuce, chives) but I dont think high N is what peppers and most herbs need. Organic nurseries might have compost and/or compost tea also.

But I am growing herbs in containers and they need some ferts. If you are growing in the ground, I think most people recommend no ferts.
KW

Thanks for the info katwomn. I also use Neptunes Harvest Fish and Seaweed (2-3-1), it's the only one I've ever used or been able to find locally in a store. Is this as good as it gets, or should I try to find something better that could be ordered online possibly?

So my chives will want high N? Is that the only one I have that wants high N? My complete list is: Hot Peppers, Basil, Chives, Oregano, Cilantro, and Spearmint.

TIA!

No I am wrong. I thought I read somewhere that lettuce and chives like high N, but I just checked "The Bountiful Container" (where I thought I read that) and for chives it just says light fertilizing once a month with a balanced fert and I and it doesnt say anything about ferts for lettuce. So I dont know where I got that idea from!

Overall everything I have read about herbs says that too much fert (especially N) will give you nice leafy plants with less flavor. I use a fast draining mix that basically flushes out my pots every time I water, so I fertilized twice a month. But last year was my first season and I didnt add any slow release fert to my potting mix. So my herbs got a slow start. After I started fertilizing they did better. But this year I am adding 5-5-5 granular fert to the mix so I may only use liquid fert once a month. I am still learning!

I have no idea if Neptunes Harvest is as good as it gets but I have read (I think on the organic gardening forum)that fish hydrolysate (which is what Neptunes Harvest is supposed to be)preserves more of the nutrients etc. Since it is readily available locally, it is what I use. I would check on the organic gardening forum before you start looking online (and paying shipping and handling). I am sure someone there would know!

Lydia