How to Fertilize When Growing Vegetables? A Full Breakdown of the Correct Method

When growing vegetables, applying fertilizer not only promotes the growth of the vegetables but also, to a certain extent, reduces the occurrence of pests and diseases. But how to fertilize when growing vegetables is indeed a question worth attention.

How to fertilize when growing vegetables?

1. Base (bottom) fertilizer

The application of base fertilizer is generally done together with soil preparation. As a bottom fertilizer, it is generally best to use organic fertilizer that releases its nutrients slowly, such as cow manure, sheep manure, chicken manure, cow manure, sheep manure. Besides providing slow-release fertilization, it also helps loosen the soil. The method of use is very simple: scatter the fertilizer over the soil and turn the soil over once so that the soil and fertilizer are combined.

2. Seed fertilizer

Seed fertilizer is used as a supplement when the base fertilizer is insufficient, but if the base fertilizer is sufficient, it need not be applied. If seed fertilizer needs to be applied, generally fully decomposed organic fertilizer or quick-acting chemical fertilizer is used, and the application rate should be small. Various quick-acting chemical fertilizers, fully decomposed organic fertilizers (such as cake fertilizer, poultry manure, etc.), biological fertilizers, trace element fertilizers, etc. can all be used as seed fertilizer. There are the following three application methods:

(1) Seed mixing: evenly mix a certain amount of fertilizer with a certain amount of seeds, then sow.

(2) Seed soaking: soak the seeds in a fertilizer solution of a certain concentration, then take the seeds out, let them dry, and sow.

(3) Dipping seedling roots: mix biological fertilizer, micro-fertilizer, etc. with organic fertilizer in a certain proportion into a paste, dip the seedling roots, and then transplant.

3. Top dressing

Top dressing is actually adding some fertilizer according to the condition of the vegetables, so that the vegetables grow faster and better. For example, when leafy vegetables have grown more than three or four leaves, in order to speed up their growth, we can apply top dressing once at this time. At this point, we can choose bean dregs or sesame oil dregs. Note that they should be soaked in water and fermented in advance. While watering the vegetables, mix in these fertilizers, so that the fertilizer can be quickly supplied to the vegetables and achieve the purpose of accelerating growth.

4. Foliar spraying

Fertilizer and pesticide can be mixed and sprayed, which can both meet the nutrient supply and control pests and diseases.

Overall, fertilizing when growing vegetables generally includes the steps of base fertilizer, seed fertilizer (which may also be omitted), top dressing, and foliar spraying, while the specific types and amounts of fertilizer all need to be determined according to the actual situation and cannot be generalized.