Granular fertilizers vary greatly. One way to best understand how much fertilizer to use is the square foot method. A lot of times the product will say X amount of tablespoons per square foot , plant or planting hole. You would use granular fertilizer at spring for perennial plants, for setting up a planting hole and for side dressings over the season. Less is more when it come to fertilizing.
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19 Comments
Wow! This is great, and really helpful. I hate those packages that say so many pounds per 100 feet of garden. I have raised beds and was always wondering if that is a running foot and how that breaks down to square foot garden. Thank you so much. God Bless and take care.
A question. With your formula, could you mix up a larger batch, say 3 times the amount, mix it all together and then just use 6 tablespoons of the mix per square foot? I have 10 beds that are 2 foot by 16 feet long.
Hi Gary, so much great info in all your videos, you've been a real help to me as a new gardener,always look forward to your updates
Sorry, 7 tablespoons. 2 tablespoons of tomato and veg + 1 Tablespoon of the all purpose + 4 tablespoons of the Mr Earth = 7 tablespoons per square foot of garden, is that not right? I was just thinking of doing like a three batch container and then spreading it 7 tablespoons per square foot. Just would keep me from mixing a batch for each square foot of garden, is that not right?
Oh, I was really confused, no wonder you were confused with my question. LOL.
A really helpful and clear video. I am not a "Square Foot Gardener". But conceptually visualizing the square foot for applying the fertilizer in any situation is really a great way to look at it. Always wanting more (lol), any thoughts on similar approaches to things like lime? Thanks for this and all your other videos!
You are an inspiration…thank you for all you do for the gardening community.
This isn't fertilizer related but it is gardening related. So I was planting my carrots today and like an idiot I forgot to break up the soil down to a foot. I got probably the first 4 inches with a rake but I just completely forgot the deeper tilling. Now my carrot seeds R already planted what can I do? Will they grow all weird and stuf or should they break it up on their own
Aloha gary from oahu hawaii pacific palisades, I grow medical mariquana I germinate seeds then plant them, then they sprout, after about a 2 week I start giving miracle grow 30 10 10 I want plant to grow big in the begining I normaly give once a week every thursday liquid miracle grow can I do twice a week I didnt try yet cause I think it might hurt the seedlings , do u know a way to fertilize the mariquana plant from after they sprout till they fully bloom in sequence start to plant, then seedling sprout, when u would start to fertilize the baby seedling once or twice a week, ps. I really like miracle grow like I said before I used it for many years an im 64 with good results plz no nah sayer about miracle grow lol, use what works for u mahalo for your input ALOHA FROM OAHU HAWAII
How do you figure out whether you will be using the granular in the whole bed or per planting hole…For example…I am revamping all of my raised beds this spring…adding wider paths because my knees are bad and also adding an additional bed. I'm adding rabbit manure and compost…Do I need to add granular fertilizer either in the whole bed or in the holes of heavy feeders such as tomato plants?
DEAR GARY! I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TOMATOS PLANT PROBLEMS. REALY THESE ARE GROWING VERY HEALTHY BUT SUDDENLY FLOWERS ARE STARTING TO DROP. ALL PLANT ARE HEALTHY AND NEAR 6 FEET TALL.ALSO TELL ME THE CARE OF THE PLANT.IM LIVING IN VERY HOT AND HUMID AREA.IM WATCHING AND FOLLOWING YOUR I ST RUCTIONS. MY EMAIL IS ameerahmed1957@hotmail.com.
Gary,
I buy bulk 13-13-13. What should my application rate be? I am a sq ft gardener
Hi Gary,
I must admit I do find recommended levels of fertilizer to be confusing. Aside from the recommendations on the packet, I find it difficult to comprehend why your first fertilizer with an NPK rating of 6-10-10 has a recommended level of 1 tablespoon per sq foot while your 3rd fertilizer which has an NPK rating of 9-12-12 recommends 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per square foot.
Geoff Keiller
Adelaide Australia
thank you for all you do
should I use this measuring rule for systemic fungicides also?
The most helpful video I've found so far! Thank you 🙂
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Is this a synthetic fertilizer? "derived from blah blah blah" … someone speak English please? Whats it made from?
Awesome video – as my SFG beds have mixed plants (1 tomato, 16 onion, etc.) I had no idea how to fertilize. Very helpful, thank you!