I'm getting ready to plant some bell peppers that are just a few inches tall. I'm curious about how much 10-10-10 fertilizer I should put in the planting holes. Should I stick with that or wait until they're bigger and broadcast it over the top?
3 Answers
I’d go for something around a 5-5-5 mix. I usually create a blend of 1 tablespoon of 5-5-5, 1 tablespoon of worm castings, some bone meal, a dash of crab shell, and a pinch of blood meal. Then I toss about 2 tablespoons of that mix into each hole, plus some extra bone meal around it for good measure. I'm not super precise; I just eyeball it and mix it in a bucket!
From what I've learned, it's better to stick with organic fertilizers in the planting holes to prevent burning the roots. Those young plants can be pretty sensitive!
I'd suggest opting for something milder like a 3-3-3 or 4-4-4 fertilizer instead of the 10-10-10. It’s a good ratio, but I personally steer clear of the high numbers. Less concentration just seems safer for young plants.
Why do you recommend against it? Isn't it just about the concentration? Like, if I use 5 tablespoons of 2-2-2, isn't that the same as 1 tablespoon of 10-10-10?
It's not just the concentration; it's also about how quickly the nutrients are available. The higher numbers can really shock young roots.
Are you suggesting I just randomly grab handfuls too? ?