I'm gearing up to start my fall vegetable garden in South Florida (zone 10b), and I've got my planting schedule set. I've prepared a mix of topsoil, compost, and peat moss at a ratio of 30% each. Now, I'm a bit lost on the fertilization part and would love some advice! Here's my plan for fertilizing my plants:
- **Garlic (Silver Skins Soft Neck)**: Fertilize a few weeks before planting and again when the leaves reach 4-6 inches.
- **Onion (Yellow Onion)**: Same as garlic—fertilize a few weeks before planting and when the leaves are 4-6 inches high.
- **Carrots (Nantes)**: Just extra compost, no fertilizer. I plan to stagger sowing from October to February and cover them with shredded cardboard to keep it moist.
- **Radish (Cherry Belle)**: Use compost, no fertilizer upon planting, and keep them wet with shredded cardboard on top.
- **Beets (Detroit Dark Red)**: Use a 5-10-10 fertilizer once a month.
- **Tomatoes (Beefsteak and Heirloom Pink Brandywine)**: Feed every two weeks with 5-10-10.
- **Lettuce (Romaine)**: Use a 4-4-4 fertilizer at planting time.
- **Broccoli (Calabrese)**: Fertilize with 5-10-10 upon planting, then again at 6-8 inches and 12-15 inches, plus bone meal for blossoms.
- **Sugar Snap Peas**: Plant in late November with 4-4-4 before planting and no more unless they seem stunted.
2 Answers
If you're considering fertilizing less, trying square foot gardening could be beneficial. It typically uses only blended or homemade compost as fertilizer. This method might simplify your fertilization process!
Fertilizing can definitely be tricky! I've found that once your plants stop growing, it can be a bit too late to adjust. You might want to check out [this video](https://youtu.be/OUunjbGFzqY?si=CfWjAM1LDWUbQQEl) for some tips on caring for seedlings. Good luck with your garden!