how much fertilizer to use? please help!

aimeruni · May 27, 2014

NOTE: I am very bad at math/conversion, so could really use help with this please!

I make my own soil; 1 large batch makes 30 gallons. I mix in 2 cups of fertilizer per 30 gallon batch, when I make the soil. Normally I use Osmocote, and 90% of my veggies grown in containers love it. Unfortunately I'm having to use a different fertilizer for peppers and eggplants, because Osmocote doesn't work for them.

I'm using Vigoro; the fertilizer is 12-10-5. My first question is is Vigoro suitable for container gardening and can I just mix it in to my soil when I make it like I do w/the Osmocote?

My 2nd question is, how much to use? Should I just use 2 cups per 30 gallon batch like I do with the Osmocote or go by what the package says?

Here are the guidelines...

seeds...2 T per 5 square feet
vegetables....1 t per square foot; 1/4 cup per 10 square feet;
1 cup per 25 square feet established plantings....(this is for tomatoes) 2 T per 5 square feet.

Unfortunately square footage tells me nothing, since I need to know how much to add (in cups, tablespoons, etc.) per 30 gallon batch. Could really use clarification with this!

May 27, 2014	#1
aimeruni Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brooksville FL, zone 9a Posts: 67	how much fertilizer to use? please help! NOTE: I am very bad at math/conversion, so could really use help with this please! I make my own soil; 1 large batch makes 30 gallons. I mix in 2 cups of fertilizer per 30 gallon batch, when I make the soil. Normally I use Osmocote, and 90% of my veggies grown in containers love it. Unfortunately I'm having to use a different fertilizer for peppers and eggplants, because Osmocote doesn't work for them. I'm using Vigoro; the fertilizer is 12-10-5. My first question is is Vigoro suitable for container gardening and can I just mix it in to my soil when I make it like I do w/the Osmocote? My 2nd question is, how much to use? Should I just use 2 cups per 30 gallon batch like I do with the Osmocote or go by what the package says? Here are the guidelines... seeds...2 T per 5 square feet vegetables....1 t per square foot; 1/4 cup per 10 square feet; 1 cup per 25 square feet established plantings....(this is for tomatoes) 2 T per 5 square feet. Unfortunately square footage tells me nothing, since I need to know how much to add (in cups, tablespoons, etc.) per 30 gallon batch. Could really use clarification with this!