- Test the soil in fall to determine the nutrient values in your soil. Although it is tempting to skip this step, knowing what your soil needs is the best defense against overfertilizing or underfertilizing your vegetables. Purchase an inexpensive soil test kit at your local hardware store, or contact your local Cooperative Extension Office. It will analyze the soil for a minimal fee and provide a written report with recommendations for amendments to correct any deficiencies and to balance the pH.
- Follow the instructions included with the kit or the recommendations made by the Cooperative Extension to amend your soil. Amend in the fall to give organic matter time to break down into a usable form for young roots.
- Consider the growing needs of the specific vegetable plant you wish to grow. Some plants, like beans, grow well in poor soil and require little attention or fertilizing after planting. Other vegetables, like tomatoes, require soil high in organic matter. They thrive when fertilized regularly.
- Apply fertilizer at the time of planting following the application rate on the label. If you prefer organic fertilizer, fish emulsion or well-rotted manure work well.
- Sidedress cucumbers, peas, potatoes and corn when they are 3 to 4 inches high. The added boost of fertilizer at this time encourages rapid growth. Spread granular fertilizer along the row 3 to 4 inches from the base of the plants. Work it into the soil with a hoe or hand tiller.
- Watch plants for signs of too much or not enough nitrogen. Plants that receive too much nitrogen grow rapidly and produce an abundance of foliage, but they fail to set fruit or fruit very lightly. Small pale-green or yellowing leaves and slowed growth may indicate a nitrogen deficiency; this is common several weeks after planting. Apply a source of nitrogen to boost growth.
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