Plant Side-Dressing Guide

BROCCOLI

Side-dress when the head begins to form. It may be only the size of a fifty-cent piece when you notice it, but go ahead and side-dress. Amount needed: 1 to 2 tablespoons complete fertilizer per plant.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

I usually side-dress brussels sprouts when I harvest the first small marble-size sprouts. Amount: 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant.

CABBAGE

The best time to side-dress cabbage is when it starts to form a head. In my wide rows of cabbage, that’s when the leaves of the plants are about to completely shade the row. Amount needed: 1 tablespoon of complete fertilizer per plant.

CAULIFLOWER

Because cauliflower heads form so fast, side-dressing when you first see the head usually won’t help. I side- dress when the plant’s leaves seem to be as big as they’re going to get, usually 5 or 6 weeks after transplanting. Amount: 1 to 2 tablespoons complete fertilizer per plant.

CHARD

To keep my wide rows of chard productive all season, I side-dress right after harvesting “crew cut” style. I cut the plants 1 inch above the ground and side-dress with a natural fertilizer such as dehydrated manure. Amount: 1 handful for each foot of wide row 16 inches wide.

CORN

Because corn takes more plant food than most other crops, I side-dress it twice. The first time it’s about knee- high, the second time it starts to tassle and silk forms on the stalks. Fertilizer helps to make good ears.

Amount: about 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant or about 3 cups per 25 feet of row each side- dressing.

CUCUMBERS MELONS, AND WINTER SQUASH

These vine crops should be fertilized before they start to spread out and rim At this point they stand up straight and tall. It’s easy to get the fertilizer close to the plants where the main roots are. Amount: 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant.

EGGPLANT

When blossoms or first small eggplants are visible, apply side-dressing. Amount: 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant.

LEEKS

Leeks don’t give a signal for side-dressing. Side-dress them when they’re 8 to 12 inches tall. Pack several big handfuls of compost high around each stem. This provides a slow release of nutrients and shades or blanches the stalks somewhat so they will get white and tender. Amount: 2 to 3 handfuls compost mounded around each plant.

OKRA

Side-dress when the plant blossoms. If you have a long harvest of okra, you can side-dress again about a month after the first time. Amount per side-dressing: 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant or 3 cups per 25 feet of row.

ONIONS

Don’t try to follow the rule about side-dressing at blossom time with onions because they don’t blossom until their second season. I side-dress them when they are to 6 to 8 inches tall and every couple of weeks after that until the bulbs start to expand. Onions can take quite a bit of fertilizer. I give them plenty because the size of the onion bulb is determined by how much green top the plant has. Bulbs are made with energy stored in the green leaves. The more green top I encourage, the bigger the bulbs I’ll be able to harvest. Amount: 2 to 3 cups complete fertilizer per 10 feet of wide row 16 inches wide. Don’t fertilize onions if their tops have started to fall.

PEPPERS

Peppers are very sensitive to fertilizer. They need it in small doses only at blossom time. Amount: no more than 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant.

POLE BEANS

Beans usually don’t need any side- dressing. But in long-season areas down South, side-dressing will keep plants in top shape. Side-dress within a week or so after your first

And every 3 or 4 weeks after that. Amount: 1 teaspoon complete fertilizer per plant.

POTATOES

Side-dress potatoes about 6 or 7 weeks after planting. This is when some of the plants start to blossom and when it’s time to hill the plants for the last time. Side-dress before hitting so you can cover the fertilizer with soil as you hill. Amount: 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer per plant or 3 cups per 25 feet of row.

SUMMER SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI

I side-dress when I see flower buds or blossoms. Amount: 1 to 2 tablespoons complete fertilizer per plant.

TOMATOES

I side-dress when I see the first blossoms. Sometimes I wait until I see the first small green tomatoes to be sure the extra fertilizer goes toward nourishing the fruits. Amount: 1 to 2 tablespoons complete fertilizer per plant.

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