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Sweet, juicy, homegrown tomatoes are the epitome of backyard garden produce, and they don’t happen by accident. It takes a combination of diligence, patience, sunshine, and soil fertility to grow tomatoes successfully. In fact, plant nutrition is one of the primary contributors to tomato flavor and quality.
Tomatoes need fertilizer to grow to their full potential. The best fertilizer for tomatoes supports overall plant growth, flowering, fruit development, and disease resistance. Our top pick is Dr. Earth fertilizer for tomatoes for its organic formula packed with minerals and other nutrients. However, for folks who prefer a super-easy application process for their tomato plant food, we suggest Jobe’s fertilizer for tomatoes.
Choosing the best fertilizer for tomato plants and growing conditions involves fairly deep research and exploration. Check out some of the top contenders.
- BEST OVERALL: Dr. Earth Home Grown Tomato Fertilizer
- RUNNER-UP: Espoma Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes
- ORGANIC PICK: Big A Tomato Fertilizer
- GRANULAR PICK: Burpee Organic Tomato and Vegetable Plant Food
- LIQUID PICK: Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Tomato Plant Food
- WATER-SOLUBLE PICK: Greenway Biotech Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38
Before You Buy Fertilizer for Tomatoes
There are a few things to understand about gardening before buying tomato fertilizer. For one, even truly high-quality fertilizer will fall short if the soil isn’t suitable for planting. For the soil to be as best as possible for tomatoes, it may need to be amended with nutrients prior to planting, so be sure to have a sample tested before planting or fertilizing tomatoes.
Also note that overuse of fertilizer can have negative impacts on ecosystems. The runoff can cause algae blooms, which can starve aquatic life of important nutrients. Fertilizer, whether it’s organic or not, requires careful use, so it’s important to read the label to know how often to fertilize tomatoes with a given product.
It’s also worth understanding basic tomato plant care. There are different ways to plant tomatoes as well as when to plant and how to prune them—all keys to the health of the crop.
How We Chose the Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes
We know how essential growing tomatoes is to the ultimate edible garden, so we took our job of assembling a lineup of the best tomato fertilizers seriously. We drew upon all our experience in DIY gardening to come up with the most important features or formulas to look for in a fertilizer.
Once we knew what to look for in tomato food, we performed extensive product research to come up with a group of products to vet. We compared them based on formula, type, and price to ensure they offered real value. Products that didn’t pass muster were tossed aside, while those that did were given awards based on their strengths.
Best Overall
Dr. Earth Home Grown Tomato Fertilizer
Dr. Earth Homegrown Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb fertilizer comprises high-quality feed-grade ingredients and is enriched with multiminerals, proteins, carbohydrates, humic acids, and trace elements. It promotes healthy soils that help grow tasty, nutritious vegetables at home, whether in container plantings, garden beds, or native soil, though it’s not quite as easy to apply as a liquid fertilizer.
Dr. Earth fertilizer is legitimately organic. It makes the list of Non-GMO Project-verified fertilizers and the Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) list for organic gardening. It also contains TruBiotic beneficial soil microbes to ensure that nutrients are broken down and released into the soil effectively. The manufacturer also claims it makes the product sustainably in the U.S.
Product Specs
- Type: Granular
- Organic? Yes
- NPK: 4:6:3
Pros
- Provides nutrients for plants in containers, garden beds, or native soil for plenty of flexibility
- It’s made with feed-grade ingredients and enriched with multiminerals, proteins, and other nutrients to improve plant health
- Made in the U.S. and verified to be organic by several review boards
Cons
- Not as easy to apply to garden beds and containers as a liquid fertilizer
Get the Dr. Earth fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Runner-Up
Espoma Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer
Organic gardeners know that the key to long-term sustainable soil health is to feed the soil. Espoma Tomato-tone is an all-natural organic plant food that increases the soil’s biological activity and delivers organic nutrients efficiently to plants. Thousands of beneficial microbes enhance the product’s effectiveness, and it contains 15 essential nutrients.
When incorporated into the soil at planting time, Espoma Tomato-tone provides a continuous balanced feed. It supports strong root development, healthy foliage, overall plant vigor, and fruit set. Plus, the 5 percent calcium content helps Tomato-tone fertilizer prevent blossom end rot (a common tomato problem). However, the amounts and timing to use can be complicated, so be sure to read the directions carefully.
Product Specs
- Type: Granular
- Organic? Yes
- NPK: 3:4:6
Pros
- Increases the biological activity of the soil while delivering organic nutrients for healthier plants
- Contains thousands of beneficial microbes to improve the nutrient availability and delivery to plants
- Contains 5 percent calcium to prevent blossom end rot from ruining fruit
Cons
- Complicated amount and timing formulas not as straightforward as some other products
Get the Espoma fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon.
Best Bang for the Buck
Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes
Measuring and mixing fertilizers, carefully spreading or spraying them, and storing leftovers can all be a pain. Jobe’s tomato fertilizer spikes eliminate time and space wasted on fertilizing with granules and liquids. A gardener simply pushes the spikes into the soil, allowing it to break down over time to help plants stay healthy and strong for up to 8 weeks. These specially formulated, premeasured, slow-release spikes make for fast, easy, and mess-free fertilizing—and they’re priced right, too.
An advantage of Jobe’s tomato fertilizer spikes is that nutrients won’t wash away as easily as those in surface-applied fertilizers. These spikes bring the nutrients to where plant roots can use them. This makes it useful for container gardens, raised beds, or inground gardens.
Product Specs
- Type: Fertilizer spike
- Organic? No
- NPK: 6:18:6
Pros
- 1 spike can provide nutrients to a plant for up to 8 weeks
- Concentrated spikes do away with measuring and formulas, making fertilizing easier
- Nutrients will not wash away as easily as they may with granular or liquid fertilizers
Cons
- Due to slow release, nutrients will take time to reach the plant
Get the Jobe’s fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon or The Home Depot.
Organic Pick
Big A Tomato Fertilizer
Finding a high-quality tomato fertilizer that is both organic and easy to apply can be a challenge, but Big A tomato fertilizer might be just the ticket. This organic powder is highly soluble, allowing users to mix it with water and apply it to gardens easily, and the plants can absorb the nutrients quickly.
This organic tomato fertilizer features a nutrient-rich formula that contains amino acids and humic acid. These important nutrients allow tomatoes to increase water infiltration and retention, promoting stronger, healthier plants. And while it’s designed for tomatoes, Big A is suitable for all veggies. It must be mixed with water and can wash away, so it does require frequent feedings—once a week in most cases.
Product Specs
- Type: Water soluble
- Organic? Yes
- NPK: 9:1.5:7
Pros
- Formula contains only organic ingredients, including amino acids and humic acid for water retention
- Designed to be highly water-soluble, making it easy to mix and apply
- Formula is designed for tomatoes but is suitable for all vegetable plants
Cons
- Water-mixed formula requires frequent feedings—about once per week
Get the Big A fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon.
Granular Pick
Burpee Organic Tomato and Vegetable Plant Food
Burpee organic tomato and vegetable plant food offers a slow-release organic fertilizer that comes in granular form. Tilling the granules into the ground or incorporating them into container soil at planting time provides the nutrients plants need to start the season. Gardeners can apply the fertilizer again as a top dressing 8 to 12 weeks later for a full season of strong, healthy growth and large, colorful, tasty tomatoes.
While not as fast acting as a liquid, the easy-to-spread granules release essential nutrients quickly and continue to feed for up to 3 months. This product also follows an easily understood formula for each linear or square foot of garden space, making it simple to apply the right amount. This formula contains beneficial microbes and nutrients throughout the season and makes the OMRI list for organic use. The slow-release granular fertilizer helps young bedding plants, established vegetables, and container plantings.
Product Specs
- Type: Granular
- Organic? Yes
- NPK: 3:6:4
Pros
- Slow-release formula provides nutrients for tomato plants for up to 3 months after application
- The formula to follow for the correct application is more straightforward than some other fertilizers
- Organic granules are suitable for young bedding plants, established vegetables, and container plantings
Cons
- Granules release nutrients quickly but aren’t as fast acting as a liquid fertilizer
Get the Burpee fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon or Tractor Supply Co.
Liquid Pick
Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Tomato Plant Food
Miracle-Gro is a name synonymous with gardening success for decades. The brand built a strong reputation on highly effective fertilizers that are easy to use, and Liquafeed tomato plant food is no exception. Gardeners can apply this liquid fertilizer through the hose-end Liquafeed feeder (sold separately): Simply insert the fertilizer cartridge into the feeder and turn on the water to distribute the liquid.
This kit comes in a two-pack of cartridges for value and convenience. Each refill cartridge feeds up to 400 square feet, and the company recommends feeding every 2 weeks through the growing season. A downside to this convenient method of fertilizing tomatoes is that the product does not come with instructions for manually mixing the solution in a watering can, so it requires the purchase of the feeder.
Product Specs
- Type: Liquid
- Organic? No
- NPK: 9:4:9
Pros
- Each cartridge can feed up to 400 square feet of garden
- Easy to distribute: Simply attach the cartridge to the hose-end Liquafeed feeder and apply
- 2-pack of cartridges provides value and convenience over some other liquid fertilizers
Cons
- An application only lasts 1 to 2 weeks, requiring frequent reapplication
- LiquaFeed feeder must be purchased separately to use
Get the Miracle-Gro fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon or The Home Depot.
Water-Soluble Pick
Greenway Biotech Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38
Folks looking for a high-quality, water-soluble fertilizer will want to consider Greenway Biotech tomato fertilizer. This professional formula consists of quality ingredients specifically designed for tomatoes, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, boron, copper, and more. This combination creates healthy and strong tomato plants for folks who prefer a water-soluble formula or who grow tomatoes hydroponically.
A 5-pound package of Greenway Biotech tomato fertilizer makes 1,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer. The package includes instructions for application as a foliar fertilizer or as a dry product to side-dress tomatoes in the garden. This fertilizer contains no heavy metals or harmful materials.
Product Specs
- Type: Water-soluble
- Organic? No
- NPK: 4:18:38
Pros
- Professional formula is water-soluble and works for hydroponic gardening
- One 5-pound package makes 1,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer
- Though the formula isn’t organic, it’s free of heavy metals and harmful materials
Cons
- The formula isn’t organic, which could be a deal breaker for some folks
Get the Greenway Biotech fertilizer for tomatoes at Amazon.
Or DIY Your Own Tomato Fertilizer
For those who would prefer to DIY their own tomato fertilizer, the process is fairly simple. All that’s necessary is the right ingredients and biological activity to create a high-quality fertilizer that’s sure to be organic.
The base of the fertilizer should be compost, as it’s packed with nutrients. Then add items like wood ash, kelp meal, blood meal, and bone meal to the mix. DIYers can even add the likes of coffee grounds, ground egg shells, or pet and human hair (all of which can also keep pests away). Mix this combination until it’s evenly distributed and apply it to the garden soil, native soil, or container tomatoes. As the microorganisms and worms work this mix over, they’ll be putting nutrients back into the soil.
The tomato-fertilizer ratio here will depend on the plant’s needs and the soil’s condition. Start by taking a soil sample to the local extension to determine the fertilizer’s needs.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Tomato Fertilizers
Each garden is unique. Differences in soil structure, natural fertility, drainage, pH, and other factors mean that no single fertilizer works best in all cases. It helps to have different options at hand for nutrient levels that can fill plants’ needs at different stages of development. Consider these factors while shopping for the best tomato fertilizer.
Types of Fertilizer for Tomatoes
Tomato fertilizers come in three basic forms: granular, liquid, and water-soluble. Each form should be available in both inorganic and organic fertilizer choices. The time of year, plant health, weather conditions, user convenience, and other factors influence which formulation will best serve the gardener’s needs.
Granular
Granular fertilizer is easy to apply, requires no preparation time, and stores indefinitely in a cool, dry location. Gardeners apply granular fertilizer either by incorporating it into the soil before planting or by spreading it over the root zone of established plants. Granular fertilizers come in quick-release or slow-release formulas.
Slow-release fertilizer breaks down slowly for a long, steady feed, for up to a full growing season. Gardeners can find slow-release formulas as organic or inorganic products. Quick-release fertilizers are made of inorganic ingredients that run through the soil as they dissolve by water. This provides a quick burst of nutrients.
Liquid
Liquid fertilizer comes in a concentrated form that must be diluted with water. It comes in both inorganic and organic options and is immediately available to plants. In addition to the normal application method of drenching soil around plants with liquid fertilizer, many gardeners apply weak liquid fertilizer solutions (half-strength or less) directly to plant foliage.
There are numerous ways of applying liquid fertilizer, from a simple watering can to calibrated hose-end sprayers that mix the concentrate with the flow of water as it is discharged. Liquid fertilizer provides a quick burst of nutrients and must be reapplied often. It has a long shelf life if unopened and stored properly.
Water-Soluble
Water-soluble fertilizer combines the storage convenience of granular fertilizer with the fast-acting capability of liquid forms. It becomes available to plants immediately upon application. Like the other types of fertilizers, water-soluble ones come in both organic and inorganic options.
Water-soluble fertilizer is available in a microgranular or powdered form that easily dissolves in water. The uses of water-soluble fertilizer mirror those of liquids.
Soil Condition
The surest way of knowing if a garden is up to the task of growing tomatoes is to have the soil tested. A soil analysis shows the current levels of all major nutrients and micronutrients in the soil. The results will include recommendations for soil amendments to add that help bring the soil into the proper range for gardening.
Every state in the U.S. operates a cooperative extension service that assists farmers and home gardeners with growing crops. Soil testing is one of the services they provide for a small fee, typically between $15 and $20. Simply type a state’s name and the words “extension service” into the browser to get started.
Chemical Fertilizer Content
Fertilizer is made up of three major nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen is the element responsible for foliage growth. Phosphorus helps with root, flower, and fruit production. Potassium builds strong stems and overall plant health. Manufacturers list the major nutrients prominently on the label in a ratio, such as 4-6-4, always in the order of N-P-K. The ratio tells each nutrient’s percentage share of the fertilizer’s volume. Fertilizer with a 4-6-4 ratio is 4 percent N, 6 percent P, and 4 percent K.
In addition to including the major nutrients, fertilizers may or may not contain micronutrients. Micronutrients typically appear in a less prominent location on the packaging. Micronutrients play smaller but crucial roles in various plant processes. Tomatoes notably benefit from calcium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, zinc, boron, and copper.
Growing Stages of Tomato Plants
Early in life, as the plants become established and grow rapidly before flowering, tomato plants need nutrients that support root, stem, and leaf development. A balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium works best at this stage. Slow-release fertilizer applied at planting time can provide all the necessary major nutrients needed for the growing season.
During and after flowering, tomato plants need slightly different resources for flower production, fruit development, and disease resistance. During the fruiting phase, mature tomato plants benefit from lower nitrogen levels and higher levels of phosphorus, potassium, and some micronutrients. Calcium is especially important in promoting fruit set and preventing blossom end rot.
Organic Options
Organic tomato fertilizers are derived from certified organic ingredients. These formulations have a lower concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and provide higher levels of micronutrients than inorganic products. Organic fertilizers are less likely to damage plants or contribute to water pollution in the event of a spill or other accident.
Most organic fertilizers become available to plants through microscopic organisms in the soil, like fungi and bacteria. The microbes consume the fertilizer components and then release the nutrient compounds that plants can metabolize. Organic fertilizers support broader soil ecology compared with inorganic fertilizers.
FAQs
Those who still want more info about tomato fertilizer may find what they’re looking for in the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Q. How much fertilizer do tomatoes need?
Timing, frequency, and application rates vary by product. Be sure to follow the application instructions on the fertilizer label.
Q. How do you put fertilizer on tomato plants?
Apply granules either by incorporating them into the soil before planting or by spreading them on the soil surface after planting. Prepare liquids according to the label instructions and drench the soil around the tomato plant.
Q. How often do you fertilize tomato plants?
Each fertilizer product breaks down or is used by the tomato plant a little differently. If using granules, applying two or three applications through the growing season usually suffices. Apply a liquid fertilizer every 2 or 3 weeks. Always use caution and read product labels.
