====== 🌱 Garden Fertilizer Guide (2026 Season) ======

This page documents the recommended fertilizer plan for all crops in the 2026 garden.  
Optimized for **Sanford, NC (Zone 7b/8a)**, high humidity, and heavy summer rain.  
Designed using last year’s results + crop-specific nutrient needs.

----

===== 📘 Overview =====

Fertilizer types used in the 2026 garden:

  * **Organic All-Purpose Granular** (4-4-4, 5-5-5, or similar)
  * **Blood Meal** (high nitrogen)
  * **Bone Meal** (high phosphorus)
  * **Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Tomato** (bi-weekly in season)
  * **Compost / Mulch Top-Ups**
  * **Optional:** Epsom Salt (magnesium boost for peppers & tomatoes)

Your 2025 mix already worked well — this guide fine-tunes it for each crop.

----

====== 🍅 Tomatoes ======

**Needs:** Medium nitrogen early → low nitrogen later, high potassium for fruiting.

**At Planting**
  * 1 cup organic all-purpose fertilizer  
  * 1–2 tbsp bone meal  
  * 1 tbsp blood meal  
  * Mix lightly into planting hole  

**After Plants Reach 12–18"**
  * STOP nitrogen-heavy fertilizers  
  * Use **LiquaFeed Tomato every 2 weeks**  
  * Optional: 1 tbsp Epsom salt (once a month)

**Notes**
  * Too much nitrogen reduces fruiting  
  * LiquaFeed provides perfect mid-season P & K  
  * Compost top-dress helps maintain moisture

----

====== 🌶️ Peppers ======

**Needs:** Low nitrogen, high phosphorus & potassium, lots of magnesium.

**At Planting**
  * 1 cup organic 4-4-4 or 4-6-3  
  * 2 tbsp bone meal  
  * **No blood meal**

**During Season**
  * LiquaFeed Tomato every 2 weeks  
  * 1 tbsp Epsom salt per plant monthly  

**Notes**
  * Overfeeding nitrogen = giant plants, tiny peppers  
  * Epsom salt dramatically improves pepper size and wall thickness

----

====== 🧅 Onions ======

**Needs:** **High nitrogen** early, **very low phosphorus**, frequent feedings.

**At Planting (Feb 20 – Mar 15)**
  * Light compost in the bed  
  * No bone meal  

**During Season**
  * Blood meal OR nitrogen fertilizer every **3 weeks**  
  * Stop nitrogen by **mid-May**  
  * Keep moist but not waterlogged

**Notes**
  * This feeding schedule produces larger bulbs  
  * Onions do not want the tomato/pepper fertilizer routine

----

====== 🥒 Cucumbers ======

**Needs:** Medium nitrogen early, high potassium during fruiting.

**At Planting**
  * ½–1 cup organic 4-4-4  
  * 1 tbsp bone meal  
  * 1 tbsp blood meal

**During Season**
  * LiquaFeed Tomato every 2 weeks  
  * Compost top-dress every 3–4 weeks  

**Notes**
  * Great fit for Diva, Long Green Improved, Calypso  
  * Avoid overwatering — mulch helps prevent rot

----

====== 🫘 Pole Beans ======

**Needs:** **Very low nitrogen** — beans create their own.

**At Planting**
  * Compost only  
  * Optional: 1 tbsp bone meal when flowering starts

**During Season**
  * No blood meal  
  * No nitrogen fertilizers  
  * No LiquaFeed Tomato

**Notes**
  * Nitrogen = giant leaves, zero beans  
  * Kentucky Wonder thrives with minimal feeding

----

====== 🌱 Peas ======

**Needs:** Almost identical to beans (cool-season, low nitrogen).

**At Planting (Feb–Mar)**
  * Compost  
  * Optional light bone meal  

**During Season**
  * No nitrogen fertilizers  
  * No LiquaFeed Tomato  

**Notes**
  * Peas shut down in heat — feed lightly and harvest early

----

====== 🎃 Squash & Zucchini ======

**Needs:** Steady feeding, strong potassium supply.

**At Planting**
  * 1 cup organic fertilizer  
  * 1 tbsp bone meal  
  * Optional: 1 tbsp kelp meal  

**During Season**
  * LiquaFeed Tomato every 2 weeks  
  * 1 cup compost around each plant monthly  

**Notes**
  * Mulch reduces powdery mildew pressure  
  * High K → higher yields & fewer blossom-end issues

----

====== 🌾 Summary Table ======

^ Crop | Nitrogen | Phosphorus | LiquaFeed | Notes |
| Tomatoes | Medium → low | Medium | ✔ bi-weekly | Switch to low N after flowering |
| Peppers | Low | Medium–High | ✔ bi-weekly | Add monthly Epsom salt |
| Onions | **High** | Low | ❌ No | Feed N every 3 weeks until mid-May |
| Cucumbers | Medium | Medium | ✔ | Add compost regularly |
| Beans | ❌ None | Medium | ❌ No | Nitrogen reduces beans |
| Peas | ❌ None | Medium | ❌ No | Early cool-season crop |
| Squash | Medium | Medium | ✔ | Loves compost + potassium |

----

====== 📝 Notes ======
This plan is designed to:  
  * Improve yields  
  * Control excessive plant growth  
  * Prevent blossom-end rot  
  * Boost fruit production  
  * Match each crop’s nutrient needs  
  * Work with Sanford, NC’s high humidity & heavy summer rain

Update this page each season with what worked best.