The Best Fertilizers For Tomatoes: Top 5 Experts’ Choice

Whatever classification you think tomatoes are, there’s no denying that these bright red superfoods are heaven-sent to mankind. Also, tomatoes are a healthy and tasty addition to burgers, pizza, pasta, and pretty much everything else. Apart from that, they are loaded with so many health benefits, including delayed aging, improved sight, radiant skin, stronger bones, and decreased risk of cancer and heart disease. So, it makes a lot of sense for you to grow your own batches of tomatoes in your backyard to really stock up and take advantage of these health benefits. But don’t think we’d let you do that without introducing some of the best fertilizers for tomatoes plants in the market to level up your gardening experience.

Rating	Image	Products
1 Best		Jobe’s- Tomato Fertilizer Spikes For All Tomato Plants Editor’s Choice
2		Espoma- Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer for All Tomatoes
3		Miracle-Gro- Tomato Plant Food, Water Soluble
4		Jobe’s- Organics Vegetable and Tomato Fertilizer with Biozome
5		Dr. Earth- Organic Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer

Top 5 Best Fertilizers For Tomatoes Plants Reviews

For gardeners who are looking for a bountiful tomato harvest, these are the 5 best fertilizers for tomatoes plants according to experts. Therefore, we thought to bring these 5 winners in front of our readers, so they can choose for themselves. Also, at the end of the reviewing part, a list of essential things you should know about tomato fertilizers is waiting for you. So, keep reading!

#1 Jobe’s- Tomato Fertilizer Spikes For All Tomato Plants

Number one on our list of best fertilizer for tomatoes plants is Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes, 6-18-6 for All Tomato Plants. This mixed fertilizer usually comes 18 tomato fertilizer spikes and a resealable waterproof pouch. Aside from 5-star ratings on several online and offline outlets, Jobe’s tomato fertilizer is also adorned with amazing reviews from both first-time and loyal customers. Let’s all find out what makes this fertilizer so special.

Pros

• Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes guarantee a no-mess and odor-free gardening experience unlike other tomato fertilizer brands and DIY fertilizers made of manure or compost.
• The fertilizer is very easy to use, which is perfect for beginner tomato growers.
• It doesn’t produce any wasteful runoff even when it rains, making it great for the environment.
• It provides an 8-week continuous amount of nourishment within the soil for the tomato plant’s active roots.
• This fertilizer is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus, which means it promotes the growth of the tomatoes more than its leaves while still providing the right nutrients for robust plant support.
• The formula for this fertilizer makes use of slow-release technology to evenly spread out the much-needed nutrients over the course of up to 8 weeks.
• Compared to other brands, it is very inexpensive yet more effective when it comes to bearing abundant high-quality tomatoes and robust plant structure.
• It also comes in a resealable, waterproof packaging that keeps the fertilizer fresh and prevents spoilage due to moisture buildup.

Cons

• Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes have little to no cons attached to its name. A slightly disappointed customer, however, pointed out in a review that he wasn’t happy with the packaging it came with, saying it was “not that fancy.” The look of the packaging is one of the factors that contribute to the product’s overall appeal, after all.
• Gardeners who are working on soil that is rich in potassium and phosphorus no longer need a high phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to grow their tomatoes unless, of course, if the soil also contains high levels of nitrogen. Jobe’s tomato fertilizer spikes do a good job in leveling the nutrients within the soil.

#2 Espoma- Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer for All Tomatoes

Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer, the second on our list of best fertilizer for tomatoes plants, is widely recommended for growing all types of tomatoes, as well as other fruiting plants. This all-natural, organic fertilizer dons more pros than cons. Let’s take a look.

Pros

• With an N-P-K ratio of 3-4-6, the Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer is great not just for tomatoes but other fruiting vegetables as well, such as cucumbers and peppers. These include squash, cucumbers, and peppers.
• It boasts all 15 essential nutrients needed for healthy tomato production, including the standard N-P-K content.
• Its university-tested special formula doesn’t involve toxic or hazardous ingredients, which makes it environmentally-safe.
• Said formula produces abundant plump and juicy tomatoes all season.
• It can be used both to prepare the soil for growing tomatoes and vegetables and regular plant feeding.
• This all-natural plant food is fortified with living microbes and provides a well-balanced distribution of sustenance to the soil, the plant, and its roots.
• It contains slow release nitrogen of 2.1%– just the right amount needed for tomato production.

Cons

• The active microbes present in the Tomato-tone Organic Fertilizer has a shelf-life of only two years. While the fertilizer in itself can still be used past this period, it may not yield the same quality and amount of tomatoes produced.
• Tomato Tone’s fertilizer is not ideal for root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and potatoes. It’s also not the best fertilizer to use for leafy greens such as kale, cabbage, and lettuce.
• Tomato Tone’s original formula is said to be slightly better than the present one.

#3 Miracle-Gro- Tomato Plant Food, Water Soluble

Promising bigger, and more plentiful vegetables as compared to unfed plants, the Miracle-Gro Tomato Plant Food is ideal for tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables like squash and cucumbers. Compared to traditional fertilizers, this particular fertilizer boasts a nourish-while-you-water scheme that can save gardeners a lot of time and effort in growing their own tomatoes. Let’s take a look at some of its notable pros and cons.

Pros

• Specially developed with an all-plant-safe formula, the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food contains just the right amount of nutrients to allow for a lush and bountiful harvest.
• This particular fertilizer is added into the watering can or pump sprayer to provide nourishment to the plants as they’re being watered. This feature can save a lot of time and effort for gardeners, making it ideal for those who are just trying their hand at gardening.

Cons

• The Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food comes with a specific set of instructions for use. If these instructions are not followed, you may not achieve the promised results.
• It isn’t as effective in soil types that have a calcium deficiency. In fact, blossom end rot may ensue if not treated with enough calcium.

#4 Jobe’s- Organics Vegetable and Tomato Fertilizer with Biozome

Jobe’s Organics Vegetable & Tomato Fertilizer is a certified organic bundle of sustenance for tomatoes and vegetables. Enriched with special biozones, this particular fertilizer does so much in less, earning its place in this list of best fertilizers for tomatoes plants. Determine whether or not it meets your preferences by getting to know its pros and cons below.

Pros

• Jobe’s Organics Vegetable & Tomato Fertilizer with Biozome is included in USDA’s list of organic gardening products. This guarantees zero synthetic chemicals within its formulation.
• It is enriched with Jobe’s special biozomes, which are aggressively beneficial microorganisms that achieve quicker sustenance distribution.
• This feature also helps resist harmful insects, garden disease, drought, and unwarranted environmental conditions.
• It comes in an easy-pour, resealable bag for quick distribution and spoilage prevention.

Cons

• Jobe’s Organics Vegetable & Tomato Fertilizer with Biozome works best for soil preparation, which means it doesn’t achieve the best results when used in other applications.
• It is rather expensive for the amount of product it contains.
• Compared to the other entries on this list of best fertilizer for tomatoes in pots, this one has the most amount of critical reviews. Most of the complaints were of crop loss, especially those tomatoes planted in containers or in pots, and the product’s unreasonable cost.

#5 Dr. Earth- Organic Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer

Dr. earth’s all-organic concoction of feather meal, fish bone meal, soft rock phosphate, seaweed extract, among other sources of nutrients, is not just your average fertilizer. Aside from being a tomato and vegetable fertilizer, it’s also great for planting shrubs, ornamental trees, as well as bare-root planting. Know more about its pros and cons below.

Pros

• Packed with choice strains of essential nutrients, Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer guarantee a bountiful harvest for tomatoes and every other vegetable you can grow in your backyard.
• It is an all-organic product with no trace of synthetic materials or chemicals in its formulation.
• The superior blend of essential nutrients not only guarantees a bountiful harvest; it also improves plant performance, enhances the nutrient absorption, and resists extreme environmental conditions.

Cons

• Because it is made of a purely organic material, the stuff can smell really bad. That’s why it’s not recommended for indoor use.
• This fertilizer is not very effective with herbs.

Essential Nutrients For Growing Tomatoes

So, now that you know what are the 5 best fertilizers for tomatoes ou there, you should learn a little about their components too. Why should you do that? Tomatoes don’t just thrive with enough sunlight and water. To guarantee high-quality produce and a good harvest, you need to administer the following essential nutrients:

• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Nitrogen
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Nutrients from compost
• Other trace nutrients

An important step that you should do before growing your tomatoes is to have your soil checked for pH and nutrient levels. There are two ways to do this:

(1) inquire about soil testing services in your local community;

(2) check your soil on your own using simple and reasonable-priced soil tests and ph kits. You can find these kits online or in hardware stores. If the tests reveal a deficiency in any particular nutrient, you can enrich your soil with the nutrient it’s lacking. Bear in mind that phosphorus content in soil should not be higher than its nitrogen content.

Common Types Of Tomato Fertilizer And What They Contain

Most tomato fertilizers contain the essential nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K ratio). Their N-P-K ratios are written accordingly on the fertilizer package. This represents the percentage of the three nutrients the tomato fertilizer is composed of. Let’s understand the individual benefits each of these essential nutrients can provide for your tomato plants.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is essential for leaf growth, mostly for grassy areas and lawns. On the other hand, higher nitrogen levels also impede fruit and blossom growth. Therefore, it’s not advisable to choose high-nitrogen types of fertilizer for growing tomatoes. These may only be considered if your soil suffers from nitrogen deficiency. Examples of high-nitrogen fertilizers are ammonium, urea, fresh manure, and sulfate.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus, the opposite of nitrogen as well as the second nutrient in the N-P-K ratio, promote blossom and fruit growth. When in doubt, always aim for high-phosphorus fertilizers, because this will yield to an abundant harvest.

So, as you can see, phosphorus, along with nitrogen and potassium, is one of three key nutrients that plants need and the main ingredient in phosphate fertilizer. Maintaining proper levels helps a plant acquire and store energy, as well as transfer it throughout the plant.

Phosphorus exists in many natural substances, both plant, and animal-based. Compost and mulch are both good sources from the plant world. Animals contribute with manure and sewage, which can be added liberally to plants when planting and as a maintenance fertilizer as long as the products have been aged long enough. Phosphorus can also be purchased at nurseries either on its own or in a mix with the other main nutrients, nitrogen, and potassium. It is the second nutrient in standard fertilizer mixes labeled as N-P-K.

Potassium

Potassium is essential in maintaining blossoms and fruits when your tomato plants start to produce. If you want to achieve desired results with organic sources alone, you may opt for wood ash or granite dust.

Classified according to its N-P-K ratio, tomato fertilizer typically comes in two types: mixed and balanced. Mixed fertilizer would have an N-P-K ratio with different levels, such as 5-10-5 – 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 5% potassium. A balanced fertilizer, on the other hand, would have a leveled N-P-K ratio, like 10-10-10 or 8-8-8. The remaining percentage would be of filler material content.

The Best Fertilizers for Tomatoes: According To Your Soil Type

This is where knowing your soil type really pays off. In purchasing tomato fertilizer, you must take into account the pH level of your soil, the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content, and the essential nutrients it lacks.

For well-balanced soil or one with a higher nitrogen level, you need a tomato fertilizer with higher phosphorus content and lower nitrogen content. Ideal N-P-K ratios would be a 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 mixed fertilizer. If you’ve had previous problems with tomato plants in poor conditions, it’s safe to assume that your soil type is balanced. That said, you can also make use of this type of tomato fertilizer.

N-P-K ratios are much-needed information when you’re deciding which fertilizer to get

If your soil type test kit reveals a slight nitrogen deficiency, opt for a balanced fertilizer. Make sure to keep your nitrogen levels moderate because this could yield to a lush, dense tomato plant with not many tomatoes. If you’ve had this problem before, you may want to fertilize your tomatoes with phosphorus alone, in place of typical N-P-K tomato fertilizers.

Best Fertilizers For Tomatoes: TYPES

There are several types of fertilizers you can use for the tomato plants in your garden and you can choose whatever you think is convenient for you. Just remember, fertilizers are supposed to enhance plant growth; not stifle it or damage your plant or soil. It is, therefore, crucial that you read the label and instructions for use before applying any type of fertilizer.

Granular Fertilizer for Tomatoes

Granular fertilizer is granules you can sprinkle over the soil near the base of the plant, and these granules can be activated by watering your tomato plants using your garden sprinkler or garden hose. This type of fertilizer can also come in two forms: water-soluble fertilizer, which you dissolve in water before using it on your plants, and a slow-release fertilizer (also known as continuous release fertilizer) which you can apply directly on the soil. Slow-release fertilizers are popular for their long-lasting effect because the nutrients are gradually released over a period of time. The length of the release period varies between brands.

Liquid Fertilizer for Tomatoes

Liquid fertilizer is usually diluted in water and applied using spray bottles, garden sprayers or a watering can. Some are sprayed on leaves while others are sprayed on the soil right at the base of the plants. Liquid fertilizers are often concentrated and any form of misuse can harm your plants. It’s therefore imperative to always check the label before using this product. You can check online or visit your nearest gardening store for the best liquid fertilizer for tomatoes in your garden.

Chemical Fertilizers for Tomatoes

Chemical fertilizers, sometimes also labeled as inorganic or synthetic, are processed in factories and are often engineered so that nutrients become readily available to plants. Nutritional contents of chemical fertilizers can also be controlled, therefore, farmers and gardeners know exactly how much of a certain nutrient they are adding to the soil vis a vis the soil condition and the plants’ needs. To ensure better results, refer to the label to determine the exact amount to use per square feet of soil. And because the nutrients are immensely refined to be readily available to plants, gardeners can see an almost immediate result after application. In addition, these fertilizers are inexpensive, making them vastly preferable. They can be available in liquid or granular form, but granular chemical fertilizer is more common.

Organic Fertilizer for Tomatoes

This type of fertilizer is either processed in factories or in farms, but only minimally that the nutrients remain in their natural form. Most organic fertilizers are composed of composted organic matter mixed with poultry manure and powdered minerals. They rely almost entirely on microorganisms to break down the components in order to release nutrients to the soil and plants. Unlike their inorganic counterpart, therefore, organic fertilizers may take some time before they can show you visible results. This may sound a bit disadvantageous at first, but if you are patient and are willing to see the beneficial outcome, you will find that the advantages are going to be far more lasting. You can refer back to our list above for the best organic fertilizer for tomatoes in your garden.

Importance of Fertilizing Tomatoes in Containers

Growing tomatoes in containers can be a lot of fun for garden enthusiasts, especially if you can get your hands on one (or more) of those colorful and flavorful heirloom tomatoes!

Simply fill large tubs with a healthy mix of compost and garden soil and add your seedlings. Yes. Experts recommend starting with seedlings rather than seeds when growing them in containers. You can either buy seedlings from local nurseries near you or you can grow your own. Sow seeds on seedling trays filled with good potting soil and wait for them to germinate. As soon as they have shown a few true leaves, you will know they are ready for transplant. Plant tomatoes in prepared tubs set your fertilizing schedule and you should be good to go.

Further Advice

One thing to keep in mind before attempting to grow tomatoes in containers though: tomatoes are voracious eaters of nutrients and love to be fed a lot and, in the case of container gardening, their supply of nutrients is limited only to what they can get from the tubs. Furthermore, watering them will drain essential nutrients in the soil out of the containers. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly add an adequate amount of fertilizer.

Slow-release fertilizers are highly recommended for tomato plants in containers as they have a more lasting effect, minimizing the risk of over-fertilizing.

Best Fertilizers for Vegetables

Deciding which fertilizer brand to use for vegetables can be a little tricky because there are several things to consider. One is the current condition of your soil, therefore it is necessary to conduct a soil test before shopping for the best brand or best type of fertilizer for your tomatoes and other vegetables. You can purchase soil test kits or have samples brought to a lab for testing, but if either way is not convenient, there are other ways to determine the condition of your soil.

Which Fertilizer is Safe for Vegetables?

All types of fertilizers are generally safe for use on vegetables, even chemical or inorganic fertilizers. These are simply planted food processed for faster absorption by the plants. The only advantage of using organic fertilizers is that they are made from more sustainable materials and are therefore friendlier on the environment. If safety and earth-friendliness is your concern, then organic or natural fertilizers are the best option for you. The best natural fertilizer for tomatoes is homemade or farm-processed plant food that you can personally make from vegetable peels and animal manure.

Organic Tomato Fertilizer

You can find plenty of organic tomato fertilizer in the market today, some of which are in the list above. If you wish to make your own though, you can also improvise using materials you can source from your kitchen or garden and use this as an all-purpose fertilizer around the farm.

Best Fertilizers for Tomatoes: Final Toughts

It pays to know the pros and cons of certain products before use. This also applies to garden materials and resources. Of the five tomato fertilizers on this list, we highly recommend the Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes Fertilizer for All Tomato Plants (with 18 Spikes). As a result of not only do its pros outnumber the cons but, consider them outweighed as well. Now that you’ve stocked up on these bits of information, we bet you’re aching to purchase your own tomato fertilizer and finally get your tomato production up and running.

The best fertilizer for tomatoes is convenient and easy to use. Also, Jobe’s spikes provide nutrition underground at the roots, where plants can actually use it. So, just insert spikes around the plants and the slow-release formula feeds your tomato plants for up to 8 weeks. Plus, spikes ensure that nutrients aren’t washed away like surface applied fertilizers. 

Finally, share all your thoughts with us in the comments section. Tell us what is the best fertilizers for tomatoes regarding your preferences. Also, do not hesitate to ask any other further questions on this topic down below. You know I love to respond to them! Thank you for reading!

Last but not least, I’ve got two more articles that will be surely interesting for those who are interested in taking care of their gardens: one about 5 Best Rooting Hormone for Your Plants and one about How To Make Natural Homemade Rooting Hormone.