5-10-10 Fertilizer

Five parts nitrogen to ten parts each of phosphorus and potassium. The lower nitrogen keeps plants from putting everything into leaves, while the phosphorus and potassium support flowers, fruit set and strong roots.

At 1 tsp per quart, the 8 oz bottle makes about 48 watering cans of feed. For a typical shelf of 10–15 plants fed every 1–2 weeks in season, that's several months of feeding — and the 32 oz bottle four times that.

Every 1–2 weeks in spring and summer while it is actively growing, then every 4 weeks in fall and winter. Mix it into your regular watering at the labeled dilution so feeding never becomes a separate chore.

Once plants start flowering or setting fruit. Use a balanced or higher-nitrogen formula while they are growing leaves, then move to 5-10-10 for the flowering and fruiting stretch.

Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and beans, and similar plants that want this balance of nutrients.

Not when used as directed. The dilution is designed for regular feeding, and a liquid spreads evenly through the soil instead of sitting in a hot spot the way granules can. If you ever overdo it, flush with plain water.

Greener leaves and stronger new growth usually show within two to four weeks of consistent feeding; flowering and fruiting benefits build over the season.