Organic Vegetable Fertilizers: Compost, Manure, and Cover Crops

Chemical-free fertilization builds soil health while feeding crops. Three organic approaches suit different garden scales and needs.

Compost: Foundation Fertility

Sufficient for light feeders (beans, tomatoes). Certified organic bagged compost or homemade from kitchen scraps and yard waste.

Manure: Concentrated Nutrition

Cow, horse, or chicken manure (highest nitrogen) boosts heavy feeders. Age thoroughly before application to prevent burning seedlings.

Cover Crops: Living Fertilizer

Red clover and alfalfa fix nitrogen. Chop and incorporate in fall. Crop rotation preserves soil nutrients naturally between seasons.