One of the most important factors in a healthy garden is making sure that the plants get all of the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. However, many commercial fertilizers today are laden with chemicals and other substances that are not considered particularly safe for your family or the environment. For this reason, many gardeners have turned to an organic vegetable garden fertilizer for their needs. There are a number of choices in an organic vegetable garden fertilizer today, and the right one will probably depend on the needs of your plants and your own personal preference.

Compost

In some cases, compost may be the only type of organic vegetable garden fertilizer you need. This is especially true of plants that may not need heavy feedings throughout the season like beans or tomatoes. The organic matter in compost can promote the release of important nutrients like nitrogen and minerals from the soil. Compost can be purchased from your garden center, as long as you make sure the bag states that the material within is certified organic. It can also be made at home from items like table scraps, grass clippings and paper shreds. Creating your own compost bin is not a difficult process, and can be very economical, especially if your garden area is quite large.

Manure

If compost is not sufficient as an organic vegetable garden fertilizer, you do have other options that can be used throughout the growing season. Manure is one of the more popular types of organic vegetable garden fertilizer, and can be purchased or hauled, depending on what is available in your area. Cow and horse manure are usually the most common, but gardeners can also find chicken manure in some locations. Chicken manure is often preferred, due to its high nitrogen content. If you choose to haul your own, make sure it dries fully before putting it on your plants, since green manure can burn your organic vegetable garden seed and young seedlings.

Other Plants

Another method of feeding the organic garden is through plants that produce the specific nutrients that your crops will need. For example, red clover and alfalfa tend to produce a lot of nitrogen, so chopping up the plants and adding them to your soil in the fall will be another option in organic vegetable garden fertilizer. You can also rotate your crops from year to year, to ensure certain nutrients remain in the soil to feed next year's crops.

Organic vegetable garden fertilizer is the right choice to help your plants thrive and give you peace of mind about the homegrown produce that you put on your family's table. With these ideas for organic vegetable garden fertilizer, you will enjoy thriving plants and a bountiful harvest.