Do Culinary Herbs Need Fertilizer? Organic Feeding Advice

A gardener growing herbs for cooking prefers to avoid fertilizers but worries about nutrient deficiency.

Yes, They Need Nutrients—But Naturally

Leroy Wilton (Herbman) recommends liquid seaweed + fish emulsion (his go-to for 27 years) or fish emulsion alone. Organic dry fertilizers also work.

Simple Recipe

• 1 tablespoon liquid fertilizer per gallon of water.
• Add 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap as a surfactant.
• Stir gently.
• Feed every 3 weeks during active growth, especially at bloom time.
• Prune ⅓ from the top of each branch simultaneously.

This regimen yields excellent growth and health without synthetic chemicals.