Jumpstart Your Spring Garden: Early Fertilizing Tips for Strong Plants

An article by Travis Key from Lazy Dog Farm

Spring is in full swing, and that means it’s time to get your vegetable garden off to the best possible start! Here in south GA, our spring vegetable garden is almost completed planted. We’re still waiting on planting some of the more heat loving crops like okra and sweet potatoes, but everything else is in the ground and thriving.

Whether you’re transplanting tomatoes, peppers, or squash into the ground or sowing seeds for beans and cucumbers, the key to strong, productive plants is giving them the right nutrients early. And one of the best ways to do that? Using an organic liquid fertilizer like AgroThrive to jumpstart growth.

Why Early Fertilization Matters

When young vegetable plants first go into the garden, they experience a period of adjustment known as transplant shock. During this time, their roots are trying to establish in the new soil. If they lack easy access to essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, they may struggle to grow strong stems and lush leaves — setting them up for a slower, less productive season.

Applying a gentle, balanced fertilizer like AgroThrive at transplant time helps seedlings:

•    Establish faster
•    Produce healthier foliage
•    Begin setting fruit sooner
•    Resist early-season stress from temperature swings and pests

Organic liquid fertilizers are especially valuable because they provide nutrients in a form that's immediately available, unlike some granular fertilizers that take longer to break down.

Best Crops for Early Fertilizing

Here are a few vegetable garden favorites that really benefit from an early boost:

Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are heavy feeders and benefit from a balanced fertilizer at planting. After transplanting, water them in with a diluted solution of AgroThrive to encourage quick root growth. Repeat every two weeks as the plants grow.

Peppers:
Both sweet and hot peppers can be slow to take off if the soil is cool or nutrient-poor. A starter feeding with AgroThrive promotes vigorous leafy growth — crucial for setting up a big harvest later.

Squash and Zucchini:
These fast-growing plants need early energy to sprawl and set blossoms. Feeding squash seedlings when they first sprout and again as they develop their first true leaves sets them up for strong production.

Cucumbers:
Early feeding ensures cucumbers quickly vine out and start producing female flowers (the ones that become cucumbers). Fertilize lightly after seedlings have two to three sets of leaves.

How to Use AgroThrive in Your Garden

For most vegetables, mix AgroThrive with water according to the label instructions. A good starting point is about 2–4 ounces per gallon of water. Water seedlings thoroughly at transplant time and continue to fertilize every 10–14 days for the first month.

Pro Tip: If you’re planting from seed (like for beans, corn, or melons), wait until the seedlings are 2–3 inches tall before applying fertilizer to avoid overwhelming them.

A Strong Start Pays Off All Season

Taking the time to feed your garden early in the season can make a huge difference in your overall harvest. Healthy plants grow faster, produce earlier, and have better resistance to pests and diseases. With AgroThrive, you’re feeding your garden naturally and setting the stage for an abundant, beautiful summer.

Since 2021, thousands of gardeners have been tuning into the Lazy Dog Farm YouTube Channel where Travis covers a variety of topics from starting your own vegetable transplants, in-ground and raised bed gardening tips, and growing over 70 varieties of figs in his backyard orchard. The gardens on his 2-acre homestead are always filled with a wide variety of vegetables, flowers, and herbs, as the southwest Georgia climate allows his family to grow their own food year round.