Are you looking for ways to boost your potato yield? Want to grow the perfect spuds that are healthy and delicious? Well, look no further! In this blog post, we'll explore the best fertilizer for potatoes that will help you achieve abundant harvests.
With our expert advice, you'll be able to nourish your soil with all the necessary nutrients and get those potatoes growing strong and thriving!
So grab a shovel and let's dig into the world of potato fertilization like never before!
Here are the best fertilizers for potatoes you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Faster Results: Jobe’s Organics 09026
- Best For Tasty Potatoes: Cz Garden Supply Muriate of Potash 0-0-60 Fertilizer
- Best For Larger Yield: Easy Peasy All-Natural Muriate of Potash Potassium Fertilizer
- Best For Hydroponic Potatoes: True Organic™ R0016
- Best For Young Transplants: Down to Earth Organic Fish Meal Fertilizer 8-6-0
- Best For Root Growth: Hi-Yield 32145
| 6 Best Fertilizers For Potatoes | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Faster Results | Jobe’s Organics 09026 | |
Best For Tasty Potatoes | Cz Garden Supply Muriate of Potash 0-0-60 Fertilizer | |
Best For Larger Yield | Easy Peasy All-Natural Muriate of Potash Potassium Fertilizer | |
Best For Hydroponic Potatoes | True Organic™ R0016 | |
Best For Young Transplants | Down to Earth Organic Fish Meal Fertilizer 8-6-0 | |
Best For Root Growth | Hi-Yield 32145 | |
Best For Faster Results: Jobe’s Organics 09026
- Deliver fast results – fast-acting formula
- Help improve soil – organic matter, beneficial microbes, and mycorrhizae
- Easy to apply – the spike form
- The product is smelly
The Jobe’s Organics 09026 is a granular fertilizer OMRI-listed for organic gardening by the USDA. Its formula is specifically for vegetables, including potatoes, with the primary purpose of quickly delivering vital nutrients for a more abundant harvest.
This fertilizer contains organic matter, beneficial microbes, and mycorrhizae to help improve soil quality while promoting healthier and stronger root growth.
Besides, the bone meal provides the perfect balance of nutrients that potatoes need for healthy and strong growth. For the uninitiated: Bone meal is an excellent source of phosphorus and calcium, which are vital macronutrients for tuber formation and growth, as well as for healthy leaf and stem growth.
As an added bonus, the spike form makes it easy to apply while delivering essential nutrients in the root zone stably, hence for more efficient uptake and usage by the plant.
| Jobe’s Organics 09026 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 4 Pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 2-5-3 |
Coverage | 150 square feet |
Highlight Features | fast-acting formula organic matter, beneficial microbes, and mycorrhizae the spike form |
We recommend Jobe's Organics 09026 for those who want to receive faster results after applying on their potato plants.
Best For Tasty Potatoes: Cz Garden Supply Muriate of Potash 0-0-60 Fertilizer
- Produce tasty potatoes - an NPK ratio of 0-0-60
- Reliable – made in the USA
- No complaint
With an NPK ratio of 0-0-60, this is the best fertilizer if you want to provide an excellent source of soluble potassium, one of the three primary plant macronutrients, to your potato plants.
Potassium is essential for the production of proteins, sugars, and other compounds that give potatoes their unique flavor and texture.
Some other benefits such as helping plants maintain their water content, reducing the impacts of drought on potato plants, and helping to maintain the leaves’ shape and vigor, which are important factors in photosynthesis.
In addition, the Cz Garden Supply Muriate of Potash 0-0-60 Fertilizer is made in the USA, which ensures quality.
| Cz Garden Supply Muriate of Potash 0-0-60 Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 5 Pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0-0-60 |
Highlight Features | an NPK ratio of 0-0-60 made in the USA |
By providing an excellent source of soluble potassium and a high-yield formula that helps promote root vegetables' growth, the Cz Garden Supply Muriate of Potash 0-0-60 Fertilizer is a great choice to help produce tasty potatoes.
Best For Larger Yield: Easy Peasy All-Natural Muriate of Potash Potassium Fertilizer
- Boost larger yield – contain 60% Muriate of Potash
- Cost-efficient – 3000 square feet of coverage per 5-pound product
- The large-size pellets might not work in some handheld spreaders
The Easy Peasy All-Natural Muriate of Potash Potassium Fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 0-0-60, which also means it's an excellent source of potassium (K).
But unlike other K-fertilizers, this one contains Muriate of Potash (MOP).
Studies have shown that potato yield increases by up to 38% at 169-208 ppm soil AL-K2O rates when using K- fertilizers such as MOP. Compared to Sulphate of Potash (SOP), MOP is found to be a better source of potassium for increasing Vitamin C content in potatoes.
The biggest advantage of MOP is its high salt index and its chloride content, making it more readily available for the plant and helping to improve the overall health and vigor of the crop.
| Easy Peasy All-Natural Muriate of Potash Potassium Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 5 Pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0-0-60 |
Coverage | 3000 square feet |
Highlight Features | contain 60% Muriate of Potash 3000 square feet of coverage per 5-pound product |
The Easy Peasy All-Natural Muriate of Potash Potassium Fertilizer delivers incredibly larger yield than its competitors, giving it a good spot in this review list.
Best For Hydroponic Potatoes: True Organic™ R0016
- Ideal for hydroponic potatoes – contain sulfur
- Safe to use - OMRI listed
- Dependable – made in the USA
- A bit pricey
What makes the True Organic™ R0016 the best choice for hydroponic potatoes is it contains elemental sulfur which is important for the adequate growth and development of plants.
Additionally, it is OMRI listed for organic gardening and is beneficial for overall growth, flowering, and fruiting.
The sulfur also contributes to lowering soil pH, which increases the availability of micronutrients, making it beneficial for hydroponic potatoes.
Sulfur is a structural component of protein disulfide bonds, amino acids, vitamins, and cofactors, which are all essential to the optimal growth and development of hydroponic potatoes.
| True Organic™ R0016 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 5 Pounds |
Highlight Features | contain sulfur OMRI listed made in the USA |
By using the True Organic™ R0016, you can ensure that your hydroponic potatoes will receive the optimal amount of sulfur necessary for their health and growth.
Best For Young Transplants: Down to Earth Organic Fish Meal Fertilizer 8-6-0
- Good for young transplants – 8% nitrogen and 6% phosphorus
- Stimulate soil microbial life - 5% calcium
- Expensive
For young potato transplants, the Down to Earth Organic Fish Meal Fertilizer 8-6-0 is an excellent choice as it provides the necessary primary nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Besides, its higher nitrogen content makes it ideal for an early season boost for all your plants.
This fertilizer also stimulates soil microbial life and promotes vigorous root development, which helps provide the best possible conditions for young potato transplants.
| Down to Earth Organic Fish Meal Fertilizer 8-6-0 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 5 Pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 8-6-0 |
Coverage | 100 square feet |
Highlight Features | 8% nitrogen and 6% phosphorus 5% calcium |
The Down to Earth Organic Fish Meal Fertilizer 8-6-0 is an ideal fertilizer for young transplants.
Best For Root Growth: Hi-Yield 32145
- Enhance root growth – the ratio NPK of 0-0-60
- Easy to store - the zippered bag
- No odors
- It takes time to see results
The Hi-Yield 32145 is a great source of potassium which helps promote plant health, disease resistance, and root growth.
Potassium is essential for protein and sugar production in plants and it helps maintain the plants’ water content, allowing them to remain hydrated in drier climates. It is especially beneficial for potatoes as it helps form healthier stems, roots, and tubers.
We also love the product because of its cost efficiency. Every 4 pounds of this fertilizer are enough to feed 800 square feet (while other counterparts can feed only around 100-200).
Besides, the zippered bag makes it easy to store.
| Hi-Yield 32145 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 4 Liters |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0-0-60 |
Coverage | 800 square feet |
Highlight Features | the ratio NPK of 0-0-60 |
The Hi-Yield 32145 is formulated to stimulate root growth, and it’s one of our favorites to apply on our potato garden.
How To Choose The Best Fertilizer For Potatoes?
The best fertilizer for potatoes depends upon the individual needs of the crop and the soil.
By considering the nutrient content and properties, form, and cost of the fertilizer, you can determine the best fertilizer for your potatoes.
Nutrient Content And Properties Of The Fertilizer
When selecting a fertilizer for potatoes, it is also important to consider the nutrient content and properties of the fertilizer.
Depending on the growth stage, potatoes require different amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for healthy growth. Phosphorus and potassium are essential macronutrients that promote tuber growth in potatoes, while nitrogen is more beneficial for vegetative growth.
Additionally, fertilizers may contain other micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, which can also be beneficial.
Types Of The Fertilizer
The most common types of fertilizers used today include chemical, organic, and mineral fertilizers.
Chemical Fertilizers
They are the most commonly used type of fertilizer due to their quick and effective results. Chemical fertilizers are composed of chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that provide nutrients to plants.
Pros:
- Ability to quickly promote plant growth and increase yields
- Affordability compared to other types of fertilizers
Cons
- Potential to trigger an imbalance in soil pH levels
- Possibility of contaminating groundwater with its soluble components.
Organic Fertilizers
They are derived from natural sources, such as animal manure, compost, and bone meal.
Pros
- Provide a slow release of nutrients over a longer period of time
- Improve soil structure and fertility.
Cons
- Lower nutrient content compared to chemical fertilizers
- Potential to attract pests if not applied properly.
Mineral Fertilizers
Mineral fertilizers are made up of minerals such as rock phosphate, gypsum, and potash.
Pros
- Improve soil structure and drainage
- Provide essential micronutrients that are not found in other types of fertilizers
Cons
- Long-term release of nutrients, making it less immediately effective than chemical fertilizers
- They might cause an imbalance in the soil pH levels.
Cost
Last but not least, consider the cost of the fertilizer.
Fertilizers vary greatly in price, so it is important to consider the cost per application and the cost of the fertilizer over the long term.
Which Brands Make The Best Fertilizer For Potatoes?
Jobe’s Company
Jobe's Company is a great brand for fertilizers because its products are eco-friendly, organic, and easy to use. It also offers a range of fertilizers specific to various types of plants like potatoes.
Cz Garden
Cz Garden provides high-quality fertilizer products with a balanced concentration of essential plant nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, and chlorine. They also help promote healthier soil fertility and make plants more resistant to pests.
The use of its fertilizers helps replenish soil nutrients, resulting in increased crop yields.
FAQs
What nutrients do potatoes need most?
Potatoes need nitrogen and potassium for early growth and dry matter, and phosphate for more tubers, growth, and yield. Blood and bone meal is a good source of these nutrients and can be beneficial for potatoes.
Do potatoes need nitrogen fertilizer?
Yes, potatoes need nitrogen fertilizer in order to grow well and produce a good crop. Nitrogen is essential for the development of foliage and tubers, and is needed in different amounts at different stages in the growth cycle of the potato plant.
How much fertilizer do you use on potatoes?
The recommended application rate for potatoes is 180-240 kg N, 60-90 kg P2 O5 and 85-130 K2O per hectare.
How often should you fertilize potatoes?
Potatoes should be fertilized four to five times throughout their life cycle. Begin fertilizing two weeks after planting and continue to apply fertilizer every four weeks, stopping two weeks before harvest.
Do you put fertilizer on potatoes?
Yes, you should put fertilizer on potatoes in order to ensure healthy growth and maximize your harvest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, potatoes are a relatively easy plant to grow and care for provided that they have adequate nutrition available.
The best fertilizer for potatoes will provide them with the nutrients needed to reach their fullest growth potential in your garden or farm. Above are our 6 recommendations for you.
By following our buying guides, you can determine the right one for your garden and also achieve improved yields of healthy tubers perfect for whatever culinary uses you desire.
Thanks for reading!
