The Benefits of Using Plant Food with High Nitrogen for Your Garden

Nitrogen is a critical nutrient that all plants require to grow and thrive. While nitrogen makes up 78% of the air, plants can only use nitrogen in its solid, fixed form. This makes choosing a plant food with adequate nitrogen levels vitally important for robust plant health and development.

In this article, we’ll look at what nitrogen does for plants, signs of nitrogen deficiency, the advantages of using high nitrogen plant foods, when to apply them, and recommend some top nitrogen-rich products.

What Does Nitrogen Do for Plants?

Nitrogen plays a pivotal role in multiple plant growth processes and overall plant health. Specifically, nitrogen is used by plants to:

• Produce chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color and enables photosynthesis. More nitrogen leads to more chlorophyll and greener, lusher foliage.

• Build strong, sturdy plant stems and stalks that can support flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Nitrogen strengthens plants’ cell structure.

• Grow larger blooms An abundance of nitrogen results in bigger flower buds and flowers

• Set and fill out fruits and vegetables for higher yields Nitrogen prevents premature fruit drop

• Synthesize key proteins and enzymes needed for all metabolic activities.

Without adequate nitrogen, plants lack the ability to fully develop and thrive. Next, let’s go over some telltale signs of nitrogen deficiency.

Signs of Nitrogen Deficiency

Plants lacking sufficient nitrogen will display multiple symptoms including:

• Pale green or yellowing leaves due to insufficient chlorophyll production. Lower leaves may turn completely yellow.

• Slow and stunted growth. Both foliage and roots have restricted development.

• Small fruits and vegetables that lack size and weight. Tomato yields will be low and undersized.

• Thin, weak, spindly stems and branches. Plants often require staking for support.

• Smaller than normal flowers and flower buds.

• Premature leaf drop. Leaves turn yellow and fall off early.

• Higher susceptibility to diseases, pests, and infections due to stress.

• Leggy growth and lack of bushiness since nitrogen promotes foliage growth over roots and stems.

Correcting nitrogen deficiency with plant food containing higher nitrogen offers multiple benefits.

Benefits of Using High Nitrogen Plant Foods

Choosing a plant food with elevated nitrogen levels provides the following advantages:

• Lush, vigorous green foliage growth. Leaves grow bigger with a rich green color from extra chlorophyll.

• More prolific blooms in terms of size and quantity. Flowers and buds are noticeably larger.

• Higher fruit and vegetable yields. Plants can support bigger harvests without premature fruit drop.

• Stronger, sturdier plant stems that don’t require staking for support.

• Fast growth response. Improvements in plant vigor and color are visible within days.

• Enhanced plant immunity and resilience. Well-nourished plants better withstand diseases.

• Bushier, denser growth habit instead of leggy, stretched out plants.

For gardeners seeking faster, healthier, more productive plants, a high nitrogen plant food is highly recommended. Let’s look at when to apply it and some suggested products.

When to Apply High Nitrogen Fertilizers

While healthy soil is always important, using a high nitrogen fertilizer too early in the season can potentially burn young roots with excessive nitrogen.

Most plants need the most nitrogen during the early reproductive stages when rapid growth is occurring. This is when applying a nitrogen-rich plant food is ideal. The exceptions are heavy feeding plants like corn that require more nitrogen early on.

In established plants, the best times for high nitrogen feed are:

• Early spring when roots are actively growing and leaves are developing.

• At the start of the blooming period to support prolific flowers.

• When fruits and vegetables begin developing to boost yields.

• After harvests are complete to reinvigorate plant growth.

Recommended High Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizers

Liquid fertilizers with nitrogen levels above 3% deliver the fastest nitrogen boost. Here are some top high nitrogen picks:

• Dr. Earth Nitro Big – 3% nitrogen from fish bone and feather meals. OMRI listed for organic gardening.

• Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed – 2.4% nitrogen plus vitamins and minerals from fish and seaweed.

• Alaska Fish Fertilizer – 4% nitrogen derived from fish. Contains essential fatty acids.

• Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed – 1% nitrogen plus 70+ trace minerals from seaweed. Can be applied every 2 weeks.

• Fox Farm Grow Big – 6% nitrogen plus phosphorus and potassium for vigorous growth.

These all-natural liquid fertilizers provide an immediate nitrogen boost along with other key nutrients plants need. Always follow label directions for proper diluting and application.

The Role of Nitrogen in Dry Organic Fertilizers

The same nitrogen uptake process occurs with organic dry fertilizers. However, their nutrient release is more gradual as microbes slowly break down the organic materials. This controlled-release form makes nitrogen burning less likely while still providing a steady nitrogen supply.

Some examples of high nitrogen organic fertilizers are blood meal (12% nitrogen), alfalfa meal (2-3% nitrogen), and feather meal (12% nitrogen). The nitrogen levels are lower than synthetic fertilizers but last longer.

Takeaways on High Nitrogen Plant Foods

• Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for robust plant growth and yields. Deficiency severely impacts plants.

• Signs of low nitrogen include yellowing leaves, stunted growth, floppy stems, and low yields.

• High nitrogen fertilizers promote vigorous foliage, prolific blooming, and higher fruit/vegetable harvests.

• Liquid feeds provide the fastest nitrogen boost while dry organic options offer controlled, steady release.

• Apply high nitrogen fertilizer during the main plant growth phases from early spring through harvests.

For green, vigorous, productive plants, be sure to choose a plant food with adequate nitrogen levels. Pay close attention to when nitrogen is needed most and select an appropriate nitrogen fertilizer product. With the proper amount of nitrogen from fertilizers, your garden is sure to thrive.