Best Fertilizer For Pumpkins – The 5 Best Options

Knowing how to select the best fertilizer for pumpkins is essential to their growth. To promote sprawling vines and giant gourds, you want to be sure you’ve picked the best formula. Notably, your pumpkin fertilizer must contain a nitrogen-heavy formula for optimal vine growth.

In addition, you will want your fertilizer to include adequate potassium and phosphorus content for healthy flowering and fruiting. There are plenty of different pumpkin fertilizers on the market. Thus, it isn’t always easy to identify the best option for your needs. To help make life easier, we’ve rounded up our…

Top 5 Picks for the Best Fertilizer for Pumpkins:

1. Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Granules

This universal fertilizer is beneficial for almost any plant in your patch. Our top pick comes in granular form so you can feed your whole garden and promote healthy growth. These granules are perfectly suitable for pumpkins, tomatoes, other veggies, herbs, and fruits.

All you have to do is apply the fertilizer every four to six weeks and water your plants regularly. In no time, you can expect to see noticeable results. Thanks to the powerful ingredients in this fertilizer, most plants have a positive response in seven or so days.

Moreover, the fertilizer application is relatively easy. Simply apply the dry mixture to the plants and water them when done.

Pros

It contains potent ingredients for bigger harvests

Yields result in 7 days

Works for most vegetables, herbs, and fruits

It comes in 3 sizing options

Cons

Can attract flies

Odorous


2. Miracle-Gro Shake N’ Feed Plant Food

Packed with nutrients, including a healthy dose of calcium, the Miracle-Gro Shake N’ Feed Plant Food promotes above-average growth in plants. The fertilizer for pumpkins is mixed with natural ingredients intended to feed microbes in the soil. Ultimately, the added nutrients in the soil contribute to healthier, stronger, bigger pumpkins.

Additionally, the calcium content helps strengthen cell walls, improving plant and vegetable quality. It also prevents plant disorders such as calcium deficiency. Unlike other plant feeds, this fertilizer is specially formulated to nourish the topsoil and the soil below. This yields the best results.

Pros

Suitable for in-ground and potted plants

Multi-pack option

Calcium-rich formula

Nourishes topsoil and soil below

Cons

Over applying the fertilizer quickly kills plants

Unsafe for pets


3. Miracle-Gro Plant Food

This option is fantastic if you are looking for an affordable fertilizer. Using this fertilizer will yield you bigger and more bountiful vegetables compared to their unfed counterparts. Plenty of reviews have praised this cult fertilizer for the quality and quantity you get for your money. Furthermore, the formula is suitable for more than just pumpkins. This fertilizer is completely fine to use for tomatoes and other types of vegetables too.

One 1.5lb bag can feed over 600 square feet. Additionally, it requires less frequent application than some of the competitors. You only need to provide your pumpkins with plant food every 7 to 14 days. Furthermore, this formula is completely safe for plants and pets. There’s no risk of killing your plant by over-feeding.

Pros

The safe formula cannot be overapplied

Feeds approximately 600 square feet of space

Produces bigger and more bountiful vegetables

Feeds plants during watering while added to the watering can

Cons

Tends to cake


4. Jobe’s Organic Vegetable & Tomato Granular Fertilizer

We love this fertilizer because it does more than just promote plant growth. Jobe’s fertilizer formula boosts the soil environment and increases valuable nutrient content. Moreover, the fertilizer boosts nutrient uptake while preventing the risks of plant disease.

This plant feed helps tomato, pumpkin, and other vegetables bear more fruits thanks to its biozome content. The formula utilizes a blend of healthy bacteria, mycorrhizal, fungi, and archaea for optimal results. Since this plant fertilizer contains zero synthetic chemicals, it is extremely safe for kids and pets.

Pros

Combines bacteria, fungi, and archaea for overall growth and plant health

Improves soil quality and promotes root growth

Prevents garden disease, harmful insects, and drought

Safe for kids and pets

Works for most edible vegetables, including tomatoes and pumpkins

Cons

May cause fungus growth

Strong smell


5. Earth Flower Girl Fertilizer

The Dr. Earth Flower Girl Fertilizer features an organic and hand-crafted formula paired with growth-promoting nutrients. Primarily, the fertilizer promotes blooms and strong roots. Its versatile formula means it isn’t only suitable for pumpkins. This fertilizer is also suitable for use on fruit trees, citrus, and hibiscus. As well, it can be used to support flowering plants, Bougainvillea, vines, and roses.

This fertilizer combines a blend of fishbone, alfalfa, feather, soft rock phosphate, and mined potassium sulfate. Thanks to this unique blend, the feed is able to provide maximum nutrition to your plants. Additionally, this fertilizer contains zero GMO, chicken manure, or sewage sludge to keep your plants. Thankfully, this means your plants and subsequent harvest are entirely safe to consume. Furthermore, the fertilizer contains probiotics and seven champion strains of good microbes to boost soil quality.

Pros

Designed to boost soil quality and root establishment

Combines essential nutrients such as phosphorus and calcium to boost plant growth

Natural formula with a blend of fishbone, alfalfa, feather, soft rock phosphate, and potassium

Safe for people and pets

Easy-to-use resealable bag

Cons

Poor bag quality

Bad smell


Homemade Fertilizer for Pumpkins

If you start to notice the leaves on the pumpkin stems starting to turn yellow, there is a good chance that your pumpkin plants are deficient in magnesium. An easy homemade fertilizer for pumpkins for this issues is to simply take 1 to 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt and dissolve it into a gallon of water. Then you can pour it into a spray and spray the pumpkin leaves with it. This will remedy the lack of magnesium and help turn the leaves green..

Buying Guide — Choosing the Best Fertilizer for Pumpkins

Undoubtedly, all plants require fertilizer to grow and thrive. However, the fertilizer needs vary based on the plant type. In this case, we’ve shared key features to look out for when choosing the best fertilizer for pumpkins.

Formula

Generally, pumpkins are heavy feeders. Thus, they require a lot of nutrients to grow. Your pumpkin fertilizer should contain critical nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Nitrogen helps to promote green growth, such as leaves. Phosphorus promotes the blooming of flowers. Lastly, potassium targets the actual fruit, which is, in this case, the pumpkin. Examine the fertilizer packet to look for the three numbers that represent these three nutrients.

The numbers denoting the nutrients will be listed in successive order. Often they start with nitrogen, then phosphorus, and then potassium. Go for a 5-15-15 or 8-24-24 fertilizer ratio. The reason nitrogen comes in a small amount is that it is only used to promote green growth and can be harmful in too high amounts.

Organic or Inorganic

Fertilizers may integrate an organic or inorganic formula. Since pumpkins are edible plants, you are better off using organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers use all-natural ingredients.

Typically, these include fish bones and other similar natural components high in calcium and other minerals. Furthermore, an organic fertilizer will be more forgiving on your plants. They will not cause burns in case of over-applying and are generally considered safe for kids and pets.

Inorganic fertilizer contains chemicals such as pesticides and additives. Thus, when added to edible plants, it could cause adverse effects. Furthermore, inorganic fertilizer can damage soil quality. It also reacts with the sun to deplete nutrients your plants need. The only benefit of using inorganic fertilizers is that they are effective at keeping pests off the plants. So, if insect or animal interference is a big problem for you, you might want to consider the harsher option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

best fertilizer for pumpkins

How do I start using fertilizer for my pumpkins?

A few weeks before planting, start preparing the soil using homemade fertilizer for pumpkins. This can be compost or rotted manure. You’ll also want to make sure that your soil is well-drained. After planting your seeds, use a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Nitrogen promotes the first stage of plant growth. However, avoid using the nitrogen-rich fertilizer too close to the plant to prevent burning.

As the flowers begin to sprout, move to a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to promote flower and fruit growth. Lastly, finish up with the potassium-rich fertilizer when the pumpkins appear to produce big, healthy pumpkins. Nevertheless, it’s important not to over-apply the potassium as it can easily break the fruit skin.

How often should I fertilize my pumpkin plants?

Different fertilizers will have varying instructions. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should add dry fertilizer to your plants every two to three weeks. You also have to include the roots in the fertilization process. In this case, add liquid fertilizer in the water to feed the roots every time you water the plants. Be sure to use fertilizers with a higher nitrogen content until your first flowers appear.

Conclusion

Growing big and healthy pumpkins doesn’t have to be difficult. All it really requires is time and care. Make sure you have well-drained soil and conduct proper nutrient-rich preparation. A big step in growing the perfect pumpkin is choosing the best fertilizer for your plants.

We’ve listed the top five best fertilizers for pumpkins to help you understand what you need to look for. As long as you are attentive to your plant and cycle your fertilizers appropriately, you should start to see results in time for the next harvest!