7 Best Fertilizers for Peppers – Pros and Cons [2023]

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You are reading this article to know the best fertilizers for peppers. More and bigger peppers are the goal here. This is why I reviewed the 7 best fertilizers for peppers for you.

What are Peppers?

Peppers are a versatile addition to any vegetable garden with 3500 varieties, according to CayenneDiane.

According to the University of Massachusets, peppers can be categorized into sweet and hot.

They can add multiple colors and flavors to your kitchen, garden, and food. 

If you are interested in extremely hot peppers, check out my list of the hottest peppers in the world.

Pepper Fertilization

This vibrant crop can be enjoyed all year, provided you feed the pepper well with fertilizer.

Like tomatoes, peppers are also heavy feeders based on my experience growing peppers.

As their root system expands, they absorb all the nutrients in the soil. 

There are many fertilizer brands and options in the market for feeding peppers. 

This guide will help you decide on the best fertilizer for peppers as I reviewed them and had an in-depth look at the available fertilizers suited for peppers.

When fertilizing peppers, the NPK value of the soil you are using must be considered.

The fertilizers are then used to add nutrients to the soil, states the University of Florida in its “Pepper Production Guide for Florida.”

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Best Fertilizers for Peppers

The best fertilizers for peppers are balanced fertilizers with NPK values of 5-5-5 or 10-10-10. Nitrogen will help plant growth but will not support fruit production. The optimal pH range for peppers is between 6.0-6.5. Overfertilization must be avoided as it leads to lots of foliage growth and delayed fruit and maturity.

Best Fertilizers for Peppers – The Winners

Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb Fertilizer by Dr. Earth – Best Overall Pepper Fertilizer

This is our top recommendation for enjoying nutritious and tasty peppers.  It will add life to not only your vegetables but also the soil. 

It’s handcrafted using TruBiotic, a unique combination of soil microbes and mycorrhizae.  The nutrition ratio for this Dr. Earth fertilizer is 4-6-3. It contains 7.5% calcium. 

This is the only fertilizer you need for homegrown vegetables, including all pepper varieties. 

This fertilizer is famous for multiple reasons – it’s organic, has no chemicals, and is rich in primary plant nutrients.

The selling point of this fertilizer is how it releases nutrients. It provides consistent nutrients for several months and even releases some right after feeding. 

Once you use this fertilizer in your vegetable garden, you will not need any other supplement or chemical plant nutrition. 

This fertilizer is formulated to enhance plant performance by increasing soil nutrient availability. 

Established pepper plants should be fed every two months in the season. Your pets might be attracted to the fertilizer, so store it at a high location away from their reach.

Pros

• A must-have fertilizer for organic vegetable gardeners 
• Made from natural ingredients without any sludge, GMOs, or chicken manure
• Promotes crop and root growth for a bountiful harvest 
• Continuous use will improve the soil and increase the drought tolerance of the plants.
• People and pet-friendly fertilizer
• It can be used to prepare a fertilizer tea
• It can be added to the compost pile to speed up the process 
• Created from natural products like fish meal, alfalfa meal, fishbone meal, kelp, and feather meal

Cons

• It can infect the plant with fungus gnats or powdery mildew 
• It has an unpleasant scent, so avoid using it for indoor plants.

Take a look at this fertilizer here.

Garden-tone by Espoma Organics – Best for Budget Pepper Fertilizer

This single fertilizer can be used for any warm or cool-season vegetable in your garden. Experienced gardeners recommend this for peppers, tomatoes, and herbs. 

The Bio-tone microbes in this fertilizer ensure long-lasting, slow-release feeding. It will enhance the flavor and nutritional value of any pepper variety. 

The best time for adding this fertilizer is right before planting. Add it to the planting hole and mix it well. 

If you want to use it for young pepper seedlings, wait at least 7-10 days after the plantation. 

Established pepper plants require a monthly feeding session throughout the growing season (May to August). 

You can prepare your vegetable garden bed with this fertilizer. Mix the fertilizer in 4-5 inches of soil and add compost or humus to the soil. 

Many gardeners prefer it for pepper rows in their home garden because it’s easier to apply, especially since you only need to sprinkle it on both sides of the rows.

The NPK ratio for the garden tone is 3-4-4. It also contains 2.2% slow-release nitrogen, 5% calcium, and 1% magnesium. 

The most prominent ingredients in this fertilizer are alfalfa meal, feather meal, bone meal, and poultry manure. 

This fertilizer cannot be used in a hydroponic system because the Bio-tone requires soil microbes to break the nutrients for the plant. 

For best results, sprinkle this fertilizer in dry form, followed by a thorough watering session.

Pros

• It has no fillers or sludge.
• Designed specifically for homegrown vegetables 
• 100% organic fertilizer created from natural ingredients 
• Increases your seasonal harvest of peppers as it produces more vegetables
• It can be used for other summer crops. 
• Easy to use for single plants or rows of peppers

Cons

• Not OMRI listed
• It can cause white fungus growth on the surface of the potting/garden soil.
• Not suitable for hydroponic gardening
• It has an awful odor and attracts flies. 

You better have a good look at this incredible fertilizer here.

Pepper and Herb Fertilizer by Greenway Biotech – Best Pepper Row Fertilizer

This fertilizer is a fine powder of nutrients, and the NPK ratio is 11-11-40. This water-soluble fertilizer is enriched with trace minerals like copper, boron, zinc, and magnesium. 

It will surely strengthen the root system and improve your plants’ flower and fruit production. 

The continuous application will help you grow healthy and delicious peppers in your backyard.

This fertilizer has optimum nutrient ratios making it a professional-grade plant food for peppers and herbs. 

This fertilizer is safe for the plants as well as the environment. 

This fertilizer can be added to any growing medium (soil or hydroponic). It has multiple application methods (foliar, soil, and side dressing). The application rates are printed on the package. 

Pros

• Free from heavy metals or toxic chemicals 
• Easily dissolves in water 
• Works great in both soil and hydroponic application  
• Includes micronutrients in chelated form 

Cons

• It does not contain calcium 
• The packaging needs to be improved for better storage

Read more about this fertilizer by clicking here.

Performance Organics All Purpose Plant Nutrition – Best Instant Feeding Pepper Fertilizer

Gardeners and horticulture experts trust Miracle-Gro throughout the world. Every plant fed with this fertilizer produces more fruits or vegetables but in an organic way. 

This all-purpose fertilizer has an NPK of 11-3-8, but it’s also enriched with micronutrients. All these micronutrients will play an important role in homegrown peppers’ quality, quantity, and taste. 

This fertilizer can also be blended with aged compost.

This plant nutrition can be easily applied to the soil using the garden feeder or a watering can. The manufacturer also provides a measuring spoon for accurate measurement of fertilizer for dilution. 

If you want to increase the number of peppers on your plant, it is best to feed with this fertilizer every week in the growing season. Soon your plants will be loaded with colorful peppers. 

Mix two scoops of fertilizer with 1 gallon of water to treat ten sq ft of the crop area. To cover large areas, adjust the number of scoops of fertilizer based on the crop area size. 

The only downside of this fertilizer is the strong, unpleasant smell, but if you want lots of healthy peppers, you must tolerate the smell. 

A simple advice by most people is to avoid mixing this fertilizer indoors because your house will be filled with the smell. Always wear a mask while handling this fertilizer to avoid fine dust inhalation. 

This fertilizer can easily provide nutrition for your peppers for about three months. 

Pros

• It instantly feeds the plant to revive a wilting crop
• OMRI is listed for the organic growth of vegetables and fruits; even the carton can be recycled 
• Long-lasting – a single packet can cover 200 sq ft 
• Easy to use because you can feed a large area while watering
• Can be applied to potted plants, both outdoor and indoor
• Guaranteed to produce two times more fruits and vegetables 

Cons

• The fine powder has a strong smell
• The granular might not dissolve well in water 
• Can infect the plant with small flying insects and gnats

Do you want to buy this product? Click the link here then.

Tomato and Veg Formula by Neptune’s Harvest – Best Vegetable Fertilizer for Peppers

Any vegetable fertilizer works great for growing peppers. This special formula by Neptune’s harvest is one of the finest liquid plant foods. 

Feeding with this product will not only accelerate the growth rate but also increase the volume of your houseplants. 

It strengthens the plant system in such a way that your plants will become drought resistant. 

Use this fertilizer after 1 or 2 weeks. For peppers, dilute 1/8 cup of the fertilizer in 1 gallon of water. 

If you want to use it on the soil, pour the mixture until it is saturated. 

This product is also suitable for foliar feeding, but you have to saturate both sides of the leaves to ensure the plant gets the desired nutrition. 

The NPK ratio of this Tomato and Veg formula is 2-4-2. This fertilizer has a strong smell, but I have noticed that the scent dissipates within a day or two. 

Beware your dog or cat might dig the soil if the fishy smell attracts them. 

Pros

• Can feed any vegetable, tree, or shrub 
• Improves temperature and drought resistance
• It will produce delicious peppers since its designed for vegetables

Cons

• Not OMRI listed 
• The smell can be too strong for pets and humans

You can buy this fertilizer by clicking here. 

Cal-Mag Plus by Botanicare – Best Calcium based Pepper Fertilizer

Calcium is the most important micronutrient for peppers. Calcium deficiency in the soil can lead to several deformities for homegrown vegetables. 

This is a supplement fertilizer that will correct calcium, magnesium, and iron deficiencies in your soil. The NPK ratio is 2-0-0. It contains 2% nitrogen, 3.2% calcium, 1.2% magnesium, and 0.1% iron. 

Mixing this fertilizer in water or as a plant spray, you can use it. The best way to apply this supplement is to include it in your regular feeding schedule for the peppers. 

This supplement can also be a catalyst when used with other plant food solutions. 

Whether your peppers grow in soil, a hydroponic system, or coco coir, this supplement can be used in any growing medium.

This formula is enhanced with trace minerals to maximize vegetable and fruit production. 

Blossom end rot is a common and devastating issue for peppers. The Cal-Mag Plus can help you in avoiding end rot.  

Before applying this supplement, you must ensure the soil pH is between 6.2 and 7. If not, it is highly recommended to change the pH. 

This supplement can be used during your vegetables’ seedling, vegetative, blooming, fruiting, ripening, and flushing stage. 

Add one teaspoon supplement in 1 gallon of water to create a mixture. 

Pros

• Using it as a foliar spray will improve vegetative growth 
• It can be added to soil, hydro garden, or coco coir vegetables.
• Safe to use during all growth stages 
• Eliminates calcium, magnesium, and iron deficiencies
• Prevents blossom end rot 

Cons

• Can burn the leaves if the mixture is not diluted properly  
• The bottle has no safety seal on the lid.

Purchase this pepper fertilizer here.

Vegetable and Tomato Granular Plant Food by Jobe’s Organics – Best Granular Pepper Fertilizer

This fertilizer contains organic bone meal, which helps the pepper plant develop a strong root system. 

If you need an organic fertilizer that provides long-lasting results, I would highly recommend choosing this fertilizer from Jobe’s. It’s OMRI certified and contains the special Biozome. 

The fertilizer analysis for this granular plant food is 2-5-3. It also contains calcium (7%), magnesium (0.5%), and sulfur (1.4%).

The Biozome is a special blend of microorganisms responsible for faster nutrient breakdown. 

If you use this fertilizer regularly in the growing season, the soil structure will start improving with the microorganisms. 

This fast-acting fertilizer will increase your harvest within a few weeks. 

I have noticed that the plants in my vegetable garden have resisted bugs, diseases, and drought with regular use of this plant food in the last season. 

The best time for using this product is while preparing the soil for the vegetable garden or before sowing seeds. 

However, it can also be applied to the soil with new plantings or established pepper plants. 

Pros

• It’s a natural fertilizer with no toxic chemicals 
• It is approved for organic gardening by USDA and OMRI
• It breaks down the nutrients faster in the soil compared to other fertilizers in this guide 
• It helps the pepper plant in resisting unfavorable conditions and reduces the chances of disease/pest infection 
• This fertilizer will never burn your pepper plant if you follow the application rates mentioned on the package
• Good for the plant and soil’s long-term health

Cons

• Fungus or worms can invade the soil after applying this plant food 
• Has a pungent smell that is unbearable for gardeners but attracts dogs 

You can learn more about this product by clicking here.

Cal + Mag Boost Formula by EarthPods – Best Pepper Fertilizer for Blossom End Rot

If your peppers often fall prey to blossom end rot and you need a mess-free solution, I recommend this formula by EarthPods. 

These capsules are rich in bacteria, root fungi, and humic acids that will improve the soil and result in robust root development. A healthy root system means your peppers are less susceptible to diseases. 

This easy-to-use fertilizer does not require any scoops or cups for measurements. It can be applied within a few seconds, requiring less time and effort. 

This formula improves the soil’s calcium and magnesium content to prevent blossom end rot. It will also maximize your plants’ flower, fruit, and foliage growth. 

Since the nutrients are not mixed or poured onto the soil, these capsules are safe for pets. The empty cardboard container can be recycled to reduce waste. 

I recommend this fertilizer for young seedlings to build their resistance to transplant shock. Repeat the application after 2 or 3 weeks. 

Pros

• Each container has 100 capsules 
• Organic but has no smell issues
• Great for indoor or potted peppers
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Gives a boost of calcium and magnesium 
• A smart approach to deliver nutrients directly to the roots
• It can be used for peppers growing in containers, window boxes, hydroponic systems, or hanging baskets 

Cons

• Expensive to treat a large number of pepper plants 

You can buy this product by clicking here.

Pepper Fertilizers Buying Guide

Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are the best choice to grow pepper healthily and cleanly. Because in the end, you eat the peppers.

These fertilizers break down the nutrients slowly, which is nature’s way of growing plants. 

Commercial fertilizers cause growth spikes right after feeding, but they are not beneficial for the plant’s long-term health. 

Always choose an organic product that can protect your pepper against blossom end rot. 

Many organic fertilizers include beneficial soil microbes. They have a special role in amending your garden soil for healthy plants and soil. 

Did you know that regular use of organic fertilizer can reduce the need for feeding your house plants?

In other words, organic fertilizers can save you some money in the long run. 

Winner: Performance Organics All Purpose Plant Nutrition

Fertilizing a Pepper Plant

Pepper plants do not need a base fertilizer because the seeds have enough nutrients to grow the first few leaves. Potted peppers need less fertilizer compared to those planted in the garden bed. 

Your peppers need extra nutrition for foliage growth, root system development, and pod production. 

The fertilizer analysis or grade represents the number of macronutrients in the fertilizer. 

Each fertilizer bag or bottle has the NPK printed on it. Each letter stands for the nutrients the plant needs, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

The NPK is one of the critical features in deciding what fertilizer is best for your vegetables. 

Pepper plants need nitrogen during early growth. But they need more phosphorus and potassium in the flowering and fruiting stages. 

Good nitrogen feeding in the start will produce strong stems that can hold many peppers in the fruiting stage. 

Pepper plants also need secondary or micronutrients for best growth. The main ones are calcium and magnesium. 

Calcium is responsible for cell development in the foliage and vegetable in the pepper plant. Magnesium will help in leaf growth. 

You should buy fertilizers that contain an adequate amount of calcium and magnesium. But there are methods for amending the soil. 

Bone meal can increase calcium content in the soil, whereas Epsom salt can increase magnesium. 

Adding a monthly calcium and magnesium supplement can protect your peppers from blossom end rot. 

But make sure these supplements are applied in diluted form, according to the instructions by the manufacturer. 

Peppers are acid-loving plants, and their soil pH should be ranging from 5.8 to 6.2. Incorrect pH will hinder the plant’s ability to absorb the soil nutrients. 

If you planted the seeds in a seed starting medium, apply a light dose of nitrogen fertilizer once the pepper seedlings grow the first set of true leaves. This is usually two weeks after the seed germination. 

Use half strength of whatever the manufacturer recommends because the roots and foliage are fragile and sensitive. Anything too harsh can kill your baby pepper plant. 

This first light application of plant food is the secret behind a healthy and robust pepper plant. 

But you can skip this initial feeding if the seeds were sown in a fertile and rich soil mixture. 

Pepper plants appreciate a steady supply of nutrients throughout the season instead of a single heavy dose of plant food. 

Depending on the fertilizers you use, you will fertilize the pepper every 7 or 14 days. There is no fixed rule. The best guide for feeding is the instructions on the package. 

The fertilizer should be sprinkled 6 inches from the pepper plant’s base. Moisturize the soil well after feeding. Feed your plant every month in the growing season to grow the healthiest pepper. 

Over Fertilizing a Pepper Plant

Overfeeding can drastically impact the overall plant health and appearance of pepper plants. The leaf edges will turn brown after a fertilizer burn. 

A common solution for removing the extra nutrients is flushing or leaching the soil. This will wash away all the extra nutrients in the soil. 

For garden beds, you should skip fertilizer for the coming weeks and water the soil regularly. This will slowly deplete the soil nutrients. 

Conclusion

The fertilizer demand for pepper changes based on the growing environment and soil nutrient analysis. This guide gives you different options for choosing the best fertilizer for peppers.

Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API