Vegetable garden fertiliser: how to choose?

Vegetable garden fertiliser: how to choose?

Depending on your situation and the vegetables you grow

Contents

Modified the Wednesday, 13 August 2025  by Alexandra 8 min.

To produce generous harvests, vegetables grown in vegetable gardens generally need soil rich in mineral nutrients. Ideally, add compost, but sometimes it is not available in sufficient quantities, and additional applications of fertiliser can be useful. They provide plants with all nutrients they need to produce tasty vegetables and generous, abundant harvests. They also make plants more resistant to disease.

Plants mainly need three elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). They also need, to a lesser extent, secondary elements and trace elements. Fertilisers can also include stimulators relating to root growth. They come as spreadable granules, sticks or liquid fertilisers. They can act quickly, as a short-term boost, or have a long-lasting effect (for example base fertilisers or slow-release fertilisers).

In all cases, it is important to follow recommended doses. Excess nitrogenous fertiliser makes plants more fragile and more susceptible to aphids and disease. Overdosing fertiliser can also burn plants’ roots. It also harms mycorrhizae, fungi that associate with plants and promote absorption of water and mineral nutrients.

Discover in this fact sheet which fertiliser to choose for vegetables you grow and which formulation best suits your needs.

Difficulty

Which fertiliser to choose based on the vegetables grown?

Mineral elements that make up fertilisers each have a different role in plant growth. Nitrogen favours foliage, phosphorus favours the root system, while potassium influences flowering and fruiting, also making plants more resistant to disease.

Fertilisers for leafy vegetables :
Fertilisers for fruiting vegetables:
Fertilisers for root vegetables:

These include cabbages, lettuces, spinach, leeks… These vegetables have higher needs for nitrogen, since this element promotes photosynthesis and growth of the above-ground parts of the plant, notably foliage.

Promesse de Fleurs Fertiliser for salads and leafy vegetables 500g box

Promesse de Fleurs Fertiliser for salads and leafy vegetables 500g box

This fertiliser, suitable for organic farming, has the advantage of being enriched with Magnesium Oxide (MgO) and a root growth stimulant. It comes as spreadable granules. Packaged in a 500 g box, it is particularly suitable for small vegetable gardens.
Engrais complet utilisable en Agriculture Biologique

Engrais complet utilisable en Agriculture Biologique

This complete fertiliser, with NPK 4-3-2 formulation, is higher in nitrogen, promoting good development of above-ground parts, notably leaves and stems. It comes as mini spreadable granules.
Engrais potager UAB pour légumes feuilles et fruits en sac de 10 Kg

Engrais potager UAB pour légumes feuilles et fruits en sac de 10 Kg

This organo-mineral fertiliser is intended mainly for leafy and fruiting vegetables. It is enriched with Magnesium Oxide, an element that promotes photosynthesis as well as assimilation of nitrogen and phosphorus. This fertiliser is suitable for organic farming. Packaged in a 10 kg bag, it is more suited to larger vegetable gardens.

If you prefer an organic fertiliser, you can choose nettle manure, crushed horn, blood meal or guano, as these products are particularly rich in nitrogen.

Fruiting vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgettes, melons, etc. require more potassium. This element supports flowering and fruiting, as well as increasing plants’ resistance to disease and pests.

Tomato Fertiliser NPK 11-10-17 + 3MgO in a 1kg Mini-pack

Tomato Fertiliser NPK 11-10-17 + 3MgO in a 1kg Mini-pack

This practical and easy-to-use fertiliser is presented as spreadable granules. Ideal for small vegetable gardens. With NPK 11-10-17 formulation, it is particularly rich in potassium and enriched with Magnesium Oxide (MgO).
Engrais Spécial potager NPK 10-8-20 SK

Engrais Spécial potager NPK 10-8-20 SK

Very rich in potassium, this 10-8-20 formulation fertiliser will help obtain generous harvests from tomato, courgette, aubergine and pepper plants. It is presented as spreadable granules, at a rate of 40 g/m².

For organic fertilisers, we particularly recommend comfrey manure, which has the advantage of being rich in potassium.

These are vegetables for which roots or tubers are eaten. Examples include carrots, parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, radishes, potatoes… They mainly need phosphorus, since this element promotes growth of the root system.

Organic Fertiliser for Root Vegetables and Potatoes in 10kg bag

Organic Fertiliser for Root Vegetables and Potatoes in 10kg bag

A fertiliser suitable for organic farming and effective at improving yields of root vegetables. Additionally, it has the advantage of being enriched with Magnesium Oxide.

For organic fertilisers, we recommend bone meal, as it is particularly rich in phosphorus.

Which fertiliser should you choose depending on its nature?

Natural fertilisers suitable for organic gardening
Chemical fertilisers

They are the most nature-friendly fertilisers and preserve garden ecological balance, so should be prioritised. They can be organic (compost, manure, crushed horn, guano, dried blood…), or mineral. The latter are generally sold as granules or sticks. They are easy to use and their constituent elements do not come from chemistry but have been extracted from soil.

Fertilisant La Belle Bouse - Engrais naturel 100% BIO et local

Fertilisant La Belle Bouse - Engrais naturel 100% BIO et local

This is a natural fertiliser that releases mineral elements gradually over three months. To use, simply spread granules on soil and lightly work them into earth, then water. Nutrients are released progressively with watering. This fertiliser is available in various pack sizes (from 250 grams up to 3 kg).
Promesse de Fleurs fertiliser for tomatoes and fruiting vegetables, 500g box

Promesse de Fleurs fertiliser for tomatoes and fruiting vegetables, 500g box

With formulation 4-4-7 + 1 MgO, this potassium-rich fertiliser comes in granules, making it easy to use. It also includes a root growth stimulator.

 

100% worm-compost from Masso Garden in a 3 litre bag

100% worm-compost from Masso Garden in a 3 litre bag

This fertiliser, made from cattle slurry decomposed by compost worms, is an ideal natural solution to enrich soil. Incorporate into soil once or twice a year.

 You can also find organic fertilisers such as crushed horn, dried blood, guano, bone meal, fish arista meal…

Discover everything you need to know about pelleted manure as well as our video tips for using it.

They are less natural than previous fertilisers, but when correctly dosed they pose no problem. They should be used in moderation. They are more heavily dosed in mineral elements and are therefore effective at quickly correcting deficiencies or boosting plant growth. They may be liquid or solid (granules, sticks…).

Complete blue fertilizer NPK 12,12,17 + 2 MgO

Complete blue fertilizer NPK 12,12,17 + 2 MgO

This is a fairly versatile complete fertiliser. Blue colour of granules makes it easy to see their distribution on soil, which facilitates use. It is enriched with Magnesium Oxide and Potassium Sulfate, which helps assimilate mineral elements and makes plants more resistant to disease.
Engrais Spécial potager NPK 10-8-20 SK

Engrais Spécial potager NPK 10-8-20 SK

This fertiliser is in granules and has long-lasting action, releasing mineral elements gradually over three months. It is particularly rich in Potassium, and therefore promotes generous harvests of tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines...
Engrais liquide complet Solabiol

Engrais liquide complet Solabiol

This is a liquid fertiliser with NPK formulation 3-2-5. To use, simply dilute in irrigation water (20 ml per 2 litres). Apply once a week.

Discover other Fertilisers and added nutrients

Out of stock
8,90 €
Out of stock
7,50 €

Which fertiliser to choose depending on its presentation?

You can choose a granular fertiliser to spread at the start of spring, before planting your vegetables, then make a few additional applications (liquid or granular fertiliser) during cultivation.

Small-pack fertilisers, suitable for small vegetable gardens
Liquid fertilisers
Granular fertilisers

Choose this type of product for vegetables grown in containers, for example on a terrace or a balcony. These fertilisers are perfect for small urban gardens.

25 Bâtonnets d'engrais Petit potager et tomates Or Brun en sachet refermable

25 Bâtonnets d'engrais Petit potager et tomates Or Brun en sachet refermable

Presented as sticks, this fertiliser is particularly easy to use. Simply place sticks in your plants' pots, buried and preferably away from roots (to avoid risk of root burn). Watering will allow progressive release of mineral elements into substrate. This is an organo-mineral fertiliser, NPK formulation 4-3-8, therefore richer in potassium and ideal for fruit vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, courgettes...).
Engrais liquide Petit potager et tomates Or Brun

Engrais liquide Petit potager et tomates Or Brun

This liquid organic fertiliser, suitable for organic farming, should be diluted in irrigation water (10 ml per 1 litre of water), once or twice a week. NPK formulation 3-3-6, fairly rich in potassium, promoting generous harvests. It also includes an agronomic additive based on brown seaweed, promoting good root development.
Tomato Fertiliser NPK 11-10-17 + 3MgO in a 1kg Mini-pack

Tomato Fertiliser NPK 11-10-17 + 3MgO in a 1kg Mini-pack

Ideal for small gardens, this fertiliser promotes abundant harvests of tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and aubergines. Presented as granules, enriched with Magnesium Oxide.

Also discover Tonnerre d’engrais, a 100% natural fertiliser, space-saving, easy to use and economical. Olivier presents it in video!

They generally act faster than solid fertilisers. However, be careful to follow recommended dosages!

Engrais liquide complet Solabiol

Engrais liquide complet Solabiol

With NPK formulation 3-2-5, this liquid fertiliser is suitable for organic farming. To use, dilute in irrigation water (20 ml per 2 litres of water), once a week.
Engrais liquide Petit potager et tomates Or Brun

Engrais liquide Petit potager et tomates Or Brun

This fertiliser, NPK formulation 3-3-6, is suitable for organic farming. It also includes an agronomic additive based on brown seaweed, promoting root development. Packaged in 1-litre can, to be diluted in irrigation water.

 

They decompose more slowly and therefore have longer-lasting effect than liquid fertilisers. There is less risk of overdosing. When preparing soil, spread them on soil and incorporate with light raking.

Engrais complet utilisable en Agriculture Biologique

Engrais complet utilisable en Agriculture Biologique

This is a complete organic fertiliser, NPK 4-3-2. It has double action, both a quick 'boost' and long-lasting, gradually releasing mineral elements. Presented as mini-granules.
Engrais potager Solabiol

Engrais potager Solabiol

This is an organic fertiliser, formulation 4-6-10 + 2 MgO, including a root growth stimulator. To use, spread mini-granules on soil at approx. 100 g/m²
Engrais Spécial potager NPK 10-8-20 SK

Engrais Spécial potager NPK 10-8-20 SK

This is an NPK 10-8-20 fertiliser, therefore rich in potassium. It has long-lasting progressive action over three months. Granules to be spread on soil at 40 g/m²
Promesse de Fleurs fertiliser for tomatoes and fruiting vegetables, 500g box

Promesse de Fleurs fertiliser for tomatoes and fruiting vegetables, 500g box

This is an organic fertiliser, suitable for organic farming, NPK 4-4-7 + 1 MgO, which also includes a root growth stimulator. It has long-duration action. Granules to be spread at 120 g/m² at soil preparation, then 60 g/m² during cultivation.

Finally, on site, find our full range of fertilisers for vegetable gardens.

Further information

Discover our advice sheet to choose the right fertiliser to fertilise flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, bushes, etc.

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Fertilisers: Which One to Choose?