Showerthought: My balcony veggies grow better with store feed than homemade compost

Everyone here seems to think organic compost is the only way for city gardens. I tried it last year with a bin on my fire escape. It made a huge mess and brought in bugs. My tomato plants looked sad and weak. I gave up and got a cheap liquid fertilizer from the store. In a few weeks, the plants got green and full, and I finally got some good tomatoes. For a small space like mine, the easy option works best. I'm sticking with the bottle, even if it's not what most people say to do.

3 comments

3 Comments

lane.seth1mo ago

Like you found, store feed beats compost for balcony veggies.

wademorgan1mo ago

Describe the exact store feed brand. I tried compost last year and my tomatoes were pathetic, all leaves no fruit. What's the NPK ratio on that feed? Also, how often do you apply it compared to composting?

the_lucas1mo ago

That exact thing happened to my plants last summer.