What Is The Most Budget-Friendly Tomato Fertilizer?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Harvesting a ripe crop of tomatoes is a wonderful gardening experience. From their juicy texture to the tangy smell of the plant, nothing beats homegrown when it comes to this delicious fruit. However, whether you are growing tomatoes in a container or have them out in your garden, it is beneficial to feed them. The best, budget-friendly tomato fertilizers available include DIY mixes that you can make at home and store-bought options, such as Dr. Earth's Organic & Natural Home Grown Tomato and Vegetable Food and Jobe's Organics Granular Garden Fertilizer.

When heading to your nearest garden center, it can be quite confusing to see lines of fertilizers — all claiming to make plants better, bigger, and stronger. So, before you go shopping, it is important to consider what tomatoes need as a feed. Tomatoes are happy and healthy in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.8, so you may wish to test your soil before picking a fertilizer. If your soil is well-balanced, a fertilizer with a 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 ratio is ideal for tomatoes. Anything with a similar, balanced ratio would work well, too. The main thing is to avoid any fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, as this can create bushy plants that are slow to produce fruit.

One of the most affordable and effective tomato fertilizers available right now is Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food. You can grab a 1.5-pound bag of it from Amazon for just under $7. This fertilizer produces large tomatoes and starts to work immediately. It is easy to use as you just add it into your watering can and watch your tomato plants grow! As it is a synthetic fertilizer, you will need to use less of it to produce high-quality fruit. However, if synthetic fertilizers aren't for you, there are other options to consider.

When it comes to budget-friendly organic fertilizers that hit this spot, check out Dr. Earth's Organic & Natural Home Grown Tomato and Vegetable Food. At 4-6-3, it has an excellent ratio for tomato plants as it is low in nitrogen. You can grab a 4-pound bag from Walmart for around $10, making it an affordable yet effective fertilizer for tomato plants.

Another option for tomatoes is Jobe's Organics Granular Garden Fertilizer. Although a bit more expensive at $13.99, this product can be bought from Amazon and in gardening stores throughout the country. The variety that is designed specifically for tomatoes and vegetables has a 2-5-3 NPK formula, which is a great balance for tomatoes. Finally, Burpee's Organic Tomato and Vegetable Plant Food has a 3-6-4 ratio and is fairly budget-friendly. This slow-release fertilizer carries on feeding your tomatoes for up to three months after use and costs $14.73 for a 4-pound bag on Amazon. 

Although store-bought fertilizers are effective and easy to use, did you know that food scraps can be used to fertilize your garden? Coffee grounds are a great option for a DIY fertilizer, as they contain low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can also use eggshells and banana peels to provide your tomatoes with nutrients. 

You may want to look at reusing garden waste as a DIY tomato fertilizer. If you have a lawn, consider keeping hold of the grass clippings to feed your tomato plants with. Grass clippings are a great source of potassium, but avoid using the grass from weedy lawns. You don't want to introduce any unwanted weeds to your tomato plants! Fallen leaves can also be used to feed your tomatoes, either by themselves or with other recycled waste. 

Creating your own tomato fertilizer with food and garden waste is the best budget-friendly way to feed your plants. Not only does this method help nourish your plants, but it also allows you to cut down on waste. A win-win situation for you, your tomatoes, and the planet!