The Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes & Corn

Corn takes up more space than most other vegetables.

Tomatoes and corn are summertime crops that grow well in the same season and can share a vegetable garden. These crops both require rich, hearty nutrition from the start. Fertilizers can help produce large, flavorful fruits and ears.

Planting

Plant both tomatoes and corn in a mixture of quick-draining soil and rich organic compost to give the plants good drainage and long-lasting organic nutrition. Organic compost is valuable throughout the season as side dressing and mulch.

Starter Fertilizer

Corn and tomatoes do best with fertilizer at planting, which gives their early growth an additional boost of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Plant corn with 12-12-12 fertilizer and tomatoes with 6-24-24 or 8-32-16 fertilizer. These fertilizers give the plants the vitamins and minerals necessary to accelerate root growth and establishment.

Maintenance Fertilizer

Both corn and tomatoes need nitrogen during their growth to enhance blooming and fruiting. Use nitrogen-heavy fertilizers three times during the tomato season and at least once during the corn season.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Growing Home Garden Tomatoes
• Purdue University Department of Horticulture: Growing Sweet Corn