Best Fertilizers For Eggplants: Ratings, Reviews, and Top Picks
Thinking of planting some eggplant in your vegetable garden for this year's veggie harvest but aren't sure which fertilizer is best? In this review, we compare our favorite fertilizers by analyzing their ingredients, composition, costs, and more.
Some people seem to have a green thumb naturally. However, their plant whisperer ways almost always come down to the proper knowledge. And when it comes to growing eggplant, fertilizer is essential for healthy growth. Eggplants are heavy feeders, which means they need all the nutrients they can get. The amount of fertilizer you need for your eggplant varies depending on the soil.
However, when in doubt, a fertilizer containing the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is a fool-proof option. There are many different options that contain all three, and your choices will range from organic to synthetic, depending on your budget.
We’ll share our favorite eggplant fertilizers with you based on their quality, price point, and more. By the time you finish reading this guide, you’ll have a strong foundation for understanding which fertilizer is best for your eggplant garden.
At A Glance: Top Eggplant Fertilizers
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Contents
Buyer’s Guide
Before we talk about our top-rated eggplant fertilizers, the following information will give you an understanding of items to look for in a fertilizer. It’s important to analyze all aspects of a fertilizer before choosing the right mix. You want to make sure your fertilizer is compatible with your soil, and your climate. Let’s take a look at the most important factors of selecting a fertilizer for eggplants.
Fertilizer Types & Budget
There are three main types of fertilizers: Granular, liquid, and spike inserts. Granular fertilizers are almost always the most economical option. That’s because they require you to mix the product with your soil. If you have a small space, you can do so manually with a garden rake. Otherwise, using a tiller will make the job easier.
Liquid and water-based powder fertilizers are more expensive, but they’re also easy to apply. You can mix the fertilizer in a watering can or use a special attachment to spray your soil directly from a hose. As a result, these are an excellent option for more extensive eggplant gardens.
Spike inserts tend to be more expensive. That’s partly because you usually need to use several of them per plant, depending on the fertilizer brand. However, an advantage of these spikes is that they’re a mess-free way to fertilize your eggplant.
Fast vs. Slow Release Fertilizer
If your eggplants are already growing but they’re showing signs of lifelessness, you should use a fast-release fertilizer. Otherwise, slow-release fertilizers are an excellent choice to ensure eggplants have a constant, steady dose of nutrients so that they can produce more significant, more abundant fruit.
Organic vs. Synthetic Fertilizers
If you’re concerned about chemicals infiltrating your soil and food, you’ll be glad to know that there are many effective organic eggplant fertilizers. That said, synthetic fertilizers continue to have their place and can often reverse unhealthy-looking eggplants faster than organic products.
Fertilizer Size
You can use almost all the eggplant fertilizers that we’ll be covering here regardless of whether you grow them in the ground or containers. Nevertheless, if you have a large garden with in-ground eggplant, it’s best to choose a fertilizer that comes in larger sizes.
In almost all cases, the brands listed here offer several size options. Furthermore, make sure to check the expiration date before you purchase your fertilizer. In many cases, if you have some leftover product, it’ll stay good for the next growing season.
Top Fertilizers for Eggplants
Now that you understand exactly what’s needed when fertilizing eggplants, it’s time to start looking at different fertilizer options. In the detailed review section below, you’ll find many of our favorite fertilizers that will work in a variety of different soil conditions and hardiness zones. Many of them can be used across different vegetables including when fertilizing squash and when fertilizing pumpkins.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the best eggplant fertilizers so that you can get back to planning your homegrown eggplant meals.
Dr. Earth Organic Fertilizer
- No GMOs, chicken manure, or sludge.
- Slow-release formula.
- Seven strains of microbes.
- Contains ecto and endo mycorrhizae.
- Improves drought tolerance.
- Naturally promotes nutrient absorption.
- Makes eggplant more nutritious.
Dr. Earth is an easy first pick for eggplant fertilizers since its organic ingredients promote larger and more nutritious eggplants. In addition, their signature TruBiotic formula contains plant-friendly microbes and mycorrhizae.
As a result, they improve the soil’s quality and mimic nature by slowly releasing nutrients. Furthermore, Dr. Earth’s ingredient list is nothing short of impressive, with ingredients like fish bones and minerals mined directly from the earth.
To use this USA-made organic fertilizer, mix one and a half cups per ten square feet of soil before planting. You can then apply one cup per 10 square feet every two months until you harvest.
Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Plant Food
- Gets nutrients to your eggplant quickly.
- Can apply it regularly.
- Use with a hose or watering can.
- High nitrogen content.
- A small amount covers a large area.
- Burn-free formula.
- Safe for all plants.
It’s hard to go wrong with Miracle-Gro, which is one of the most widely used fertilizers gardeners turn to. Their All-Purpose fertilizer promises that they will grow bigger and more beautiful. That’s a big claim, but we assure you that it lives up to its word.
By following Miracle-Gro’s instructions, you won’t have to worry about this fertilizer burning the stems. In fact, you can safely apply the fertilizer every one to two weeks, which is ideal for eggplants since they require so many nutrients during their fruit production stage.
Applying Miracle Gro’s All-Purpose fertilizer is easy since it comes in a water-soluble powder. We recommend using Miracle-Gro’s sprayer if you have a large eggplant garden. That way, you can attach your hose and fertilize it fast.
Burpee Organic Bone Meal
- Pure nitrogen formula.
- Promotes healthier eggplant vegetation.
- Encourages root growth.
- Supports soil microorganisms.
- Pleasant odor.
- Can pair with Burpee’s Bone Meal.
- OMRI organic certified.
Most eggplant fertilizers contain high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, with traces of other essential nutrients. However, depending on your soil quality, sometimes you don’t need all those ingredients.
That’s what we like about Burpee Organic Blood Meal—it delivers pure nitrogen to your eggplant. Nitrogen helps your plants improve their leaf growth and color. In turn, your eggplant fruit will have a better chance of reaching adulthood.
Vegetarians and vegans may balk at Burpee’s main ingredient; blood meal is literally dried animal blood. However, this is an organic and natural part of nature, which helps increase healthy soil microorganisms so your eggplant can thrive.
EarthPods Plant Food
- Easy-to-insert spikes.
- Contains fungi, bacteria, and humic acids.
- Over 70 micro and macronutrients.
- USA laboratory tested.
- Prevents blossom end rot.
- No measuring required.
- Eco-friendly packaging.
Environmentalists are sure to love EarthPods’ vegan, eco-friendly capsules. It doesn’t get much easier than sticking these small, mess-free tablets into the soil around your eggplant.
EarthPod’s fertilizer comes with some impressive credentials. The capsules underwent rigorous testing with a reputable soil science laboratory in the USA, which determined that the 70+ nutrients they contain effectively produce larger, healthier vegetables.
The high calcium magnesium content of these capsules reduces the chance of your eggplant’s flowers developing blossom end rot. To use them, simply place one tablet near the eggplant’s stem when it begins to bud and water thoroughly. The capsules’ slow-release composition will feed an eggplant for weeks.
Jobe’s Organics Fertilizer Spikes
- Time-release properties.
- Certified organic.
- Jobe’s Biozome microorganisms.
- Prevents disease.
- Deters insects.
- Helps soil retain moisture.
- High phosphorus content.
Jobe’s fertilizer is an excellent product you can use from soil preparation to seedling and fruit production stages. It contains a higher-than-average phosphorus content, which promotes eggplant growth and reproduction.
As a kid and pet-friendly organic product, you don’t have to worry about your rambunctious loved ones playing around garden. Furthermore, as an organic, non-toxic product, your kids can even help you push these fertilizer spikes into the ground.
Because of the rich microorganism archaea that are a feature of Jobe’s Biozome formula, your eggplants will have a higher chance of withstanding disease and insects. Furthermore, this fertilizer will help the soil around your eggplants’ roots hold in moisture.
Southern Ag All-Purpose Fertilizer
- Equal concentration of key nutrients.
- Contains micronutrients like manganese.
- Use every month.
- Apply one cup per 25 feet.
- Safe option if you’re unsure of your soil type.
- Mixed multi-packs are an option.
- Bulk purchases available.
There’s nothing fancy about Southern Ag’s eggplant fertilizer bag. But sometimes, it’s the non-fancy products that pack the biggest nutritional punch since they’re more focused on the formula.
In fact, Southern Ag advertises their 10-10-10 nitrogen to phosphorus to potassium content in bold at the top of their product.
As a result, this granular fertilizer is an excellent option if you’re unsure about your soil’s content makeup; your eggplant will receive an equal dose of essential macronutrients.
To use Southern Ag, sprinkle a thin layer of the fertilizer on the soil around your eggplant. Then, thoroughly water the area. That will help draw the nutrients down to the roots.
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics
- Packed with micronutrients.
- Instantly feeds eggplant.
- Apply every seven days.
- Guarantees more bounty.
- OMRI listed.
- Uses recycled natural waste.
- Can use on flowers and herbs too.
Miracle-Gro hands-down offers one of the best eggplant fertilizers for natural, organic growth. Their formula contains enhanced nutrition using millions of pounds of naturally recycled material from farms and yard scraps.
Unlike many organic eggplant fertilizers, Miracle-Gro’s product targets the roots quickly. For this reason, you can safely apply this fertilizer every seven to 14 days, as you see fit. However, we recommend using it every seven days during the flowering and fruit production stages.
As a granular fertilizer, you’ll need to mix it with water before applying it to your eggplant. Simply mix two scoops with one gallon of water, which will cover ten square feet of your garden. Alternatively, you can attach your hose to Miracle-Gro’s Garden Feeder.
Jack’s Classsic All-Purpose Fertilizer
- 20% nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio.
- All-purpose fertilizer.
- Improves root and shoot growth rate.
- Trace nutrients like zinc.
- Promotes dark green leaves and stems.
- Contains fine raw materials.
- Dissolves fast.
Jack’s Classic is another excellent option if you’re looking to apply an even ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It contains double the amount of these nutrients as Southern Ag’s brand. So, it’s a good option if you know your soil lacks good growing conditions.
There isn’t anything new about Jack’s Classic—they’ve been in business for several generations and tout that their fertilizer is a proven performer. In addition to using this fertilizer, you can also apply it to any other vegetables, shrubs, and trees in your yard.
By using fine raw materials, Jack’s Classic is fast-acting. Therefore, you can expect your eggplants to develop roots and shoots quicker than usual, and as a result, your eggplants will grow plumper.
Miracle-Gro Shake n’ Feed
- Prevents calcium deficiency.
- Lasts up to three months.
- Guaranteed to produce more eggplant.
- Promotes microbe growth.
- Above and underground nourishment.
- Natural ingredients like kelp.
- Strengthens cell walls.
Yes, Miracle-Gro is at it again. We love the Shake n’ Feed because of its ease of use—you literally remove the top and shake the fertilizer around the base of your eggplants. Furthermore, although this isn’t an organic product, it contains natural ingredients.
As a result, your soil will benefit by having healthier microbes. The Shake n’ Feed also contains more calcium than many other fertilizers we covered here. As a result, your eggplants’ cell walls will be stronger, and they’ll have less of a chance of having a calcium deficiency.
The Shake n’ Feed is suitable for potted and in-ground eggplant. That said, the container is smaller than many of the other fertilizers here, so it isn’t ideal for large gardens.
Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food
- Semi-permeable granules.
- Releases faster as the temperature warms up.
- Equal balance of key macronutrients.
- Excellent for planting eggplant early.
- Encourages strong roots.
- Last up to four months.
- Promotes faster growth.
If you’re the type of gardener who prefers a hands-off approach, you’ll love that Osmocote’s Smart-Release formula lasts for four months after you apply it. We recommend mixing the granules into the soil before planting your eggplant.
Then, water the soil thoroughly and allow the semi-permeable granule coating resin to work its magic. The granules become activated by a combination of water and warmer temperatures. Therefore, as the summer season wears on and your eggplants need more nutrients to boost their fruit production, they’ll automatically receive them.
Osmocote is proud that their fertilizer gives vegetables an early start to the season. The 14-14-14 solution encourages eggplant roots to have a stronger foundation. Furthermore, you can expect more bountiful, healthy growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the numbers on a bag of eggplant fertilizer mean?
Most fertilizers showcase three numbers with dashes on the front of the package. These stand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. So, if you use eggplant fertilizer with 5-10-10 on the label, that means it contains 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium.
How often should you fertilize eggplant?
Every fertilizer works a little differently. However, generally speaking, you should fertilize your eggplant’s soil before planting and at least one more time after harvesting your first crop. More frequent fertilizing is also beneficial, mainly if you’re not using a slow dispersal variety.
Is it okay to give eggplants Epsom salt?
Epsom salt is an excellent food for eggplants because it contains magnesium sulfate. Mix one tablespoon of the salt with a gallon of water and spray it around the base of your plants. By doing so, your eggplant will receive the following benefits:
- Increases flower production
- Reduces pest concentrations
- Supports chlorophyll production
- Supplements traditional fertilizers
Is my fertilizer causing my eggplant to turn a different color?
No, it’s not likely. When most people think of eggplants, they picture a purple color. However, eggplants come in several colors, including white and violet, that’s such a deep color that it looks black.
Why isn’t my eggplant growing?
Several situations can cause an eggplant to have stunted growth. For example, soil that doesn’t have enough nutrients, as well as over-fertilized soil, can contribute to this problem. Furthermore, eggplant’s prefer soil temperatures over 75 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if you live in a cooler climate, consider growing your eggplant in pots so that you can move them inside on cool evenings.
Why isn’t my eggplant growing fruit even though I fertilized it?
Ensuring your eggplants have plenty of water in conjunction with fertilizer is crucial. They require a minimum of two inches of water per week and even more if you live in a hot climate. Stress from lack of water is one of the most common reasons an eggplant loses its flowers before producing fruit.
How many eggplants can I expect per plant?
By keeping your eggplants well fertilized, you can expect them to produce four to six fruits per plant. To ensure the nutrients focus on these fruits, we recommend pinching off any excess flowers that grow.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. Eggplants need macro and micronutrients to produce the large, beautiful vegetables that we all love, and fertilizers will help you achieve this.
Of the best eggplant fertilizers that we covered here, Dr. Earth’s organic product is our favorite. Not only is its GMO-free slow-release formula good for the environment, but it naturally increases the nutrient content of your eggplant so that you can reap its health benefits.
