The Time of the Year to Side-Dress Plants With Compost

What Is Side Dressing?

• Applying fertilizer or compost in the garden after the plants are actively growing is called side dressing. While flower gardeners also side-dress their prized plants, it's more often referred to when discussing vegetable gardening. Generally, a handful of compost or a tablespoon of 5-10-10 fertilizer is applied in a ring around the plant or next to the plant, just outside of the outer leaves. Scratch the compost or fertilizer into the soil, and water thoroughly so that the nutrients soak down to the plant's roots.

After Planting

• The first side dressing of compost is usually two to three weeks after planting or transplanting. Fruits and vegetables that require extra nutrients during the growing season to thrive and produce a bountiful harvest include broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica), Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea gemmifera), peppers (Capsicum spp.) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). Avoid adding extra nitrogen, or the plants may produce luxuriant foliage at the expense of flowers and fruit.

Vines

• Fruits and vegetables that develop on vines, such as melons (Cucumis melo), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima), generally require an extra side dressing of compost just before the vines begin spreading over the garden. The potato vines are usually hilled, or covered with additional soil, when the vines reach 6 to 8 inches long, and a handful of compost is added to the soil at that time. Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and peas (Pisum sativum) are exceptions; no side dressing is required for either vegetable.

Flowering

• Nearly all fruits and vegetables benefit from a side dressing of compost when they blossom. The additional phosphorus and potassium help build strong root systems and stems, and nourish the flowers as they develop. Melons, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), peppers, pumpkins and tomatoes are among the plants that benefit from the added nutrients and low nitrogen levels found in compost. Corn (Zea mays) is also side-dressed when the tassels appear.

Continued Feeding

• Additional applications of compost benefit heavy feeders such as eggplant (Solanum melongena), peppers and tomatoes as they continue to blossom and fruit through the growing season. When building a new garden bed in poor soil, monthly applications of compost help build the soil, especially if it's lacking in organic matter or if it's heavy clay. In addition to side dressing, organic gardeners may brew compost tea and apply it around the plants' root balls every two weeks through the growing season.