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Learning how to make tomato fertilizer is fairly easy, plus it gives you the chance to control what goes in it, not to mention the amount of money you'll save! Finding the right tomato fertilizer can be a little bit daunting as there are so many different varieties, it can make your head spin! Making your own homemade tomato fertilizer is easy because you most likely already have everything you need in your home!

Things you may normally discard of, can actually be used to make an amazing organic tomato fertilizer, and today we'll show you exactly how to do that! Keep reading to find out how to make tomato fertilizer with this easy to follow gardening guide!

How to Make Tomato Fertilizer at Home

Below, you'll find a list of things you'll need to make your own tomato fertilizer. Most of these things you may already have, but some of them, you may not! Head on over to your local farm to find the items that you don't have – you'll be surprised to find that most of the time, you'll get them for free! Growing tomatoes is a fun gardening project, but growing tomatoes with the right fertilizer, is a win. This is because tomatoes are heavy feeders and therefore appreciate a nice feeding, especially when done with natural, organic fertilizers. Use this homemade tomato plant food on all tomato varieties!

Compost:

Rich, organic compost is ideal for a good tomato fertilizer, and will be the base for this recipe. You can purchase compost at your local nursery, or, if you have a bigger garden, you can make your own. Learn more about how to make your own compost as well as what you can compost.

Pet and Human Hair:

As gross as it may sound, pet and human hair is actually a great addition for this fertilizer. Hair contains a high level of keratin, a good amount of nitrogen content, sulfate, and small amounts of minerals. Because hair can take a long time to break down, it's a great addition for a slow-release fertilizer. Synthetic fertilizer is often added to commercial products, but this all natural method will ensure that your tomato plants will get the absolute best minerals.

Crushed Egg Shells:

Egg shells are packed full of calcium, which can aid in preventing blossom end rot in tomatoes. The calcium slowly breaks down into the soil, and is freely deposited. Additionally, you can also use eggshells to prevent slugs.

Used Tea & Coffee Grounds:

Used tea and coffee grounds are an amazing source of potassium and phosphorous. They also contain low amounts of nitrogen. To make them easier to work with, place used tea and coffee grounds on a baking sheet and bake for a few minutes.

Wood Ashes:

For those with a fireplace, it's a good idea to keep those wood ashes as they contain potassium and other trace minerals.

Alfalfa:

Alfalfa leaves (dried) or alfalfa pellets make amazing additives for tomato fertilizers because they contain growth hormones which promote growth. You can usually find alfalfa pellets at your local pet food stores (it's often used to feed rabbits).

Rabbit Droppings or Other Manure:

Unless you have rabbits, you may need to head over to a farm or your local pet store, but rabbit droppings makes for excellent organic matter. In fact, it's probably the best animal manure you can use! If you cannot find rabbit droppings, you may use another type of manure from your local nursery!

Tomato Fertilizer Recipe:

1/2 gallon compost
2 cups rabbit droppings or other manure
1/2 cup human and pet hair, cut into small pieces
2 cups dried alfalfa leaves or pellets
1 cup dried, crushed eggshells
1 cup used and dried coffee or tea grounds
1 cup wood ashes
a gallon or larger container

Start by placing the compost into the container. Then, add the rabbit droppings and hair. Stir the ingredients with a wooden stake until well incorporated. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix well again.

How to Use the Tomato Fertilizer:

There are a few different ways to use the tomato fertilizer. You can choose any one of these methods of applying this homemade tomato fertilizer.

#1. When Transplanting

Use the fertilizer when transplanting tomato seedlings. After you've dug the holes for your tomatoes, mix about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of the fertilizer into the garden soil. Then, plant your seedlings and water deeply. This method is best to use during the tomato plant's growing season.

#2. As a Side Dress

Use the fertilizer again a few months later once the plants begin to fruit. Simply add the fertilizer as a side dressing. You can use this DIY tomato fertilizer when transplanting and then again as a side dress. Since tomatoes are heavy feeders, it's very unlikely that you can give them too much feed.

#3. Liquid Fertilizer

You can easily turn this fertilizer into a liquid fertilizer! Simply strain the ingredients in a bucket of water – sort of like making compost tea! Then, use the liquid to feed your tomato plants about once a week.

Don't have all of the ingredients listed? No sweat! Find whatever you can, but just be sure to at least have the compost, crushed egg shells, and used coffee grounds!