- Classification according to nutritional needs
- heavy feeder
- medium eater
- weak feeder
- Overview: table
- frequently asked Questions
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Growing vegetables in your own garden is a lot of fun. If you want to have good harvest success over several years, you have to consider the nutrient requirements of the plants. Recognize the differences between heavy, weak and medium consumers.
In a nutshell
- Classification of useful plants into heavy, weak and medium feeders
- Differentiation based on nutrient requirements
- Significance for crop rotation and mixed culture
- Non-observance of nutrient requirements reduces harvest success
- Soil fatigue after many years of heavy-duty planting
Classification according to nutritional needs
There are different categories for the plants in the garden. They are divided into small and large, annual and perennial, useful and ornamental, shade plants and sun worshipers. Anyone who deals with the cultivation of vegetables quickly makes a distinction between
- heavy feeder
- medium eater
- weak feeder
This rough classification according to the nutrient requirements of the plants gives the hobby gardener a good orientation in order to meet the individual needs of the plants and
- adjust fertilizer rates
- prevent soil fatigue
- to form suitable mixed cultures
- to achieve good harvest success in the long term
- to prevent diseases
Notice: The division into heavy, weak and medium eaters is not set in stone. The transitions are fluid. To make your decision easier, we have compiled the most important garden plants in a table according to their nutrient requirements.
heavy feeder
Heavy consumers are plants that have a high need for nitrogen and other nutrients. They grow quickly and bring particularly high yields with good care. The best example of a heavy-consuming plant is the zucchini. When peak season begins, the fruit often appears faster and in greater numbers than can be consumed.
Heavy feeders, such as cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), form many or large fruits.
care properly
The heavily consuming plants need nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil for good development. This can be recognized by its dark color. Regular fertilization is required.
We recommend for fertilization
- semi-mature compost
- nettle manure
- horn meal
- Horse, cow, sheep or rabbit manure
- green manure
- mulching
Tip: Heavy-feeding vegetables can only optimally absorb the nutrients in loose soil. Loosen up the bed regularly.
Zucchini in the bucket
Many heavy-duty types of vegetables are also ideal for growing in pots. After a vegetation period, you can distribute the substrate on the medium or low-consumer bed and refill the bucket.
medium eater
Some plants cannot be assigned directly to either the heavy or the weak feeders. They are exactly in between in terms of their requirements and are referred to as medium eaters.
As medium feeders, carrots (Daucus carota) and onions (Allium cepa) do not require too few, but not too many nutrients either.
care properly
Medium feeders thrive best in loose, moist soil. They need additional nutrients to start and ripen the fruit. We recommend fertilizing with slow-acting organic fertilizer, about
- mature compost in spring
- horn meal in summer
Notice: While heavy-feeding vegetables tolerate five liters of compost per square meter, the amount of compost for medium-feeders should not exceed three to four liters. Work the mature compost only shallowly into the top layer of soil.
weak feeder
Not every plant benefits from additional nutrients. Numerous useful and ornamental plants develop best on unfertilized soil. They are called weak feeders. Some of them can produce nitrogen themselves and cover their needs in this way. Others simply need very little. Most herbs belong to this group, as do some vegetables.
Weak consumers, such as lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta) and radishes (Raphanus sativus var. sativus), do well with just a few nutrients.
care properly
At the start of the gardening season, the weak-eater bed is thoroughly loosened and provided with a maximum of two liters of compost per square meter. Water the young plants well and then do without additional fertilization.
Notice: If weak-consuming plants are given too much nitrogen, they become weak and susceptible to disease.
Overview: table
Eggplant (Solanum melongena), kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) and kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
| heavy feeder | medium eater | weak feeder |
|---|---|---|
| artichoke aubergine cauliflower broccoli chili Chinese cabbage cucumber Kale potato pumpkin leek Corn paprika rhubarb Brussels sprouts Red cabbage celery asparagus sweet potato tomato white cabbage savoy zucchini | Chicory iceberg lettuce endive fennel garlic Kohlrabi lettuce chard carrot parsnip Pick and cut lettuce radicchio radish Beetroot Roman lettuce salsify spinach runner bean root parsley sugarloaf onion | bush beans peas Lamb's lettuce herbs lenses purslane radish arugula beets Jerusalem Artichoke winter posteline |
Peas (Pisum sativum)
Tip: Pulses such as beans, peas and lentils are legumes, as are clover-like forage plants. These plants are able to absorb nitrogen from the air and transfer it to the soil with the help of nodule bacteria on their roots. Planting legumes can increase soil fertility.
frequently asked Questions
Why is semi-mature compost recommended for heavy consumers?Half-ripe compost is richer in nitrogen than fully-ripe compost and can best meet the demands of heavy consumers. It still contains parts that have not rotted away. Its color is brown and the smell is pleasant.
Which crop rotation maintains the fertility of the soil?The soil remains fertile if you give it rest breaks after intensive use. After two years of harvest, plant a heavy feeder bed with medium feeders and then with weak feeders. This alternation prevents leaching of the soil. Use the table as a guide when choosing suitable plants. If there is enough space, you can leave the bed fallow for a while to recover, or you can sow green manure.
Can you combine heavy, medium and weak consumers on one bed?Planting vegetables with very different needs directly together is not a good idea. Weak-feeding varieties do not thrive on heavily fertilized soil, and heavy-feeders would “starve” on unfertilized, low-feeder soil.