Jim Johnson, Seedman’s Favorite Plant Food Formulas.

Our personal choice plant food formulas, used in our own greenhouses, generated by generations of growing experience.

Note: USA addresses only, no out of country shipping available.

A note from one of our customers:

"I purchased some time release fertilizer for palms & another type for tropical plants last summer.
I want to tell you that the mature palm which we transplanted (this was a 10 year old tree!) is thriving, and I can't thank you enough!" Virginia

We now offer MegaGro Growth Stimulator with Gibberellic Acid (GA)! Click here for complete information, FAQ, Testimonials, and Ordering.

We also offer Speed Sprout for germinating those difficult vegetable and flower seeds.

New! Jim's Plant Growth Stimulators. Achieve amazing results in your garden with these custom blends.

Jim’s Water Soluble Seedling Starter Plant Food

Jim’s “Pro-Grow” Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food

Jim's Dry Formula Tomato Plant Food

Jim’s Acid Plant Food in Water Soluble Form for Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendrons

Jim’s Water Soluble Tropical Foliage Houseplant Food

6 Month Time Release Greenhouse Plant Food

Palm Tree Plant Food

Banana Tree Plant Food

Saltpeter ( Potassium Nitrate ) for Blooming Plants

Magnesium Sulphate Additive

Gourd Vine Plant Food

Step 1Tobacco Plant Food

Step 2 Tobacco Plant Food

Angel's Trumpet Plant Food Mix

Pansy/Petunia Food








Jim’s “Pro-Grow” Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food with Humates/Baking Soda/Calcium

We invite everyone to try this formula against anything on the market. We’ve hand-blended the best water soluble plant food available with our own humates, then added calcium and a touch of baking soda to the mix.
The result is an advanced fertilizer that you feed to the plant once every week as you water.
Not only does it release the required amount of plant food as plants mature and begin to produce, it also stimulates root growth, improves soil aeration, increases plants ability to resist diseases, prevents bottom rot, and aids the plant in absorption of nutrients and minerals. Produces large, healthy plants and the largest, most favorable tomatoes you ever grown!
It is the only tomato plant food used in Jim Johnson’s personal gardens and in seedman.com plant trials.

Application Rates

For first time feeding, add 1½ tablespoons of plant food per gallon of water and thoroughly drench soil. Thereafter, feed weekly with a 1 tablespoon per gallon solution.
 JPF101 8 ounce Pro-Gro Tomato Plant Food mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 18 tablespoons, enough to make 18 gallons of solution. $7.95

Jim’s Enhanced Dry Formula Tomato/Pepper Plant Food with humates, micronutirents and calcium

We’ve hand-blended the best time released plant food available with our own humates, micronutrients and calcium.
The result is an advanced fertilizer that you feed to the plant once when you transplant seedling, then forget about it the rest of the season!
Not only does it release the required amount of plant food as plants mature and begin to produce, it also stimulates root growth, improves soil aeration, increases plants ability to resist diseases, prevents bottom rot, and aids the plant in absorption of nutrients and minerals.
Produces huge, healthy plants and the largest, most favorable tomatoes and peppers you've ever grown!
It is the only dry formula tomato/pepper plant food used in Jim Johnson’s personal gardens and in seedman.com plant trials.

Application Rates

Before you transplant seedlings, dig a hole about a foot wide and shovel spade deep, and work in 1/4 cup of plant food into the soil removed. Fill in hole, then plant seedling and water thoroughly.
 JPF125 2½ pounds Dry Formula Tomato/Pepper Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. $14.95
 JPF126 5 pounds Dry Formula Tomato/Pepper Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. $24.95

Jim’s Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Food in Water Soluble Form

A special acidic plant food for all acid loving plants, but especially made for Azalea, Camellia, and Rhododendrons. These plants will thrive even in poorer soils when feed regularly with this plant food.

Application Rates

For first time feeding, add 1 tablespoon of plant food per gallon of water and thoroughly drench soil. Thereafter, feed weekly during flowering period with a ½ tablespoon per gallon solution.
 JPF202 8 ounce Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Food mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 18 tablespoons, enough to make 36 gallons of solution. $7.95

Jim’s Water Soluble Tropical Foliage Houseplant Food

We’ve tried many variations of soluble plant foods for Tropical Foliage Houseplants, and have developed a blend that we think is superior to anything else we’ve tried.
Tropical foliage plants have unique requirements not addressed by many soluble mixes available today. Our 12-5-35 mix with copper, iron, manganese and zinc seems to out perform everything else.

Application Rates

For first time feeding, add 1 tablespoon of plant food per gallon of water and thoroughly drench soil. Thereafter, feed monthly with a ½ tablespoon per gallon solution.
 JPF105 8 ounce Tropical Foliage Plant Food mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 18 tablespoons, enough to make 36 gallons of solution. $7.95

6 Month Time Release Greenhouse Plant Food


One of the best overall time released plant foods we have found for greenhouse and patio flowering and foliage plants. A 16-8-12 plus minors formula. Perfect for houseplants, hanging baskets, large greenhouse containers and outdoor plants.
Feed once and then forget about feeding for a full 6 months!

How to use

Place in potting soil during potting or planting, or for established containers, work into top of soil before watering.

Application Rates

1 tablespoon per 4-6 inch round pot.
1½ tablespoon per one gallon size pot.
5 tablespoons per 5 gallon size pot.
For large containers ( 5 gallons and larger ), use one tablespoon per gallon pot size, i.e., a 20 gallon pot would require 20 tablespoons.

 JPF110 8 ounce 6 Month Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 20 tablespoons, enough to treat 20 one gallon pots. $4.95
 JPF111 2½ pounds 6 Month Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Enough to treat 100 one gallon pots, or 250 square ft. of vegetable garden. $17.95
 JPF112 5 pounds 6 Month Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Enough to treat 200 one gallon pots, or 500 square ft. of vegetable garden or 1,000 ft. of new lawn. $29.95

Jim’s Premium Pansy/Petunia Plant Food

Pansies and petunias have special needs during their extended blooming season, and this plant food takes care of all of those needs, producing a vigorous and extended blooming season. Great product to use not only to feed pansies and petunias, but use when planting spring bulbs & fertilizing perennials. 7-22-8 base plus five micronutients.
Mix into soil when transplanting plants.
 JPF212 1.5 Pounds Premium Pansy/Petunia Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Enough to fertilize 40 square ft. of flower bed for an entire season. $12.95

Jim’s Water Soluble Seedling Starter Plant Food

An absolute must for starting young seedlings in pots or nursery trays. This is a critical time in the plant’s life, make sure you get it off to a good start.
Helps new seedlings establish vigorous root system and fight off diseases.
A 9-45-15 water soluble mix with copper, boron, iron, manganese and zinc that will not burn if over applied.

Application Rates
For first time watering of soil before seeds emerge, add 1 tablespoon of plant food per gallon of water and thoroughly drench soil. Thereafter, feed weekly with a ½ tablespoon per gallon solution after seeds emerge.
  JPF109 8 ounce Seedling Starter Plant Food mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 18 tablespoons, enough to make 36 gallons of solution. $7.95

Palm Tree Plant Food


An all purpose, all around palm tree plant food for new seedlings and mature trees.
A 14-4-14 formula with minors, magnesium, manganese, iron, and sulfur in the correct blend for palms. Works equally well for new plants and mature specimens.
Feed every three months during growing season ( early Spring through late Winter, year round in tropics ).

How to use

Place in potting soil during potting or planting, or for established containers, work into top of soil before watering.

Application Rates

For Containers:
½ tablespoon per 4-6 inch round pot.
1 tablespoon per one gallon size pot.
5 tablespoons per 5 gallon size pot.
For large containers ( 5 gallons and larger ), use one tablespoon per gallon pot size, i.e., a 20 gallon pot would require 20 tablespoons.
For outdoor palms:
1/2 cup per inch of trunk diameter. For cluster palms, total number of trunk diameters together for proper feeding. Work into soil before watering.
 JPF117 8 ounce Palm Tree Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 20 tablespoons, enough to treat 20 one gallon pots. $4.95
 JPF118 2½ pounds Palm Tree Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Enough to treat 100 one gallon pots. $17.95

Jim’s Water Soluble Banana Plant Food

We’ve tried many variations of soluble plant foods for Banana Plants, and have developed a blend that we think is superior to anything else we’ve tried. As bananas are very heavy feeders and require a lot of nitrogen during the summer, we have developed a 27-15-12 mix with copper, iron, manganese and zinc along with enhanced, water soluble calcium for stronger trunks.

Application Rates

During the growing season, feed once a week. Add 1 tablespoon of plant food per gallon of water and spray onto foliage and thoroughly drench soil. Same method applies to container grown bananas and outdoor plants.
 JPF127 8 ounce Water Soluble Banana Plant Food mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 18 tablespoons, enough to make 18 gallons of solution. $7.95

JPF185 Time Released Angel's Trumpet Plant Food with Humates


A 18-14-16 formula with minors, magnesium, manganese, iron, and sulfur and humates in the correct blend for both datura and brugmansia plants. Feeds for a full 3 months!

How to use

Simply work into top of soil and water, it's that easy.

Application Rates

Use 2½ pounds per 250 square ft. of flowerbed, or use 1/4 cup per plant.
 JPF185 2½ pounds Time Released Angel's Trumpet Plant Food furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. $14.95


JP130 Saltpeter ( Potassium Nitrate )

Saltpeter for healthier blooms

Potassium is essential for the development of flowers and seeds. Adding a little ( ¼ tablespoon ) of saltpeter per gallon of water before watering will greatly extend the flowering period of plants and produce larger, more vivid blooms.

Saltpeter for Seed Germination

Most species of seeds have hard casings to protect the seed "embryo". For most of these "hard" seeds, the outer shell must be scarred, scratched or softened in some way. Some species take up to a year to germinate and will need help in the beginning to get the shell softened. Most varieties of slow germinating seeds will turn black and rot if there is not sufficient heat in the soil (75 to 90 degrees F. for most species) or if the soil dries out or is allowed to remain too wet, which will encourage the growth of one or another of the varieties of fungus or mold. It is important to speed up germination and to get the plants growing as soon as possible in order to avoid potential problems.
Anyone who has soaked dried beans before cooking is familiar with the process of softening up the shell. When the outer shell is softened it allows the contents to expand. Potassium Nitrate (Saltpeter) can help in softening up these outer shells.
Soak the seeds in a solution of ¼ tablespoon of the Saltpeter to one pint of warm water for at least 24 hours. Do not allow the seeds to dry out but sow them immediately using the remaining solution to water the soil or other growing medium. Soak several species of seeds at once in smaller containers of the same solution and have the containers of growing medium or soil ready for planting as soon as the soaking period is complete.
 JPF130 8 ounce Saltpeter ( potassium nitrate ) furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 20 tablespoons, enough to make 80 gallons of solution for flowers or 80 pints of solution for seed soaking. $14.95


JP131 Magnesium Sulphate Additive

Magnesium Sulphate is a superb additive for any plant food, and is a must for healthy robust palms, ferns and tropicals. To use, simply add about a ¼ tablespoon to a gallon of water and feed to plants every 2-3 weeks.
 JPF131 8 ounce Magnesium Sulphate Additive furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 20 tablespoons, enough to make 80 gallons of feed solution. $4.95



JPF145 Gourd Vine Plant Food

A perfect blend of time released fertilizers with critical humates for fast growing, healthy vines in early stage, then all the extra nutrients required for large fruit production.
Helps develop vigorous root system and fight off diseases and aids in the uptake of nutrients.
A 16-8-12 blend with humates, copper, boron, iron, manganese and zinc.

Application Rates

Work into soil at time of seed sowing or transplanting. Apply 1/2 cup per vine in a 2 ft. radius around hill.
 JPF145 2½ pounds Gourd Vine Food furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. About 5 cups. $14.95


JPF180 Jim’s Step 1 Dry Formula Tobacco Plant Food with Miconutrients and Humates

After years of tinkering with different blends, we’ve hand-blended the best time released plant food available with our own mixtures of humates and micronutrients .
The result is an advanced fertilizer that will produce heavy crops of heavy leafed tobacco plants.
Not only does it release the required amount of plant food as plants mature and begin to produce, it also stimulates root growth, improves soil aeration, increases plants ability to resist diseases, prevents yellowing, and aids the plant in absorption of nutrients and minerals.

Application Rates

Before you transplant seedlings, dig a hole about a foot wide by 8 inches deep, and work in a small handful ( about a ¼ cup ) of plant food into the soil removed. Fill in hole, then plant seedling and water thoroughly. When tobacco plants reach 12 inches in height, feed weekly with Step 2 Soluble Plant Food
 JPF180 2½ pounds Step 1 Tobacco Plant Food Mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Enough food for 20-25 plants. $12.95

JPF181 Jim’s Step 2 Water Soluble Tobacco Food

Tobacco plants are gross feeders and require a steady uptake of food in order to produce heavy crops. We meet these unique requirements not addressed by many soluble mixes available today with our 20-5-20 mix with copper, iron, manganese and zinc.

Using Step 1 and 2 food formulas in our field trials produced thicker, wider and healthier leaves that produced 15% more tobacco by weigh than plants using conventional formulas. Needless to say, the healthier the tobacco plant, the richer the flavor the tobacco produces.

Application Rates

Start feeding weekly after plants have reached 12 inches in height. Add 1 tablespoon of plant food per gallon of water and thoroughly drench plant foliage and soil underneath plant.
 JPF182 8 ounce Step 2 Water Soluble Tobacco Plant Food mix furnished in our handy, re-useable widemouth plastic container. Contains about 18 tablespoons, enough to make 18 gallons of solution. $7.95











Helpful links to understanding fertilize and plant foods

Applying Fertilizers on Your Home Gardens from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin # 2287

Sustainable Production of Fresh-Market Tomatoes and Other Summer Vegetables With Organic Mulches


















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