Fish Emulsion + FoxFarm: Our Raised Bed Feeding Schedule
The short answer
Once your transplants are outside and settled, a 5-1-1 fertilizer like Alaska Fish Emulsion is safe to start right away. Diluted to 1 to 2 tablespoons per gallon it won't burn your plants. It promotes vigorous vegetative growth. I alternate it week to week with FoxFarm Grow Big through the growing stage, then switch to FoxFarm Tiger Bloom once everything fruits. Both are products I always keep on hand.
What we used
| Product | Size | NPK | When we use it | Our note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Fish Fertilizer 5-1-1 | 1 gallon | 5-1-1 | Transplant through first flower, alternating weeks | A gallon covers two beds for a season with plenty left |
| FoxFarm Grow Big | 1 qt (in trio) | 6-4-4 | Alternating weeks with the fish | Vegetative stage only |
| FoxFarm Tiger Bloom | 1 qt (in trio) | 2-8-4 | Once everything fruits | Takes over from both of the above |
| FoxFarm Big Bloom | 1 qt (in trio) | 0.01-0.3-0.7 | Optional, mild | Comes in the bundle |
| FoxFarm Trio bundle | 3 × 1 qt | n/a | How we buy it | Cheapest way to get all three |
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Phase 1: Alaska Fish Fertilizer + Grow Big. Transplant to first flower
What it is. Alaska Fish Fertilizer is a liquid fish emulsion concentrated to a 5-1-1 ratio. That's mostly nitrogen, which is what vines and leaves want early. It's deodorized (less so than the label implies) and OMRI-listed for organic growing. FoxFarm Grow Big is a 6-4-4 liquid that does a similar job with a little more phosphorus and potassium behind it.
Specs that matter
- Alaska: NPK 5-1-1, 1 to 2 Tbsp per gallon (use the low end for new transplants)
- Grow Big: NPK 6-4-4, 2 tsp per gallon
- Both work as a soil drench; drench is simpler in a raised bed than foliar spraying
- Shake the fish bottle hard before measuring. The solids settle
- Both are shelf-stable for years with the cap on
In our bed: This is the vegetative-stage feed for tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, parsley, zucchini, potatoes and cucumbers. One week fish, the next week Grow Big, through to first flower.
Check price on Amazon: Alaska Fish Fertilizer, 1 gal →
Phase 2: FoxFarm Tiger Bloom. Fruit set to harvest
What it is. FoxFarm sells three liquids meant to be used together: Grow Big (above), Tiger Bloom (2-8-4, phosphorus-leaning, for flowers and fruit), and Big Bloom (a very mild organic blend). The trio bundle is how most people buy them and how we buy them. Tiger Bloom is the one that changes what the plant does: once fruit sets, it shifts energy from leaves to fruit.
Specs that matter
- Tiger Bloom: 2-8-4, 2 tsp per gallon
- Big Bloom: 0.01-0.3-0.7, 4 Tbsp per gallon, mild enough for every watering
- A quart of Tiger Bloom covers two 4x8 beds for a fruiting season
- Tiger Bloom is acidic (pH around 3). Fine diluted, but don't leave it mixed overnight
In our bed: Once everything fruits, Tiger Bloom replaces both Phase 1 feeds on the same once-a-week slot.
Check price on Amazon: FoxFarm Trio →Our weekly schedule
Fertilize once a week, water twice. Water first, then fertilize. Later in the week, a light water.
| Stage | What we feed (once a week) | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Transplants, first 2 to 3 weeks | Alaska fish at 1 Tbsp/gal | Water first, feed, light water later in the week |
| Vegetative growth | Alternate: Alaska fish (2 Tbsp/gal) one week, Grow Big (2 tsp/gal) the next | Same |
| Everything fruits | Switch to Tiger Bloom (2 tsp/gal) | Same |
| Late season | Taper Tiger Bloom as harvest winds down | Water only |
How to feed a raised bed with fish emulsion and FoxFarm
- Water the bed first. Fertilizer on dry soil can stress roots. Water normally, then feed.
- Mix in a watering can, not a sprayer. Shake the fish bottle, then measure: 1 to 2 Tbsp per gallon for Alaska, 2 tsp per gallon for Grow Big or Tiger Bloom.
- Drench the root zone, not the leaves. Pour slowly at the base of each plant. A 4x8 bed takes roughly 2 to 3 gallons of mix per feeding.
- Once a week, alternating. Fish one week, Grow Big the next, through the vegetative stage.
- Switch to Tiger Bloom when everything fruits. Same weekly slot, same method. It replaces both Phase 1 feeds.
- Light water later in the week. Two waterings a week total, one of them carrying the feed.
- Rinse the can. It will smell for a day otherwise.
Anything to skip?
No. These are the two fertilizer options I'd keep on hand in any garden. Two things worth knowing before you buy: fish emulsion smells like fish for a few hours after a drench, and the trio comes with Big Bloom whether you plan to use it or not. Neither is a reason not to buy; just don't expect "deodorized" to mean odorless.
FAQ
Does Alaska Fish Fertilizer smell?
Yes. It's labeled deodorized, but it still smells like fish for a few hours after application, and the watering can will hold the smell for a day. In a backyard raised bed it's tolerable; indoors, use something else.
Can I use fish emulsion on tomatoes?
Yes, and it's one of the better early-season feeds for them. The 5-1-1 ratio pushes vine and leaf growth. Once fruit sets, switch to a bloom formula like Tiger Bloom so the plant puts energy into fruit instead of leaves.
How often should I use fish emulsion in a raised bed?
Once a week during the vegetative stage, alternating with Grow Big if you have it. Raised beds drain faster than in-ground soil, so nutrients wash through faster than you'd expect. A regular light feeding beats one heavy one.
Will fish emulsion attract animals?
It can. Raccoons, cats and dogs are drawn to the smell for a day or two after a drench. Watering it in well after applying helps; feeding in the evening and watering again in the morning helps more.
Do I need all three FoxFarm bottles?
Grow Big and Tiger Bloom are the two that do the work in this schedule. Big Bloom is mild and optional. The trio is usually cheaper than buying the two separately, so buy the bundle and use what you need.
Is fish emulsion safe for seedlings?
At half strength, 1 Tbsp per gallon, yes. It's gentle enough for transplants and won't burn the way synthetic fertilizers can if you overdo it slightly.
Track your feeding schedule in Furrow
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