Weekly Feed Fertilizer (Mittleider Gardening)
Updated: Sep 23
If your garden starts strong and then stalls out, there’s a good chance your plants are running short on nutrients faster than the soil can replace them.
That’s exactly why the Mittleider method uses a weekly feed. Instead of guessing what your tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, greens, or squash might need, you give them a steady, measured supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
The Mittleider Gardening Course Book includes several fertilizer “recipes” for different growth stages and garden needs. This one is the weekly feed fertilizer, the mix used after planting to keep plants growing vigorously week after week.
This version also gives you the individual micronutrient amounts, so you don’t have to buy the pre-made micronutrient package if you’d rather mix it yourself. If you prefer the easier route, the Mittleider Magic Micro Mix is available at GrowFood.com.
Let’s walk through what this fertilizer is, what you’ll need, how to mix it, and a few tips that help keep the blend even and easy to use.
What the Mittleider weekly feed does
The Mittleider weekly feed fertilizer is designed to provide plants with a reliable supply of the major nutrients and trace minerals they need during active growth.
Plants don’t just need “good soil.” They need specific nutrients in usable amounts. Some are needed in larger quantities, like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur. Others are needed in tiny amounts, but they still matter. Those are the micronutrients.
When one nutrient runs low, plant growth can slow down even if everything else seems fine. That’s one reason a weekly feeding schedule can work so well. You’re not waiting for plants to look hungry before you feed them.
This mix includes:
A balanced fertilizer for the main nutrients
Epsom salt for magnesium and sulfur
Micronutrients for trace mineral support
Optional perlite to reduce clumping
The goal is consistency. You mix one large batch, store it in a sealed bucket, and use it weekly according to your Mittleider feeding schedule.
Weekly feed fertilizer supplies
Here’s what you’ll need to make the weekly feed.
Ingredient | Amount | Purpose |
16-16-16 fertilizer | 25 pounds | Main source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium |
Epsom salt, also called magnesium sulfate | 4 pounds | Supplies magnesium and sulfur |
Micronutrient option | See below | Supplies trace minerals |
2 cups, optional | Helps reduce clumping | |
5-gallon bucket with gamma lid | 1 | For mixing and storage |
The 16-16-16 fertilizer is a balanced fertilizer, meaning it contains equal percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Those are the three big numbers you see on fertilizer bags.
Epsom salt adds magnesium sulfate. Magnesium helps plants make chlorophyll, and sulfur supports healthy plant growth. In the Mittleider system, Epsom salt is part of the weekly feed because it helps round out the nutrient blend.
The bucket matters more than it might seem. A 5-gallon bucket with a gamma lid makes storage much easier. A gamma lid spins on and off, which helps keep the fertilizer dry while still letting you open it without fighting a tight snap-on lid every week.
Choose one micronutrient option
This part is important: use either the pre-made Mittleider Magic Micro Mix or the individual micronutrients. Don’t use both in the same batch.
The pre-made mix is the simplest option. The individual micronutrient recipe is useful if you already have the ingredients or want to avoid buying the packaged micronutrient blend.
Option 1: Use Mittleider Magic Micro Mix
Use:
10 ounces of Mittleider Magic Micro Mix
This is the easier choice because the trace minerals are already combined for you. You can find it at GrowFood.com if you’d rather not measure each micronutrient separately.
Option 2: Mix the micronutrients yourself
Use these amounts instead of the Magic Micro Mix:
Micronutrient | Amount |
3 ounces | |
2 ounces | |
4 ounces | |
1/2 ounce | |
1/2 ounce | |
1/4 ounce |
These are small amounts compared with the 25 pounds of base fertilizer, but they still need to be measured carefully. Micronutrients are needed in tiny quantities, so “close enough” isn’t the best mindset here.
Use a scale that can measure ounces accurately, especially for the 1/2-ounce and 1/4-ounce ingredients. A kitchen scale may work if it measures small weights well, but a more precise scale is helpful.
Tools that make mixing easier
You don’t need fancy equipment, but a few simple tools make the job cleaner and more accurate.
Helpful supplies include:
Large paddle, stir stick, or garden trowel
Accurate scale
Measuring cup for perlite
Permanent marker for labeling
Fertilizer dust can be irritating, so don’t mix this on a windy day. If you can, work outside or in a well-ventilated shed or garage with the door open.
Also, keep the ingredients away from children and pets. Label the finished bucket clearly so nobody mistakes it for soil amendment, animal feed, or anything else.
How to make the weekly feed fertilizer
This is a simple mix, but the key is getting everything evenly distributed. If the micronutrients sit in one pocket of the bucket, some plants could get too much and others may not get enough.
1. Start with a clean, dry bucket
Moisture is the enemy here. If your bucket has any water in it, dry it completely before adding fertilizer.
A dry bucket helps prevent clumping and keeps the finished mix easier to scoop later.
2. Add part of the 16-16-16 fertilizer
Pour some of the 16-16-16 into the bucket first. You don’t have to add all 25 pounds at once.
Layering helps you mix more evenly, especially if you’re working by hand. (My layers usually look like this: 5 pounds 16-16-16, 1 pound epsom salt, 1/4 of the micronutrients, 1/2c perlite, stir, repeat 3 times, then add the last 5 pounds 16-16-16.)
3. Add the Epsom salt
Add the 4 pounds of Epsom salt to the bucket.
If there are hard chunks, break them up before mixing. Smaller particles blend more evenly and are easier to apply in the garden.
4. Add your chosen micronutrients
Now add either:
10 ounces of Mittleider Magic Micro Mix
Or:
3 ounces borax
2 ounces manganese sulfate
4 ounces zinc sulfate
1/2 ounce copper sulfate
1/2 ounce iron sulfate
1/4 ounce sodium molybdate dihydrate
Again, don’t add both the Magic Micro Mix and the individual micronutrients. Pick one method.
5. Add the rest of the 16-16-16 fertilizer
Pour in the remaining 16-16-16 fertilizer.
This gives you layers of ingredients instead of one heavy pile of micronutrients on top, which makes mixing easier.
6. Add perlite if you want less clumping
Add 2 cups of perlite if you’re using it.
This step is optional, but it can help the fertilizer stay looser in the bucket. That’s especially useful if your storage area gets humid.
7. Mix until the blend looks uniform
Put on gloves and mix by hand, or use a large paddle. Scrape along the bottom and sides of the bucket as you go.
You’re looking for an even blend with no obvious streaks or pockets of one ingredient. Take your time with this step.
If you have a cement mixer dedicated to garden or non-food projects, you can use that to mix a larger batch more evenly. Just make sure it’s clean and dry before you start.
How to store the finished fertilizer
Once everything is mixed well, seal the bucket with the gamma lid.
Store it in a dry place, away from rain, irrigation spray, and humidity as much as possible. Fertilizer that absorbs moisture can clump, harden, or become difficult to spread evenly.
A few storage tips help a lot:
Label the bucket with the fertilizer name and date mixed.
Keep the lid closed between uses.
Store it off the ground if your shed floor gets damp.
Use a dedicated scoop so you’re not introducing moisture or soil.
Keep it away from children, pets, and animal feed.
A simple label like `Mittleider Weekly Feed Fertilizer` works well. If you used the individual micronutrients, you can also write that on the bucket so you remember which version you made.
Using the weekly feed in the garden
Once mixed, the fertilizer is ready to add to your garden on a weekly basis.
Follow the application rate recommended in your Mittleider gardening instructions (1/2oz per linear foot) for your bed size, plant spacing, and growing setup. The amount matters because this is a concentrated fertilizer blend. More isn’t better. A steady, measured amount is the point.
In general, weekly feed is applied near the plants, not directly piled against the stems. After applying, water it in so the nutrients can move into the root zone.
A good weekly rhythm looks like this:
Check the bed for moisture and plant health.
Apply the measured weekly feed.
Keep fertilizer away from direct contact with stems and leaves.
Water thoroughly after feeding.
Watch for plant response over the next few days.
If plants are newly transplanted, stressed, or dealing with extreme heat, be careful and follow your Mittleider guide closely. Young or stressed plants can be more sensitive to fertilizer.
Why uniform mixing matters so much
This recipe includes large ingredients measured in pounds and micronutrients measured in fractions of an ounce. That’s a big difference.
If the mix isn’t uniform, one scoop might contain mostly 16-16-16 fertilizer while another scoop might contain a high concentration of micronutrients. That can lead to uneven growth or plant stress.
Think of it like baking. If all the salt ends up in one corner of the dough, one bite tastes terrible and the rest tastes flat. Fertilizer works the same way, except your plants are the ones dealing with the uneven mix.
To get a better blend:
Add ingredients in layers.
Break up clumps before mixing.
Mix longer than you think you need to.
Turn material from the bottom up, not just across the top.
Use a larger mixing container if the bucket is too full to stir well.
If the bucket is packed to the top, it’s hard to mix thoroughly. In that case, mix in batches, then combine them.
A few common mistakes to avoid
This recipe is simple, but a few small mistakes can cause problems.
Using both micronutrient options
This is the biggest one. The Magic Micro Mix and the individual micronutrient list are two ways to handle the same part of the recipe.
Use one or the other.
Guessing on tiny measurements
A little extra 16-16-16 may not seem like a big deal in a large batch, but micronutrients are different. The 1/4-ounce sodium molybdate dihydrate measurement really does call for careful measuring.
Use a scale.
Storing the mix where it can get damp
Moisture causes clumping and can make the fertilizer harder to use. Keep it sealed and dry.
Applying too much because plants look hungry
If plants look pale, weak, or slow, it’s tempting to add more fertilizer. But plant problems can come from watering issues, temperature stress, pests, disease, poor drainage, or root damage too.
Stick with the recommended Mittleider schedule and look at the whole growing situation before increasing fertilizer.
Helpful Mittleider gardening resources
If you like learning by watching, there are more garden videos available on the Wisdom Preserved YouTube channel.
For more information on the Mittleider method, you can also check out this Mittleider gardening playlist.
And if you’re building out your garden seed supply, there’s a discount link for Survival Garden Seeds.
The takeaway
The Mittleider weekly feed is all about giving plants steady nutrition instead of leaving them to struggle between feedings. Once you’ve mixed a batch, weekly feeding becomes quick and simple.
Use 25 pounds of 16-16-16, 4 pounds of Epsom salt, and one micronutrient option. Add perlite if you want to cut down on clumping, mix everything thoroughly, store it dry, and apply it according to your Mittleider schedule.
A good fertilizer mix won’t replace consistent watering, sunlight, spacing, or pest care. But when those basics are in place, this weekly feed can make a noticeable difference in how strong and productive your garden feels.
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