Pepper and Herb Fertilizer 11-11-40 | Chelated Micronutrients | Hydroponics, Soil & Foliar Application
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Greenway Biotech · Made in California since 1989
Pepper & Herb Fertilizer 11-11-40.
Built for flavor, heat, and aroma.
Balanced 11-11-40 with very high soluble potash (40% K₂O), formulated for the fruiting window in peppers and the harvest window in culinary herbs. EDTA-chelated iron, manganese, zinc, and copper in every bag. 100% water-soluble. CDFA registered. Independently lab tested for heavy metals — results consistently well below required limits.
Find your size → Calculate how much I need40%
Soluble potash (K₂O) — the highest in our specialty crop line
11%
Nitrogen — enough to sustain leaf growth through long fruiting cycles
11%
Available phosphate (P₂O₅) for bloom and reliable fruit set
100%
Water-soluble — drip, NFT, Dutch buckets, foliar, fertigation
01 / Choose your size
Right-sized
for the job.
Every bag dissolves clean in cold water. Pick the size that matches your operation — from a few container peppers and a windowsill of rosemary to a market-garden plot of mixed crops. Plant coverage assumes four feedings across a season; actual use varies with plant size and feeding frequency.
Complete pepper & herb program: 11-11-40 supplies NPK plus chelated micronutrients — it contains no calcium by design (calcium and phosphate precipitate together in concentrated solution). Pair it with a separate calcium source: Cal-Mag Plus or Calcium Nitrate for hydro, containers, and RO water; Gypsum for raised beds and in-ground soil. Never mix calcium and 11-11-40 as concentrated stock.
| Bag Size | Peppers per Season | Woody Herbs per Season | Hydroponic Reservoir Feeds | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | ~38 plants | ~75 plants | ~200 gal at fruiting rate | Patio gardeners, a few plants in containers |
| 2 lb | ~75 plants | ~150 plants | ~400 gal at fruiting rate | Home gardeners with a raised bed or two |
| 5 lb | ~190 plants | ~380 plants | ~1,000 gal at fruiting rate | Most popular — home gardens |
| 10 lb | ~380 plants | ~755 plants | ~2,000 gal at fruiting rate | Serious growers, multiple beds, small greenhouse |
| 25 lb | ~945 plants | ~1,890 plants | ~5,000 gal at fruiting rate | Best value — market gardens |
02 / Ideal applications
One bag.
Six different jobs.
The 11-11-40 ratio is tuned to crops where high potassium drives quality at harvest — capsaicin and heat in peppers, essential oils and aroma in herbs, and overall fruit firmness and shelf life.
Hot Peppers
Jalapeño, habanero, ghost, Thai, cayenne, Carolina reaper. The high K₂O supports the nutrient balance associated with capsaicin development through fruiting.
Sweet & Bell Peppers
Bell, banana, poblano, shishito, padrón. The 11% nitrogen sustains canopy through long fruit-set windows; the 40% potash supports wall thickness and color.
Woody Mediterranean Herbs
Rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, marjoram, lavender, tarragon. High potash supports the conditions associated with strong essential-oil expression.
Aromatic Soft Herbs
Basil, dill, fennel, chervil, parsley. Use the woody-herb rates (lower side); consider a higher-N companion during heavy cutting cycles.
Hydroponic Systems
DWC, NFT, Dutch buckets, drip, Kratky. 100% water-soluble with no residue when pre-dissolved. Pair with a separate calcium source.
Containers & Grow Bags
Patio and balcony growers, fabric pots, raised-bed mixes. Use the container rates and flush monthly to keep salt buildup in check.
03 / Why 11-11-40
Built for the
fruiting window — without
starving the canopy.
Peppers fruit longer than tomatoes do. They need more sustained nitrogen through the season, but they still need very high potassium during fruit fill. The 11-11-40 ratio is built around that tension.
40%
Potassium-dominant — for fruit quality, not foliage.
Peppers and aromatic herbs respond strongly to adequate potassium during flowering and fruit fill. Potassium drives cell expansion (fruit size), sugar and aromatic-compound transport (flavor), and water relations (firmness and shelf life). Research suggests that adequate potash supports the conditions associated with capsaicin development and essential-oil expression — helping crops reach their quality potential under proper growing conditions.
3.6:1
K₂O:N ratio — high potash without choking out nitrogen.
Where our Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38 runs a 9.5:1 K:N ratio (deliberately keeping nitrogen low to favor fruit), peppers fruit over a longer window and benefit from more sustained nitrogen. The 11% N here keeps the canopy productive through repeat harvests; the 40% K₂O still pushes fruit quality where it counts.
11%
Balanced available phosphate (P₂O₅) for bloom and set.
Phosphorus drives ATP synthesis, nucleic acid production, and active root growth — all of which peak during reproductive growth. The 11% P₂O₅ supports robust flowering and reliable fruit set without overdoing it, which would risk antagonizing zinc and iron uptake in soils that already test high in phosphorus. In the ground, apply phosphorus to soil-test need.
6×
Six chelated and mineral micronutrients in one bag.
Iron, manganese, zinc, and copper are EDTA-chelated to stay plant-available across the working pH range typical of hydroponic reservoirs and well-managed garden soils. Boron (boric acid) and molybdenum (sodium molybdate) round out the trace package — supporting flower retention, cell-wall formation, and nitrate reduction.
100%
Dissolves clean in cold water. Zero residue.
At home in a watering can, a backpack sprayer, a drip line, a Dutch bucket, an NFT channel, or a DWC reservoir. No grit, no settling, no clogged emitters when pre-dissolved — the entire bag goes into solution.
CDFA
Registered, lab-verified, and heavy-metal tested.
Registered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Independently lab-tested for heavy metal content — results consistently well below required limits. Blended and bagged in Madera, California by a family-owned operation since 1989.
04 / The science
Why potassium drives
flavor, heat, and aroma.
K+
The ionic form plants absorb — freely soluble and mobile in solution
Unlike nitrogen, which plants use to build new tissue, potassium isn't a structural component at all. It functions as an ionic regulator inside the plant — a kind of traffic controller that opens and closes guard cells, activates dozens of enzyme systems, and keeps water and sugars moving through the vascular system. Adequate potassium is closely associated with fruit size, sugar transport, firmness, flavor development, and post-harvest shelf life in fruiting crops.
Peppers — and most aromatic herbs — are unusually potassium-hungry. In peppers, the fruit functions as both a sugar sink and a potassium sink: sugars and secondary metabolites (including capsaicinoids in hot varieties) produced in the leaves get loaded into the phloem and shipped to the developing fruit, and that loading process is potassium-driven. K-deficient plants tend to accumulate sugars in leaves instead of partitioning them to harvestable organs — which is the opposite of what a chile grower wants. In herbs, that same partitioning mechanism shapes the essential-oil profile that gives basil, oregano, and rosemary their distinctive aroma.
All three macronutrients in 11-11-40 are delivered in immediately plant-available forms: nitrogen as a mix of nitrate (predominant) and ammoniacal species, phosphate from monopotassium phosphate, and potassium from a blend of potassium nitrate, monopotassium phosphate, and potassium sulfate sources. The micronutrient package leans on EDTA chelation for iron, manganese, zinc, and copper — keeping those metals in solution across the pH 5.8–6.5 window typical of hydroponic reservoirs and well-managed garden soils, where sulfate forms can begin to tie up.
For a deeper read on the underlying chemistry, see What's the Function of Potassium (K) in Plants? and What is the Best Potassium Fertilizer?
05 / Application rates
Pick your use.
Get your rate.
Rates for peppers and woody Mediterranean herbs. Select the tab for your growing method — soil & container, hydroponics, foliar spraying, or field-scale commercial.
Two crops, two rates. Peppers take the full rate; woody Mediterranean herbs take roughly half — they evolved in lean soils, and overfeeding actively reduces essential-oil content. For soft leafy herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley, mint), Lettuce Fertilizer 8-15-36 is the better fit — high potash can push leafy herbs toward early bolting.
Soil & Container Growing
🪴 Quick start (containers): Mix into 1 gallon of water per plant — 3 g (½ tsp) for a pepper every 2 weeks, or 1.5 g (¼ tsp) for a woody herb monthly. Water in with plain water right after. Add your calcium source separately.
Quick answer: Containers are fed per plant — 3 g per pepper, 1.5 g per woody herb. In-ground beds are fed per area (per 100 sq ft), so plant count doesn't change the amount.
How to read this — worked examples:
Containers (per plant). 6 peppers: 6 × 3 g = 18 g of 11-11-40 total (½ tsp each), dissolved in 6 × 1 gal = 6 gallons of water, every 2 weeks. Water in with plain water right after. For 6 rosemary plants it's half that: 6 × 1.5 g = 9 g in 6 gallons, monthly.
In the ground (per area, not per plant). A 100 sq ft pepper bed: 0.25 lb (~113 g) per 100 sq ft, side-dressed (banded 3–6" from the stem, not touching it), at first flower then every 4 weeks. Because this is set by area, 4 plants or 10 plants in that same 100 sq ft get the same 0.25 lb — just split it evenly and water in.
⚠️ Calcium supplementation required. This formula does not contain calcium because calcium and phosphate should not be combined in concentrated stock solution — mixing them directly can form insoluble calcium phosphate that becomes unavailable to plants. Supplement with Cal-Mag Plus, Calcium Nitrate, or Gypsum, especially during fruiting. Always pre-dissolve each product separately before combining in the working solution.
| Crop | 11-11-40 (per plant) | Water (per plant) | How Often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper — at potting | ½ tsp per gallon of potting mix, mixed in | — | Once, at potting; top-dress monthly |
| Pepper — liquid feed | 3 g (½ tsp) | 1 gal | Every 2 weeks during active growth |
| Woody herb — at potting | ¼ tsp per gallon of potting mix, mixed in | — | Once, at potting |
| Woody herb — liquid feed | 1.5 g (¼ tsp) | 1 gal | Monthly; skip during winter dormancy |
Container feeding: Container amounts are per plant — multiply by your plant count. One gallon of water per plant; only the fertilizer amount changes by crop. Apply to already-moist media and water in with plain water right after. Pair with Cal-Mag Plus at about 5 ml per plant between feedings. Flush containers with plain water once monthly to keep salt buildup in check.
| Application | Rate (per 100 sq ft) | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper — pre-plant incorporation | 1 lb + 2 lbs gypsum | 1–2 weeks before transplant; worked into top 4–6" |
| Pepper — side-dress | 0.25 lb (~113 g) | At first flower, then every 4 weeks during fruiting |
| Pepper — drip fertigation | 0.5 lb / 100 gal of irrigation water | Every 10–14 days; 25–50% of that for continuous systems |
| Woody herb — pre-plant | 0.25 lb (~113 g) | Once, before planting; light feeding only |
| Woody herb — drip fertigation | 0.125–0.25 lb / 100 gal | Monthly; lower rate matches the lean-soil native habit |
📋 Soil test first: Rates above are general guidelines for medium-testing soils. Confirm against a current soil test and your local cooperative extension — needs vary significantly by soil type, variety, and region. Woody herbs in particular want lean soil and sharp drainage; feed once at planting and let them run lean.
Hydroponic Reservoirs
Quick answer: Everything is per plant. Multiply each column by your plant count, mix into the reservoir, then top up water until it reads the target EC. Refresh every 7–10 days.
Every amount below is per plant — multiply the whole row by your plant count. The water column is roughly how much your reservoir holds per plant; top up to hit the EC target, since water volume only sets concentration, not the nutrient a plant needs. The EC column is the final measured value after all nutrients are mixed. Calcium Nitrate is for RO or soft water only. Cal-Mag Plus values are ml of prepared stock (the full 5 lb bag dissolved in 2 gallons of water).
| Growth Stage | 11-11-40 (per plant) | Cal-Mag Plus (per plant) | Calcium Nitrate (per plant, RO/soft) | Water per Plant | Final EC | pH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling / Transplant | 1.4 g (~¼ tsp) | 3 ml | — | 1.0–1.4 gal | 1.2–1.5 EC | 5.8–6.2 |
| Vegetative | 2.8 g (~½ tsp) | 12 ml | 2–3 g | 1.5–1.8 gal | 1.6–2.0 EC | 5.8–6.3 |
| Blooming / Fruiting | 4.5 g (~¾–1 tsp) | 20 ml | 3.5–5.5 g | 1.9–2.1 gal | 2.0–2.4 EC | 5.8–6.3 |
| Heavy Fruit Load (advanced) | 5.7 g (~1 tsp) | 25 ml | 3.5–5.5 g | 1.9–2.1 gal | 2.4–3.0 EC | 5.8–6.3 |
| Growth Stage | 11-11-40 (per plant) | Cal-Mag Plus (per plant) | Water per Plant | Final EC | pH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling / Transplant | 0.4 g | 2 ml | 0.6–0.8 gal | 0.8–1.0 EC | 5.8–6.3 |
| Established / Mature Vegetative | 1 g (~⅕ tsp) | 6 ml | 0.8–1.0 gal | 1.2–1.5 EC | 5.8–6.3 |
How to read this — worked example: 12 peppers at fruiting, on RO water:
- 11-11-40: 12 × 4.5 g = 54 g
- Cal-Mag Plus: 12 × 20 ml = 240 ml of prepared stock
- Calcium Nitrate: 12 × 3.5–5.5 g = 42–66 g
- Water: about 12 × 2 gal = 24 gallons — then top up until the reservoir measures 2.0–2.4 EC
- How often: refresh the reservoir every 7–10 days
⚠️ Advanced EC range. The 2.4–3.0 EC band is for mature, productive plants under high light with monitored runoff EC — the default published range is 1.6–2.4 EC. Warm root zones above 80°F combined with high EC can trigger calcium-uptake issues that show as blossom end rot.
Mixing sequence: Fill to full water volume → dissolve Calcium Nitrate fully (RO/soft water) → add Cal-Mag Plus → add 11-11-40 last → adjust pH and verify final EC. Never combine concentrated calcium products directly with concentrated phosphate or sulfate fertilizers.
Hard tap water: water above roughly 30 ppm calcium already carries part of what Cal-Mag supplies — start low and add only what a water test shows you need, rather than the full RO-water dose. Woody herbs rarely need supplemental Calcium Nitrate on a standard RO program; Cal-Mag alone is usually enough.
PPM scale note. EC is the more accurate measure — use it when possible. On the 500-scale, PPM = EC × 500; on the 700-scale, PPM = EC × 700.
Foliar Spray
Quick answer: ~4.5 g of 11-11-40 per gallon of finished spray (~1 tsp/gal) is the maintenance rate. Foliar is mixed per gallon of spray, not per plant. Apply early morning or late afternoon only, below 80°F leaf temperature, and never exceed 9 g/gal.
⚠️ Foliar burn risk and harvest timing. Never exceed 9 g per gallon, and test a small area 24 hours before any new rate at full scale. Apply early morning or late afternoon only — never in direct midday sun or when leaf temperatures exceed 80°F. Do not combine Cal-Mag Plus concentrate with 11-11-40 concentrate — pre-dissolve each separately into the diluted spray tank. Stop foliar feeding at least 5 days before pepper harvest, and at least 14 days before any herb harvest.
| Purpose | 11-11-40 (per gallon) | Cal-Mag stock | Frequency / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance / general boost | ~4.5 g (~1 tsp) | — | Every 10–14 days; spray to glistening, not runoff |
| Pre-bloom push | ~4.5 g (~1 tsp) | 5 ml/gal in tank | Once, 7–10 days before first flower; never on open blooms |
| Fruit wall / color support | ~4.5 g (~1 tsp) | 5 ml/gal in tank | Weekly during fruiting |
| Deficiency correction | ~6.8 g (~1⅓ tsp) | — | Every 5–7 days, max 3 sprays; test small area first |
| Maximum (tested) | 9 g (~1¾ tsp) | — | Only after a small-area test; cool, non-stress conditions only |
How to read this — worked example: 2 gallons of maintenance spray: 2 × 4.5 g = 9 g of 11-11-40. Spray until leaves just glisten — tops and undersides — every 10–14 days. Keep the finished spray at or below 9 g per gallon.
Herbs — foliar caution. Avoid foliar feeding on culinary herbs intended for fresh use. If needed for transplant establishment only, apply at ~1–2 g/gal during transplant week, then stop at least 14 days before any harvest.
Foliar best practices: spray to glistening, not runoff, and cover leaf undersides. Do not spray drought-stressed, wilted, or heat-stressed plants, in high wind, or on open blooms. Do not tank-mix with pesticides, oils, sulfur, or copper unless compatibility has been tested. Foliar feeding supplements root feeding — it does not replace it.
Commercial / field-scale — per acre
Quick answer: Field-scale pepper programs typically apply 325–545 lbs of 11-11-40 per acre per season, split across the fruiting window. Always confirm with a current soil test and crop removal estimate.
📋 Field & acreage rates. The per-acre figures below are general references for medium-testing soils at typical yield goals. Actual rates should be based on a current soil test and local nutrient removal estimates. Consult your local Cooperative Extension service or certified crop advisor for site-specific recommendations.
| Soil Test / Crop Demand | 11-11-40 / Acre / Season | Split |
|---|---|---|
| Light (high baseline soil K) | 325–375 lbs | Side-dress at first fruit set, repeat 3 weeks later |
| Standard (medium-testing soil) | 375–435 lbs | 3–4 splits across fruiting |
| Heavy (high-yield with drip irrigation) | 435–545 lbs | Continuous fertigation through fruit fill |
At 405 lb/acre (the standard midpoint), 11-11-40 supplies roughly 45 lb N, 45 lb P₂O₅, and 162 lb K₂O per acre — and no calcium. Supplement calcium separately (gypsum pre-plant or Calcium Nitrate in fertigation). Do not use the heavy rate where soil potassium already tests high; excess K can suppress calcium and magnesium uptake. Contact our team at questions@greenwaybiotech.com for crop-specific guidance and to discuss your soil test results.
06 / How to use & calculate
Dissolve it.
Drench or spray.
Done.
11-11-40 dissolves cleanly in cold water with zero residue. Whether you're feeding four patio peppers or running a Dutch-bucket greenhouse, the steps are the same — pre-dissolve, add the calcium source separately, apply, water in. The calculator handles the math for whichever method you're using.
-
01
Pre-dissolve in a separate bucket.
Always pre-dissolve each fertilizer in a separate small bucket of water before adding to the reservoir or watering can. Calcium sources and high-phosphate fertilizers must never be combined in concentrated form — doing so causes calcium phosphate precipitation and locks up both nutrients.
-
02
Add in the right order.
Fill your reservoir or container with fresh water (RO or rainwater for production hydroponics). Add Calcium Nitrate solution first (if using), stir thoroughly. Add Cal-Mag Plus stock next. Add dissolved 11-11-40 last, stir until fully dispersed.
-
03
Check pH and EC.
Adjust pH to 5.8–6.2 for seedling and early vegetative stages, 5.8–6.3 for flowering and fruiting. For most culinary herbs, pH 6.2–6.8 generally fits. Verify EC matches your target growth stage before introducing plants. For soil growing, aim for soil pH 6.2–6.5.
-
04
Monitor and refresh.
Top off the reservoir with pH-adjusted water as plants drink it down. Replace solution completely every 7–10 days in recirculating systems. For soil and container growing, water thoroughly after each fertilizer application and flush containers with plain water once a month to prevent salt buildup.
07 / Compare
Six crop formulas.
Different jobs.
Greenway makes several specialty crop fertilizers. They look similar on paper but solve different problems. Here's how 11-11-40 stacks up against its closest siblings.
| Product | NPK | K₂O:N Ratio | Best Fit | When to Pick This Instead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper & Herb 11-11-40 (this product) | 11-11-40 | 3.6:1 | Peppers, woody Mediterranean herbs, aromatic crops — flowering through fruiting | — |
| Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38 | 4-18-38 | 9.5:1 | Tomatoes, eggplants, tomatillos, fruiting nightshades | Heavy phosphorus-demand fruiting crops, shorter-window nightshades |
| Strawberry Fertilizer 8-12-32 | 8-12-32 | 4:1 | Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, all berry crops | Berries — ratios tuned to berry physiology |
| Cucumber Fertilizer 8-16-36 | 8-16-36 | 4.5:1 | Cucumbers, melons, squash, gourds, vining vegetables | Vine crops with longer continuous fruit-set windows |
| Lettuce Fertilizer 8-15-36 | 8-15-36 | 4.5:1 | Leafy greens, lettuce, spinach, soft culinary herbs | Leafy crops where you want measured nitrogen without pushing bolting |
| Grow Green 4-2-6 | 4-2-6 | 1.5:1 | Vegetative-stage hydroponic feeding for any crop | Early vegetative growth, before flowering begins |
08 / Decision
Is this the right
fertilizer for you?
A simple yes/no read. If most of the left column matches your situation, 11-11-40 is the right call. If you're nodding along to the right column, take a look at the alternative linked there instead.
Best Choice For
- You're growing peppers — bell, sweet, hot, or ornamental varieties
- You're growing woody Mediterranean herbs — rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, marjoram, lavender
- You're in the flowering through fruit-fill window — or about to be
- You're running a hydroponic system, raised beds, containers, or a drip-irrigated field
- You want a single bag that covers macros plus chelated micros
- You're willing to supplement calcium separately (Cal-Mag, Calcium Nitrate, or gypsum)
- You value CDFA registration and independent heavy-metal testing
Consider Another Product If
- You're growing tomatoes, eggplants, or tomatillos — try Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38 instead
- You're growing strawberries or other berries — try Strawberry Fertilizer 8-12-32 instead
- You're growing cucumbers, melons, or squash — try Cucumber Fertilizer 8-16-36 instead
- You're growing leafy greens or soft culinary herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley, mint) — try Lettuce Fertilizer 8-15-36 instead
- You're feeding seedlings or early-vegetative plants only — try Grow Green 4-2-6 until flowering begins
- You want a single product that contains calcium — this formula deliberately separates calcium for chemistry reasons; pair with Calcium Nitrate
09 / Build the program
Pairs well
with calcium.
11-11-40 covers NPK and the chelated micronutrient package. To build a complete pepper or herb program, add calcium (always separately from this formula) and magnesium where your water source is short. Here are the four most common companions.
Essential
Cal-Mag Plus 2-0-0
Calcium, magnesium, and chelated iron in one bag. The default calcium pairing for hydroponic growers and container gardeners on RO water.
Hydro alternativeCalcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0
15.5% N + 19% Ca. Water-soluble calcium source with a small nitrogen contribution. Always add to the reservoir first, before any phosphate source.
Soil calciumGypsum (Calcium Sulfate)
23% Ca + 18% S. Pre-plant soil amendment that builds calcium without raising pH. The right pick for raised-bed and in-ground pepper gardens.
Magnesium boostEpsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate)
USP-grade magnesium and sulfur. Useful where soil or water tests low in magnesium — interveinal yellowing on older leaves is the classic deficiency sign.
10 / Safety & handling
Read this before
you mix.
Concentrated fertilizer salts — including this one — need to be handled with the same care you'd give any soluble plant nutrient. The five rules below cover most of what goes wrong in practice.
- Never combine calcium and 11-11-40 in concentrated form. Pre-dissolve each separately, then combine in the diluted reservoir or spray tank. Direct mixing causes calcium phosphate precipitation and locks up both nutrients.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when handling dry powder or concentrated solutions. Avoid inhaling dust — measure in a ventilated area or wear a dust mask.
- Foliar: below 80°F leaf temperature, early morning or late afternoon only. Never spray in direct midday sun or when plants are drought-stressed. Test on a small area before applying any new rate at full scale, and never exceed 9 g per gallon. Stop foliar feeding at least 5 days before pepper harvest, 14 days before herb harvest.
- Store sealed, cool, and dry. 11-11-40 is hygroscopic — it will absorb humidity from the air if left open. If it clumps, break it up; efficacy is unaffected. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- If exposure happens: eyes — flush with clean water for 15 minutes. Skin — wash with soap and water. Ingestion — do not induce vomiting; contact Poison Control (1-800-222-1222). See the SDS in the Documents section for complete safety information.
11 / FAQ
Common questions.
Honest answers.
The questions we hear most often by phone and email. If yours isn't here, reach out at questions@greenwaybiotech.com.
How much 11-11-40 do I use per plant?
Peppers take roughly twice what woody herbs take. In containers: 3 g (½ tsp) per pepper in 1 gallon of water every 2 weeks, or 1.5 g (¼ tsp) per woody herb in 1 gallon monthly. In hydroponics, per plant: about 1.4 g at seedling, 2.8 g at vegetative, and 4.5 g at fruiting for peppers; 0.4 g at seedling and 1 g established for woody herbs — then top up water to hit your target EC. In-ground beds are the exception — they're fed by area (1 lb per 100 sq ft pre-plant for peppers, 0.25 lb side-dress), so plant count doesn't change the amount. The calculator above will size it exactly for your grow.
Will this make my peppers hotter?
Research suggests that when potassium needs are fully met, the nutrient balance supports capsaicin development in hot peppers — helping plants reach their genetic heat potential under proper growing conditions. Capsaicin levels are also strongly influenced by variety, light, water stress at the right times, and harvest maturity. For best results, apply consistently through fruit development and harvest peppers when fully ripe. For background, see What's the Function of Potassium (K) in Plants?
How is this different from Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38?
Both are high-potash formulas designed for fruiting crops, but they differ in their N-P balance. Our Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38 has much higher phosphate (18% P₂O₅) and very low nitrogen (4%), making it well suited to fruiting nightshades that benefit from heavy P and minimal foliage push during flowering and fruit set. This 11-11-40 formula has equal nitrogen and phosphate with even higher potash (40% K₂O), making it better suited to peppers — which fruit over a longer window and need more sustained nitrogen — and to aromatic herbs where high potash supports flavor and aroma intensity. For a stage-by-stage pepper feeding plan, see Best Fertilizer for Peppers.
Can I use this for basil, cilantro, parsley, and other soft herbs?
You can, but it's not our first recommendation. Soft leafy herbs like basil, cilantro, parsley, and mint generally benefit from more nitrogen relative to potassium during active growth — the high 40% K₂O here can push some leafy herbs toward early bolting. For those crops, Lettuce Fertilizer 8-15-36 is the better fit. 11-11-40 is best suited to the woody Mediterranean herbs — rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, marjoram, lavender, tarragon — where high potash supports the conditions associated with essential-oil expression. For a deeper read, see Best Fertilizer for Herbs.
What pH should I maintain?
pH requirements vary slightly between peppers and herbs. Peppers prefer hydroponic pH 5.8–6.2 during seedling and vegetative stages, and 5.8–6.3 during flowering and fruiting; soil pH 6.2–6.5 is the target for in-ground or raised-bed growing. Most culinary herbs generally prefer pH 6.2–6.8 in hydroponics, with slightly higher values acceptable for many species. Always check pH after mixing nutrients and adjust before feeding — pH directly affects nutrient availability, and outside these ranges key nutrients like iron and phosphorus can become locked out even when present in the solution.
Why doesn't this formula contain calcium?
Calcium and phosphate should not be mixed in concentrated stock solution — combining them directly can form insoluble calcium phosphate that becomes unavailable to plants. Since this formula contains 11% available phosphate (P₂O₅), calcium is best applied separately. Use Cal-Mag Plus 2-0-0 or Calcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0 as a separate addition — always add it to the reservoir first, before the 11-11-40, and pre-dissolve each independently before combining in the working solution.
How do I help reduce blossom end rot in peppers?
Blossom end rot (BER) is associated with insufficient calcium reaching the developing fruit — which, in most home-garden and hydroponic cases, is a transport-and-water-management problem rather than a soil calcium shortage. Inconsistent watering, big swings in soil moisture, warm root zones combined with high EC, and rapid vegetative growth that outpaces calcium uptake can all contribute even when calcium is present in the root zone.
This formula can be part of a reduced-BER approach: supplement with a dedicated calcium source (Cal-Mag Plus, Calcium Nitrate, or Gypsum) and maintain consistent, even watering — calcium uptake depends on steady moisture as well as availability.
Is this good for jalapeños, habaneros, and ghost peppers?
Yes. This formula is well suited to both sweet and hot pepper varieties. The high soluble potash (40% K₂O) supports the nutrient balance associated with strong pepper performance across all Capsicum species — from mild bells to superhot varieties like ghost, scorpion, and Carolina reaper — especially from flowering through fruit development when potassium demand peaks.
Can I use this in drip irrigation or fertigation?
Yes. Because this formula is 100% water-soluble, it works well in drip systems, inline injectors, and fertigation programs. Pre-dissolve completely in water before injecting, run at the correct dilution for your system, and always keep calcium products (Cal-Mag Plus or Calcium Nitrate) in a separate concentrated stock tank. Jar-test any unfamiliar combinations before running them through your irrigation lines. See the Application Rates section for drip fertigation rates.
How do I store the powder?
11-11-40 is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. Keep the bag sealed tight between uses and store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. If the powder clumps from moisture exposure, simply break it up before use — clumping does not affect efficacy or nutrient content. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Is this fertilizer safe for organic gardens?
This is a synthetic blended fertilizer — not OMRI listed. If you're certified organic or growing strictly to organic standards, you'll want to use mineral-based amendments instead: bone meal for phosphate and K-Mag for potassium and magnesium. For home gardens that aren't strictly organic, 11-11-40 is independently lab-tested for heavy metals with results consistently well below required limits, and is CDFA registered. For a complete micronutrient package, see Essential Micronutrients for Healthier Plants.
12 / Documents
Lab-tested.
State-registered.
The guaranteed analysis at a glance, plus the three documents you may want for your records, your buyer, or your certifier.
| Nutrient | Guaranteed Analysis |
|---|---|
| Total Nitrogen (N) | 11% |
| Available Phosphate (P₂O₅) | 11% |
| Soluble Potash (K₂O) | 40% |
| Micronutrients | Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu (EDTA-chelated); B, Mo (mineral) |
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