Pepper and Herb Fertilizer 11-11-40 | Chelated Micronutrients | Hydroponics, Soil & Foliar Application

Product facts & composition

Percentages are by weight of product. One pound supplies 181 g (0.40 lb) of potash (K₂O), 50 g (0.11 lb) of available phosphate (P₂O₅), and 50 g (0.11 lb) of nitrogen, of which about 95% is nitrate nitrogen. Labels state phosphorus and potassium as oxides; the solution figures above convert them to elements with P = P₂O₅ × 0.436 and K = K₂O × 0.830, because hydroponic recipes are written in elemental ppm. The potassium sulfate and ammonium sulfate also supply some sulfur, but the label guarantees none. The iron, zinc, manganese, and copper come from EDTA chelates; the boron and molybdenum come from boric acid and sodium molybdate. Weigh the product: this page assumes no weight for a spoonful.

Application rates & directions

Use one of three bases for feeding the roots: the label’s per-plant rate, a soil test’s potash recommendation for a bed or field, or a potassium target for a nutrient solution. The label also gives a foliar direction. Weigh the product. If the directions printed on your package differ from this page, contact us before applying.

Per plant: the label rates

The label gives the amounts as “3 grams or 1/2 teaspoon” per pepper plant and “1.5 grams or ¼ teaspoon” per herb plant. This page uses the weights, because the weight of a teaspoon of this product has not been measured; a kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 g is enough. The label gives no rate for plants in containers of potting mix; email us before using it there.

What the per-plant rate adds up to. Clemson Extension spaces peppers 12 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart, about 14,500 plants per acre. At that spacing each 3 g application supplies about 38 lb of potash per acre. For a whole season, the Mid-Atlantic recommendations call for 200 lb of potash per acre for peppers on soil testing low in potassium, 150 on medium, 100 on high, and none on very high, so on soil that tests high, a soil test may call for fewer applications. Herbs spaced a foot apart receive about 58 lb of potash per acre from each 1.5 g application; four such applications would supply about 230 lb, more than the Mid-Atlantic recommendations give parsley even on low-potassium soil, so on soil testing medium or higher use fewer applications or size the bed by a soil test. The label does not say which per-plant rate applies to celery and parsnip; size those by a soil test. For cilantro, dill, parsley, and other herbs sown thickly from seed, size the bed by a soil test instead.

Beds and fields: size it by a soil test

Formula. Pounds of product = pounds of potash (K₂O) your soil test recommends ÷ 0.40. Multiply by 453.6 for grams. The Mid-Atlantic recommendations broadcast and disk in the season’s potash for peppers before planting, or supply it through a drip fertigation schedule.

Mid-Atlantic figures are from the 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations; UF/IFAS figures are from its Florida fertilizer-management chapter (CV296, Mehlich-3 soil test: low 35 ppm or less, medium 36 to 60, high above 60). Soil-test labs define low, medium, and high differently, so use the recommendation printed on your own report, and apply no more potash than it calls for. Each pound of potash from this product also brings 0.28 lb of phosphate and 0.28 lb of nitrogen; on soils high in phosphorus, a potash-only source avoids adding phosphate the soil does not need.

Through drip irrigation. Use the same formula for each injection: pounds of product = pounds of K₂O to inject ÷ 0.40. For peppers on soils testing low in potassium with no potash applied before planting, UF/IFAS injects 1.5 to 2.5 lb of K₂O per acre per day depending on the week, with the same amount of nitrogen. At 2.5 lb of K₂O, that is 6.25 lb of product per acre per day, which supplies only 0.69 lb of the day’s 2.5 lb of nitrogen; the rest has to come from another source, such as calcium nitrate injected from its own tank.

Nitrogen and calcium come from other fertilizers

At the label’s per-plant rate, this product supplies only 0.33 g of nitrogen per pepper plant. University recommendations for peppers call for 100 to 180 lb of nitrogen per acre (Mid-Atlantic) or 200 lb (UF/IFAS). For home-garden peppers, Clemson Extension sidedresses calcium nitrate at ½ lb per 100 sq ft or per 30 ft of row, 3 to 4 weeks after planting, and the same amount 3 to 4 weeks later; the Calcium Nitrate page gives the same rates. Clemson adds that plants with a great deal of foliage but few blooms and fruit show over-fertilization with nitrogen. Herbs need less: Clemson Extension notes that basil should not be over-fertilized, because rapid growth reduces the flavor in the foliage. For calcium in soil, lime to the pH your soil test calls for, or use gypsum where calcium is low and pH is already on target, and keep the soil evenly moist; Clemson ties blossom-end rot in peppers to a calcium deficiency within the plant and advises keeping the soil uniformly moist, but not saturated.

Hydroponic solutions

Formula. Grams of product = (potassium target in ppm − potassium already in your water in ppm) × liters of final solution ÷ 332. Multiply US gallons by 3.785 to get liters. Dose it to the potassium target; calcium, magnesium, and most of the nitrogen come from other ingredients in a separate stock.

University of Florida IFAS grew bell peppers in composted pine bark under shade structures (HS368) on a solution of 80 ppm nitrogen, 50 ppm phosphorus, 120 ppm potassium, 150 ppm calcium, and 40 ppm magnesium from transplant to first flower, and 130 ppm nitrogen, 50 ppm phosphorus, 200 ppm potassium, 150 ppm calcium, and 50 ppm magnesium after first flower. Dosed to 200 ppm potassium, this product supplies the following:

Calcium and nitrogen. Calcium nitrate 15.5-0-0 adds 190 ppm calcium and 155 ppm nitrogen for each gram per liter. To reach 150 ppm calcium from water with 30 ppm, add 0.63 g per liter, which brings total nitrogen to about 164 ppm after first flower, above the solution’s 130; from water with no calcium, 0.79 g per liter brings it to about 189 ppm. Before first flower the gap is wider: with the potassium at 120 ppm, calcium nitrate for 150 ppm calcium from water with 30 ppm brings nitrogen to about 138 ppm against the solution’s 80. Calcium nitrate cannot raise calcium without raising nitrogen, so the more calcium it supplies, the further nitrogen runs above these targets; email us if you want to hold both. In its hydroponic tomato work, University of Florida IFAS keeps magnesium sulfate in the same stock as the premix, away from the calcium nitrate. Magnesium sulfate as Epsom salt is about 10% magnesium, so 0.5 g per liter adds about 50 ppm.

Micronutrients and phosphorus. At this dose the product supplies about as much iron and boron as the UF/IFAS pepper solution, more manganese and copper (about 1.5 times), zinc about 6 times, and about one-eighth of the molybdenum and three-fifths of the phosphorus. Do not add a micronutrient mix on top of it; add any micronutrient only if a water or plant tissue test calls for it. In a recirculating system, replace the solution on schedule rather than topping it up with more of this product, and email us if leaves show damage.

Potassium and calcium balance. University of Florida IFAS cautions that high potassium can interfere with a plant’s ability to absorb calcium and magnesium, and in its tomato work links excess potassium with blossom-end rot. Dose to your recipe’s potassium target rather than above it, and supply the calcium.

Separate stocks. Penn State Extension advises keeping calcium in a different stock tank from phosphates and sulfates, and University of Florida IFAS describes one tank of calcium nitrate and another of a premix without calcium. This product carries both phosphate and sulfate, so keep its concentrate apart from calcium nitrate or Cal-Mag.

Stock strength. The University of Florida IFAS tomato recipe dissolves 16 lb of a premix, plus 10 to 12 lb of magnesium sulfate, in a 30-gallon stock tank for injection at 1:100: about 64 g of premix per liter, or about 112 g per liter in all. A stock of this product for 200 ppm potassium at 1:100, from water with no potassium, is about 60 g per liter, or about 110 g per liter with magnesium sulfate for 50 ppm magnesium in the same tank. Dissolve it in warm water and check that nothing settles out; if it does, use a lower injector ratio, which makes a weaker stock (for example, 1:100 instead of 1:200).

pH, EC, and solution changes. University of Florida IFAS targets pH 5.8 to 6.2 in its hydroponic tomato guide, which it calls a suitable base for pepper solutions. Oklahoma State lists pH 5.5 to 6.0 and an EC of 0.8 to 1.8 mS/cm for hydroponic peppers, advises checking pH and EC daily, and replacing the solution completely every two weeks. For herbs it lists basil at EC 1.0 to 1.6 and pH 5.5 to 6.0, sage at 1.0 to 1.6 and 5.5 to 6.5, parsley at 1.8 to 2.2 and 6.0 to 6.5, and celery at 1.8 to 2.4 and pH 6.5. The UF/IFAS pepper table gives no EC; measure your own solution, follow one recipe’s targets, and track its EC over time. Dose herbs to your own recipe’s potassium target. For basil, Cornell’s Neil Mattson recommends 40 to 60 ppm magnesium in the nutrient solution, as reported by the e-GRO program. These are recipe and guide figures, not the only correct values for every system.

Foliar sprays: the label direction

The label says to dissolve 575 mg per pepper plant or 375 mg per herb plant in water, and that you could use as little as 1 cup of water. This page reads that as at least 1 cup for each plant’s dose, the strongest mix the label describes. For 12 pepper plants, that is 6.9 g in at least 12 cups (0.75 gallon) of water. Use more water, never less, and try the spray on a few plants before a whole planting. Keep calcium concentrates out of the spray tank.

Extension sources treat foliar feeding as a supplement. University of Minnesota Extension notes that most nutrients are taken up through the roots, and the Mid-Atlantic recommendations say it is generally difficult to supply ample major and secondary nutrients through the leaves. Keep the soil or solution program as the main source.

Calculator & choosing a size

Formulas. Per plant: grams of product = number of pepper plants × 3, or number of herb plants × 1.5. Beds by soil test: pounds of product = pounds of potash (K₂O) recommended for the area ÷ 0.40. Solutions: grams of product = (potassium target − potassium in your water, in ppm) × liters of final solution ÷ 332. Foliar: 0.575 g per pepper plant or 0.375 g per herb plant, each in at least 1 cup of water. Multiply pounds by 453.6 for grams.

Worked examples. 12 pepper plants at the label rate: 12 × 3 = 36 g per application, supplying 14.4 g of potash and 4.0 g of nitrogen; a 1 lb bag covers it and about 11 more applications like it. A 200 sq ft bed whose soil test recommends 3 lb of potash per 1,000 sq ft: 0.2 × 3 = 0.6 lb of K₂O, ÷ 0.40 = 1.5 lb (680 g) of product, supplying 75 g of phosphate and 75 g of nitrogen; a 2 lb bag covers it. A 50-gallon fresh batch of pepper solution at the UF/IFAS 200 ppm potassium target, from water with no potassium: 200 × 189.3 L ÷ 332 = 114 g of product, adding 66 ppm nitrogen and 29 ppm phosphorus; a 1 lb bag covers it, and calcium nitrate for 150 ppm calcium from water with 30 ppm is 119.5 g in the separate stock. A 30-gallon injector stock at 1:100 (3,000 gallons of final solution) at 200 ppm potassium, from water with 5 ppm: 14.7 lb (6,669 g) in the stock tank, 222 g per gallon of stock; a 25 lb bag covers it, and the calculator also shows any lower-price combination of smaller bags.

The calculator below asks how many pepper or herb plants you are feeding, how large your bed is and what potash your soil test recommends, the volume and potassium target of your nutrient solution, or how many plants you will spray. It applies the label’s rate or your test result, states the nutrients supplied, and recommends the smallest single bag that covers one application or batch, plus a lower-price bag combination when one exists. Prices, tax, and shipping are confirmed at checkout, and availability is confirmed when you add to cart.

Compare your options

Match the product to your crop and your soil or water test. Analyses are each product’s guarantee as shown on its page.

None of these contains calcium or magnesium. Each crop formula contains boron, so follow each product’s label for the crops it names.

Handling, storage & limitations

• Label caution. Keep out of reach of children. Harmful if swallowed. Avoid contact with eyes, open cuts, or sores. Avoid breathing dust. Wash thoroughly after handling.
• Protective equipment. The Safety Data Sheet recommends chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or natural rubber) and safety glasses with side shields, chemical splash goggles for bulk handling, and an N95 dust respirator in dusty conditions. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling it.
• Crop limits. The label warns that boron-containing fertilizers used on crops other than those recommended may cause serious injury, and that molybdenum can make forage toxic to ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Use it only on the crops the label names, and not on forage or pasture.
• Storage. Keep it in the original container, tightly sealed, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight; the Safety Data Sheet recommends 50 to 85°F. It absorbs moisture from the air; if it clumps, break it up before use, which does not affect its nutrient content. Store it away from heat, flammable or combustible materials, organic matter, acids, alkalis, and reducing agents. It contains potassium nitrate, an oxidizer that can intensify a fire involving combustibles.
• Spills and disposal. Sweep or vacuum spills without raising dust, and keep the product out of drains and waterways, where nitrate and phosphate can feed algae. Use leftover product as fertilizer at recommended rates. Triple-rinse empty containers, use the rinse water as dilute fertilizer, and dispose of the containers as local rules require.
• Use limits. Weigh every application, and follow one root-feeding basis at a time: per plant, soil test, or solution target. It is not a complete fertilizer and not a nitrogen, calcium, or magnesium source.
• First aid. Eyes: flush with clean, lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open, and remove contact lenses if easy to do; get medical attention if irritation, redness, or pain persists. Skin: remove contaminated clothing and wash with soap and water; get medical attention if irritation develops. Inhaled: move to fresh air; get medical attention if breathing difficulty persists. Swallowed: rinse the mouth, do not induce vomiting, give one to two glasses of water if the person is conscious, and contact Poison Control or a doctor.
• Emergency numbers from the Safety Data Sheet. CHEMTREC 1-800-424-9300 (US and Canada) or +1-703-527-3887 (international); Poison Control 1-800-222-1222.

Related guides & articles

• Calcium in Plants: Function, Deficiency & Fertilizers: why calcium moves with water, and why peppers can show blossom-end rot on the side of the fruit as well as the tip.
• What Does Potassium Do for Plants?: how potassium works in the plant, what a shortage looks like, and the main potash sources.
• Sulfate vs. Chelated Fertilizers: how chelated and sulfate forms of iron, zinc, manganese, and copper differ, and how soil pH affects them.

Articles give background. For this product, use the rates and documents on this page.

Help choosing & next step

Not sure whether to feed per plant or by soil test, or how to fit this product into a nutrient recipe? Email your crop, growing method, and soil or water test results to questions@greenwaybiotech.com, or call (562) 351-5168, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM Pacific, and we will work through it with you.

Ready to buy? Calculate your amount & choose a bag

Every order carries a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, and we pack and ship from Madera, California. You can also choose a package weight from the size selector at the top of this page.

Greenway Biotech, Inc. is a family-owned fertilizer company in Madera, California, blending and packaging specialty fertilizers and soil amendments since 1989.