Question
What is the best type of fertilizer to use in order to promote vegetable growth in a garden? We have been getting solid roots and plants, but the number of vegetables has been lacking over the last few years.

Answer
The best vegetable fertilizer is a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, 20-20-20, 14-14-14. You can also use a high potassium fertilizer such as 10-10-20, 5-5-10, etc. The extra potassium is in particular usefull for veggies. Another option is to fertilize regularily with 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 and then side dress once or twice with a dusting of 0-0-50 (sulfate of potash). The latter is available in small 5 lbs bags at garden centers, usually in the organic isle (look for ESPOMA brand for example)

The key to good vegetables in the first place is to amend the soil annually with plenty of well decomposed compost. Improving the amount of organic matter in the soil is your first and primary step. Fertilizer should be used when growing vegetables, but the difference between good and excellent vegetables you get from good organic matter content, regular watering, and following directions (timing/amount) of fertilizers on the lables.

Avoid lawn fertilizers (such as 29-3-4) and high phosphorus flowering fertilizers (10-50-10).