I've been using fish fertilizer, but it is expensive. I never use bug sprays, so that is not a problem, But was wondering if my veggies would be less healthy if I switch to synthetic fertilizer?

Thanks

Would your veggies be less healthy if you used it instead of an organic source of nitrogen? No. Plants are incapable of telling or caring where their essential nutrients originate.

Choosing organic or synthetic nutrient sources is something plant growers sometimes care about, but the plants don't care.

If you are growing in the ground as opposed to containers you also have the soil to consider. Synthetic nutrients don't feed the soil critters and it's the soil critters that aggregate soil particles to improve tilth. That would be one example of a reason to prefer organic matter to synthetics, but you can always have a hybrid approach where some nutrients are supplied with synthetics and you also incorporate organic matter into or on top of the soil.

If so, I will pass on it. My soil is full of worms, don't want to hurt them.

Would good plant based compost replace the synthetic fertilizer?

vegetables take nitrogen from whatever source - it could be ammonium nitrate or leprechaun urine - after the soil bacteria convert the nitrogen-containing compound to N2.

They won't care. However, it's a strong source of nitrogen and you have to use it sparingly.

Di-hydrogen monoxide kills more plants than anything else.

The biggest aspect of organic and chemical fertilizers has to be the solubility. In water it becomes a part of the ground and surface water thus available to plants.

Organic fertilizers for the most part are in the inorganic form requiring biologicial and chemical action to make them plant available. This means that in plant material form they need decomposition. In compound form they need the chemical action of separation. In these forms they remain fairly stable within the soil versus leaching or escape as gases.

The processed chemical forms rely on the solubility to become plant available. So much depends on the temperature, moisture and incorporation with soil.

The chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) give a rapid shot of available nitrogen which initiates rapid growth. The growth rate undoubtably exceeds the plants ability to take up the other nutrients, particularly the balance of trace minerals that are essential for full plant development. In this case the high nitrogen results in maximum growth as carbohydrates and low protein. [Actually varies with differing soils and total rainfall.]

High carbohydrates are the foods of weeds, pests and diseases. The resulting infestations leads to counter measures, usually more chemicals as herbicides, pesticide, etc.

Many of the soil organisms are sensitive to this spectrum of chemicals. Loss of soil organisms further reduces the natural cycles (nutrient and decomposition) that provide minerals and nutrients to the plants.

The organic fertilizers essentially become a part of the natural cycles versus replacing it. The soil organisms provide the biological and chemical processes that make the organic fertility available in the soil solution.

Plants also play a part in the process. Roots do exude nutrients for the community based on their needs and desires. Think of it as a order from the menu. These exudes stimulate members of the soil community that work specifically on particular soil components; bacteria for decompostion or fungi for mineral provision. That is as simple as I can put it into words.

One of the key advantages to organic fertilizer is the slower release or availability, often over years versus weeks or months. Organic does not rely on the single source. Check out "Sources of Nitrogen on Organic Farms"

So it sounds like it is poisonous to the things that live in the soil? Does that sum up ammonium nitrates biggest problem?

It won't harm the soil critters at all when used in doses recommended. One of the myths floating around organic circles is that the use of synthetic nutrient sources will kill the soil life. This doesn't happen and it's been studied to death. What leads to the death of soil life is not adding organic matter to the soil. If one depends only upon synthetic fertilizer and never adds organic matter to the soil, problems will result eventually in terms of soil life and probably tilth if the area is regularly disturbed with plowing or tilling.

Would good plant based compost replace the synthetic fertilizer?

For most nutrients yes, but for plants that require a fairly heavy amount of nutrients to perform up to our expectations it can be difficult to find composted products containing enough nitrogen.

What I typically use for nitrogen supplementation is soybean meal. I get it at a nearby co-op. I use this to fertilize my lawn as well as add extra nitrogen for plants I believe will benefit from it. It's around 48% protein which after biological processing is around 7% nitrogen. Alfalfa meal, corn meal and other grains are also suitable, although I don't believe any other grain has as much protein and thus nitrogen as soybean meal does.