QUESTION: Do I need to fertilize if I use compost?
ANSWER: In general, yes, in most cases, you will still need to fertilize the soil according to your crop’s feeding requirements if you used compost to amend the soil before planting. Compost is not technically a fertilizer, but it does provide the soil with nutrients which will feed growing plants similar to a fertilizer. Fertilizer contains a higher percentage of nutrients than compost but less fertilizer is added to the soil than compost.
Compost works as an organic fertilizer for gardeners who are trying to avoid using chemical fertilizers and can sometimes be used instead of fertilizer to feed plants throughout the growing season. However, compost doesn’t meet the minimum percentage of nutrients that are required for it to be technically considered a fertilizer.