Herb-Specific Organic Formula

Best Organic Herb Fertilizer (8-3-5): Slow-Release Nutrition That Enhances Essential Oil Production & Herb Flavor Intensity Buy on Old Cobblers Farm

Herbs are grown for flavor — and flavor comes from essential oils. Sulfur from langbeinite enhances the sulfur-containing compounds in basil, cilantro, and garlic chives, while slow-release nitrogen produces steady leaf growth without the watery, diluted flavor that synthetic fast-feeding creates.

Updated April 2026 20 Products Compared By the Old Cobblers Farm Team

Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Organics Organic Herb Fertilizer

by Organic Fertilizer — Littleton, NH

8-3-5
N-P-K Ratio
"The herb specialist that prioritizes flavor over volume. Slow-release organic nitrogen produces concentrated, essential-oil-rich leaves instead of fast, watery growth. Sulfur and magnesium from langbeinite enhance the aromatic compounds that make herbs worth growing."
8-3-5
Organic NPK
160
Plants / 5 lb bag
S+Mg+Ca
Flavor-Building Nutrients
4 Sizes
5, 10, 15, 20 lbs
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Enhances Essential Oil Production

Sulfur from langbeinite is a building block of the sulfur-containing amino acids that produce essential oils in basil, cilantro, oregano, and all aromatic herbs. More sulfur = more intense flavor.

Slow Release = Concentrated Flavor

Fast synthetic nitrogen produces rapid, watery leaf growth that dilutes essential oil concentration. Slow organic release grows herbs at a natural pace — concentrated foliage packed with flavor compounds.

📏

Per-Plant Micro-Dosing

1 tablespoon per plant monthly — herbs are small and sensitive. This micro-dose rate prevents over-feeding while providing steady nutrition through the harvest season.

📦

160 Plants Per Bag

At 1 tbsp per plant, one 5 lb bag feeds approximately 160 individual herb plants per application. One bag can last a kitchen herb garden for an entire season.

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Sulfur + Magnesium + Calcium

Three secondary nutrients that most herb fertilizers lack entirely. Magnesium for chlorophyll, calcium for cell structure, sulfur for flavor compounds.

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Indoor & Outdoor Use

Same formula works for windowsill herb pots, outdoor kitchen gardens, raised beds, and greenhouse production. Per-plant dosing scales to any setup.

All Culinary Herbs

Basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, mint, dill, chives, lavender — every herb responds to slow organic feeding with more intense aroma and flavor.

🇺🇸

Trusted by 20,000+ Growers

Developed in Littleton, New Hampshire. Sold nationwide on Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and theoldcobblersfarm.com.

NPK Ratio8-3-5
Item FormGranular
Coverage~160 plants per 5 lb bag (per-plant rate)
CategoryOrganic Fertilizer
TypePlant-Specific Organic
Sizes5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb
NPK8-3-5
Nitrogen8% (animal protein)
Phosphorus3%
Potassium5% (langbeinite)
SecondarySulfur, Magnesium, Calcium
FormGranular
Rate1 tbsp / plant monthly
MethodSide-dress or planting hole
Sizes5, 10, 15, 20 lb bags
Best ForBasil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, all culinary herbs
What We Love
Sulfur enhances essential oil production and herb flavor intensity
Slow release produces concentrated, flavorful leaves — not watery growth
Per-plant micro-dosing — 1 tbsp monthly, won't overfeed herbs
160 plants per bag — season-long supply for kitchen gardens
Works for all culinary herbs, indoor and outdoor
Worth Noting
Animal by-product base — not for vegan-organic programs
Low application rate means not suitable for heavy-feeding vegetables
Buy on Old Cobblers Farm →
Available in 5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb
Feature Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Organics Organic Herb Fertilizer Old Cobblers Farm Bio-Turf Organic Fertilizer Down to Earth NatureStar All Purpose Organic Nelson Plant Food Garden-tone Herb & Vegetable Espoma Organic Organic 5 Tomato, Veg & Herb Dr. Earth Herb & Leafy Greens Food True Organic Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Kellogg Garden Herb Granular Fertilizer Jobe's Organics Performance Organics Edibles Miracle-Gro Organic Herb Fertilizer Urban Farmer Happy Frog Tomato & Veg FoxFarm Bio-Turf Down To Earth Herb Granular Jobe's Organics Home Grown Herb Fertilizer Dr. Earth Garden-Tone Espoma Herb & Leafy Greens Food True Organic Happy Herbs Organic Happy Nutrients Happy Frog All-Purpose FoxFarm Natural Organic All Purpose Burpee Stonington Blend Coast of Maine Plant-Tone Espoma
NPK 8-3-5 8-3-5 8-3-5 3-4-4 4-6-3 4-4-6 4-6-3 4-4-3 9-4-12 3-6-6 5-7-3 8-3-5 4-3-6 4-6-3 3-4-4 4-4-4 6-3.5-7 6-4-5 4-4-4 5-2-4 5-3-3
Form Granular
Coverage ~160 plants per 5 lb bag (per-plant rate) Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed
Price / Size 5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb $20-$60 $12-$63 $10-$25 $15-$30 $15 $10 $10-$18 $9-$20 $25-$85 $18-$22 $12-16 (4 lb) $7-10 (1 lb) $8-12 (4 lb) $8 (4 lb) $9-12 (4 lb) $15-20 (12 oz) $12-16 (4 lb) $10-13 (4 lb) $16-22 (4 lb) $11 (4 lb)
Our Take The herb specialist that prioritizes flavor over volume. Slow-relea...
The Competition

Bio-Turf Organic Fertilizer

by Down to Earth
8-3-5
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb, 25 lb
Price$20-$60

NatureStar All Purpose Organic

by Nelson Plant Food
8-3-5
N-P-K
Sizes3 lb, 40 lb
Price$12-$63

Garden-tone Herb & Vegetable

by Espoma Organic
3-4-4
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb, 8 lb
Price$10-$25

Organic 5 Tomato, Veg & Herb

by Dr. Earth
4-6-3
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb, 12 lb
Price$15-$30

Herb & Leafy Greens Food

by True Organic
4-4-6
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$15

Tomato, Vegetable & Herb

by Kellogg Garden
4-6-3
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$10

Herb Granular Fertilizer

by Jobe's Organics
4-4-3
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$10-$18

Performance Organics Edibles

by Miracle-Gro
9-4-12
N-P-K
Sizes1-2.5 lb
Price$9-$20

Organic Herb Fertilizer

by Urban Farmer
3-6-6
N-P-K
Sizes3-12 lb
Price$25-$85

Happy Frog Tomato & Veg

by FoxFarm
5-7-3
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$18-$22

Bio-Turf

by Down To Earth
8-3-5
N-P-K
Sizes4, 6, 25, 50 lb
Price$12-16 (4 lb)
IngredientsHydrolyzed feather meal, blood meal, meat meal, bone meal, langbeinite
OrganicOMRI, CDFA OIM

Herb Granular

by Jobe's Organics
4-3-6
N-P-K
Sizes1 lb, 4 lb
Price$7-10 (1 lb)
IngredientsBone meal, feather meal, processed manure, sulfate of potash; Biozome
OrganicOMRI Listed

Home Grown Herb Fertilizer

by Dr. Earth
4-6-3
N-P-K
Sizes1, 4 lb
Price$8-12 (4 lb)
IngredientsFish bone meal, alfalfa meal, feather meal, potassium sulfate; TruBiotic + mycorrhizae
OrganicOMRI, CDFA, NOP

Garden-Tone

by Espoma
3-4-4
N-P-K
Sizes4, 8, 18, 36 lb
Price$8 (4 lb)
IngredientsFeather meal, poultry manure, bone meal, alfalfa meal, greensand, sulfate of potash; Bio-tone
OrganicOIM Registered

Herb & Leafy Greens Food

by True Organic
4-4-4
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$9-12 (4 lb)
IngredientsPoultry manure, seabird guano, fish bone meal, soybean meal, sulfate of potash, crab/shrimp shell
OrganicOMRI, CDFA OIM

Happy Herbs Organic

by Happy Nutrients
6-3.5-7
N-P-K
Sizes12 oz
Price$15-20 (12 oz)
IngredientsKelp extract, sulfate, calcium, trace minerals; water-soluble powder
OrganicOrganic (not OMRI)

Happy Frog All-Purpose

by FoxFarm
6-4-5
N-P-K
Sizes4, 18, 50 lb
Price$12-16 (4 lb)
IngredientsFeather meal, fish meal, bat guano, sulfate of potash, humic acid; 20 species microbes
OrganicOMRI, CDFA OIM

Natural Organic All Purpose

by Burpee
4-4-4
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$10-13 (4 lb)
IngredientsComposted turkey litter, bone meal, feather meal, sulfate of potash; beneficial microbes
OrganicOMRI Listed

Stonington Blend

by Coast of Maine
5-2-4
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb
Price$16-22 (4 lb)
IngredientsLobster/crab shell, fish meal, kelp meal, worm castings, composted poultry manure
OrganicOMRI, MOFGA

Plant-Tone

by Espoma
5-3-3
N-P-K
Sizes4, 8, 18, 36, 50 lb
Price$11 (4 lb)
IngredientsFeather meal, poultry manure, bone meal, cocoa meal, cottonseed meal; Bio-tone
OrganicOIM Registered

🌿

Enhances Essential Oil Production

Sulfur from langbeinite is a building block of the sulfur-containing amino acids that produce essential oils in basil, cilantro, oregano, and all aromatic herbs. More sulfur = more intense flavor.

Slow Release = Concentrated Flavor

Fast synthetic nitrogen produces rapid, watery leaf growth that dilutes essential oil concentration. Slow organic release grows herbs at a natural pace — concentrated foliage packed with flavor compounds.

📏

Per-Plant Micro-Dosing

1 tablespoon per plant monthly — herbs are small and sensitive. This micro-dose rate prevents over-feeding while providing steady nutrition through the harvest season.

📦

160 Plants Per Bag

At 1 tbsp per plant, one 5 lb bag feeds approximately 160 individual herb plants per application. One bag can last a kitchen herb garden for an entire season.

Common Questions