10 10 10 Fertilizer
What the three tens mean, where this all-purpose feed earns its keep, and where I reach for something else.
10-10-10 fertilizer is a balanced, all-purpose feed carrying 10% each of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) by weight — the three numbers are the NPK ratio. The equal ratio makes it a versatile starter for vegetable beds, lawns, and general garden growth. A common rate is about 1 to 1.5 lb per 100 square feet worked into new beds, or side-dressed at 1 lb per 100 square feet for crops like tomatoes once fruit sets. It's quick-release, so it feeds fast and washes out fast; keep granules off foliage and water it in within a day. I built and tested our beds, and I treat 10-10-10 as a reliable default, not the right tool for every job.
What the Three Numbers Mean
Every bag of fertilizer carries three numbers, and 10-10-10 is the easiest one to read because all three match. They're the NPK ratio: the percentage by weight of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) — the three macronutrients plants need in the largest amounts. So a 50-pound bag of 10-10-10 contains 5 pounds of each, with the remaining weight made up of carrier and filler. The raised beds we recommend, I built, and I keep a bag of this on the shelf because it's the most predictable thing in the shed.