You could apply a time-release fertilizer at the time you plant and save yourself all that trouble! Dynamite has one general fertilizer that lasts 9 months (though less than that when the weather is hot).

dipping your cup down a 5 gal pail?

As in a liquid?

Some crops require side dressing at specific times in their growth - corn comes to mind - regardless of what you use at planting time. But most do it with a granular fertilizer of some kind, not a liquid. Liquids wash right out of the soil.

You just run a shallow trench with a hoe down the side of the row about 6" out from the plants. Watch out you don't get too close that you damage roots. Lay in the recommended amount of fertilizer (per label directions) and lightly rake or hoe it into the soil while covering it. Watering and rain gradually deliver it down to the root level.

Dave

I also use a granular. Easiest way I have found is to use an empty Kraft hard cheese "shaker". The one in my refrigerator says Parmesan. (8 oz.)

Holds a pound of my fertilizer, lid unscrews to enable filling with fertilizer, half the top flips up, leaving shaker holes perfect for dispensing fertilizer.

I grow almost all crops on raised rows, so digging a trench six inches away from the plants is not practical. I do have an irrigation drip tube "groove" running down each row, close to the plants. This is where I target my sprinkling of the fertilizer. Never saw any sign it damaged the roots. In fact, I want it to reach the roots before the wind blows it away.

Tomatoes and peppers actually sit in a shallow depression on top of a slightly raised mound. The depression is the size of the cage. On these, I generally sort of toss a measured amount over the entire area within the cage.

I was meaning granular fert. I generally sprinkle it in between the rows with a coffee can and 5 gal bucket. Then I end up with fertilizer all over my hands. Plus It seems wasteful as I cant imagine how the plants can take it in 15" away. My tiller is 23", So I put my rows 30" O.C. The Parmesian cheese shaker sounds like an idea. I was also thinking something with a spout, like a 1/2 gal. container of tropicana orange juice.

"I cant imagine how the plants can take it in 15" away"

You would be amazed at how deep and wide a plant will spread its roots.

Check this web-book out:

Here is a link that might be useful: Root development of vegetable crops

Yes while 15 inches is much further than recommended it will still help the plants.

But it also wastes more fertilizer than if you can get it closer into the row of plants. If your rows are 30" on center then run a strip of fert down both of the outside edges of the path, run the tiller down the center and it will turn the dirt over onto the fert strips.

As for a container to use (sorry missed that before), buy one of the cheap plastic sprinkle cans, one that has a screw off rose on the spout and a large top opening for filling. Remove the rose and saw off the tip so you have about a 1 1/2" opening. Fill the can with granular fert and then pour it in a narrow strip down the trench. Pace your walk down the row so that you get the amounts right.

Dave

Thanks Dave, That sounds a lot better than the coffee can trick I got from Dad.