I started gardening in earnest in the mid-70s and spent lots of time studying gardening books. I am positive that in those days a "balanced" fertilizer simply meant one that contained all three major macronutrients, NPK, but not necessarily in equal proportions. The term "balanced" was to distinguish it from common organic substances previously used that provided primarily single nutrients, like manure, bone meal, blood meal, rock phosphate, etc. It's only in the last, oh, 15 years or so that I see it defined as equal percentages.

Do any other oldtimers remember this?

That's about the same time my gardening interest really got going - unfortunately I don't remember knowing what "balanced fertilizer" was, must have been leaving that to my now-ex husband, who had studied soil science in college.

I agree with you Zoe. Balanced fertilizer just meant it had all the pieces plus some micronutrients. The balanced part was the ingredients were in the right proportions to get the job done as plants don't actually use nutrients evenly. Have you ever looked at a Mulder's Chart? Way too many interactions between nutrients to think everything in equal parts is what plants need. But I can also see the appeal as plants have been sorting nutrients from soil for forever so they can probably pick and choose from the 10-10-10 - so much easier than trying to pick the right fertilizer. Most plants will do just fine with 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.

Thanks for your recollection. I don't suppose it's all that important, except that when I recommend a balanced fertilizer, I don't necessarily mean ratio 1:1:1. Just felt like venting that.

I hadn't seen Mulder's chart although I am aware of several of those interactions. Great visual, good info, many thanks!

I've paid much more attention to fertilizer since I started container gardening...which was also when I moved to this high desert with high calcium, high pH soil and a climate that fries organic matter in a flash. IMO, growing in pots takes a little more feeding precision.