Of the two 10-10-10 would be better. An NPK ratio of 1-2-1 is most desirable. Even 10-10-10 is a bit too high in nitrogen.

Thanks, Farmerdilla. Is 1-2-1 generally available? I've been searching for a low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer and was thrilled to find the 10-10-10. It's the best I've seen so far.

Maybe liquid isn't the way to go, but I thought it would give me more control.

I don't care for the quick acting liquid formulations except for jump starting a plant that is obviously in need. I prefer to use a granular 5-10- 5 as preplant on beans. However most all purpuse fomulations will have a 1-2-1 ration plus have micronutrients. The standard all purpose Miracle Gro is the best known. Peters also makes a similar product.

I should have thought of 5-10-5; it's what my late husband used when we grew a huge vegetable garden. I may still have some........does it break down with age? It's probably 15 years old. This is probably the wrong time to use it, but I could think about it for next year.

I'm writing this from work, but my recollection is the 24-8-16 I mentioned above was standard Miracle Gro.

24-8-16 will not be good to use for pole beans.It will induce vegetative growth in pole beans and any other beans since beans are equipped to use Nitrogen from the air by producing nitrogen nodules for it's Nitrogen need.

Miracle Gro Bloom Booster is 15-30-15, a concentrate that is diluted greatly with water before applying to plants. Beans need P but not so much nitrogen. There are many foliar fertizers that very heavy in nitrogen. The organic version of Miracle Gro is 7-2-1. You are correct currently all purpose Miracle Gro is 24-8-16 which would not be good for beans. I still have some bought years ago when it was 15-30-15 in the general purpose versions. About the only time I ever use it is to counter transplant shock.