Low Nitrogen meaning/fertilizers

I have read many times, that some plants, at some point, need low nitrogen type fertilizer. Then they say, find a fertilizer that the Nitrogen number is lower than the rest. I don't understand how that is considered low nitrogen?? For example, a 7-6-9 fertilizer for fruits and vegetables?! I understand that the number is the percentage of each...but I don't understand, for example, cantaloupe, you don't want Nitrogen when the fruit sets....but products or whatever will still have a number like the 7-6-9 and they will call that low nitrogen?!?! Can someone please help or explain this to me, please?

Thanks

I guess it's low nitrogen compared to other formulations, but it seems more like a balanced general maintenance fertilizer to me.

It's been a looong time since I bought fertilizer, but what I recall is that a formula that encourages blooming and fruit production will have a phosophorous number that is multiples of the nitrogen number.

All of this can be done with organic/natural components of course.

I can never remember what those numbers mean.

As Douglas suggested it has been a long time since I bought fertilizer.

The permie's solution is found in these threads:

https://permies.com/t/4876/Urine-fertilizer

https://permies.com/t/124085/Diluted-Urine-Fertilizer

And there is a PEP Badge Bit (BB):

https://permies.com/wiki/113116/pep-greywater-willow-feeders/Give-Urine-Growies-PEP-BB

Brandon Hitchner wrote:... I don't understand, for example, cantaloupe, you don't want Nitrogen when the fruit sets

What do you want?

Yes, I understand that when you want lots of green leafy growth, nitrogen helps that. I also understand that many plants will just keep producing green leaves instead of focusing on fruit.

But have you tried researching cantaloupe to find out what chemicals would help support fruit growth? I suspect water, heat and sunshine would be high on the plant's list. Does the plant need added "fertilizer" at all?  Or would it benefit more from microbial friends? (Which can be introduced through using worm compost as they poop a lot of microbes, apparently.)

Douglas mentions phosphorus. Bones are high in phosphorus and we mostly char any bones from the kitchen in our wood stove and then add them directly to the soil, or to our compost. There's also a little bit of phosphorus in egg shells which we also dry, crush and add to our garden beds. However it can possibly affect pH due to other things in eggshells.

Sometimes I think "fertilizer" isn't as helpful as the publicity suggests. I've read that it really hurts the cooperation between soil micro-organisms and plants which normally do a lot of give and take, and fertilizer is like junk food that tastes great, but lacks the nutritional depth represented by micronutrients provided by healthy soil.

This were helpful posts. Just to clarify and add a little more context...I plan on going COMPLETELY natural/organic or whatever you may label it. I plan on using bones, feathers, worms, blood, the thing....but I guess I just didn't understand a clear definition of "low nitrogen", just based on the definitions I got from searches. I spoke with a friend a little after I posted this....and she had suggested/she does compost and relies just on that (she's adamantly against all box chain stuff etc.), and I basically won't have access to such things either, since I will be far off grid and not near a road system. So it goes to say, I could be looking at the wrong thing (the numbers) rather than specific nutrients that are needed. Sorry I came with the "store" type of questions...I felt like the number system isn't really needed...just need specific amendments, for specific situations....which can also be an answer to my question...I guess I didn't understand the general part to "low nitrogen"....it was always an odd explanation

Brandon Hitchner wrote: Sorry I came with the "store" type of questions...I felt like the number system isn't really needed...just need specific amendments, for specific situations....which can also be an answer to my question...I guess I didn't understand the general part to "low nitrogen"....it was always an odd explanation

Hey Brandon, no worries! The numbering system -- hard and measureable numbers of N-P-K -- can be actually quite useful, even when fully organic materials are used. These are points to navigate by.

We just try to use obviously available materials to achieve these same amendments, trying to mimick what natural systems do.