Amid the full-scale implementation of China’s Rural Revitalization Strategy, the green transformation of vegetable production has become a vital pathway toward high-quality agricultural development. This study constructs a fertilizer application intensity index using panel data from 31 provincial-level regions between 2011 and 2023 to examine the spatiotemporal evolution and regional disparities in fertilizer use. By applying kernel density estimation, Theil index decomposition, global and local spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I and LISA), standard deviation ellipse modeling, and gravity center migration analysis, the study uncovers a dynamic restructuring of fertilization patterns. Results show that: (1) overall fertilizer intensity has declined, with a notable acceleration after the 2017 policy shift and increasing spatial concentration; (2) high-intensity clusters in eastern China have gradually contracted, while the central-northwestern region has emerged as a new hotspot; and (3) marked intraregional heterogeneity remains, especially in the form of persistent low-high outlier zones along regional boundaries. These findings point to a structural shift from spatial polarization toward coordinated convergence in fertilizer use, driven significantly by the Rural Revitalization Strategy. The study offers theoretical insights and empirical support for formulating region-specific strategies for sustainable agricultural development.