growing medium for container grown tomatoes

KazooGal · June 23, 2011

I'm so frustrated trying to grow tomatoes in containers-they don't seem to thrive at all. Can anyone share with me a recipe for a good growing medium for pots? I've got a tomato that needs a larger pot soon!

beatpoet · June 23, 2011

I do all my gardening in Containers and so far things are going pretty well. I used Promix for about half my plants and the Miracle Gro Organic choice for the other half. Added perlite to the ones with the MG potting mix. I also mix in some Tomato Tone and Bone Meal prior to transplanting.

KazooGal · June 23, 2011

Thanks for the suggestions! I will try adding bone meal to the medium (Miracle Gro Garden Soil). Have hopes for tomatoes this summer...

jdmfish · June 23, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazooGal

I'm so frustrated trying to grow tomatoes in containers-they don't seem to thrive at all. Can anyone share with me a recipe for a good growing medium for pots? I've got a tomato that needs a larger pot soon!

Do you have a local hydroponics store or nursery near by?

I do, and have been using Fox Farm Happy Frog soil mixed with Farmer D planting mix (compost and pine bark). I've also used the Organicare line of soils and really like them for premixed soils.

Figured I'm spending $1-$2 more a cubic foot for premixed than if I did it myself, but would have to fork out much more money up front if I bought all the things myself and mixed it.

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · June 23, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazooGal

Thanks for the suggestions! I will try adding bone meal to the medium (Miracle Gro Garden Soil). Have hopes for tomatoes this summer...

Make sure you use the Miracle Gro potting mix that is for containers and not the heavy bags of garden soil.

Craig

KazooGal · June 23, 2011

Garden Soil is already in the pot. I have perlite I could add to lighten it up. Think it will work?

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · June 23, 2011

Garden soil is for sure not the preferred mix to use in containers, I have seen a few posts of people having mixed results but I would never use it in a container situation.

Craig

KazooGal · June 23, 2011

Thanks for the suggestions- I will check online tonight!

**nctomatoman** · June 23, 2011

I have really good success using the following - I layer 1- 2.5 cu ft bag of Miracle Gro potting MIX, then a 25 lb bag of composted cow manure, then another MG, then another cow manure, in my big wheel barrow. when I fill the pots, I just take from the bottom and scoop up - gives me the appropriate mix. Was shocked to see that the local Home ★★★★★ cut the price of the MG mix from 13.50 to 9.50 per bag - and the composted manure ( I use Moo Nure) is about 2.50 per bag.

Still, for this season, I've gone through 40 bags of each - good thing my plants are all loaded up (otherwise the cost per tomato will be astronomical!).

And I use fresh mix in bleached pots each year - the mix in the pots at the end of the season goes into a pile to be used for the flower garden and non-tomato areas of the bigger veggie garden.

KazooGal · June 23, 2011

wow- 40 bags of each component-sounds like you live in the country! I've decided to empty the pot of the garden soil and replace it with more appropriate medium- a mixture of potting soil, manure, and bone meal. Thank you for sharing your information!

jdmfish · June 24, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazooGal

wow- 40 bags of each component-sounds like you live in the country! I've decided to empty the pot of the garden soil and replace it with more appropriate medium- a mixture of potting soil, manure, and bone meal. Thank you for sharing your information!

Might want to pick up some perlite too. And start with low amounts in case the manure is "hot", not properly aged, or holds too much water. Perlite will help cut the medium so it drains a little better, or you can get fine/small particle size composted bark (if you can find it).

This too, is also a good thread/FAQ about mediums for containers.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...24775.html?130

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · June 24, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazooGal

wow- 40 bags of each component-sounds like you live in the country! I've decided to empty the pot of the garden soil and replace it with more appropriate medium- a mixture of potting soil, manure, and bone meal. Thank you for sharing your information!

I think your plant will be allot happier.

Craig

KazooGal · June 24, 2011

I've got perlite-thanks!

dice · June 24, 2011

Why is the potting MIX better than the potting SOIL? Air space in
the growing medium.

This is why it is important (the poster being replied to is describing
the root behavior of "living mulch", but the same principles apply to
tomato roots in containers; potting MIX has a lot more air space than
potting SOIL, so does not stay water logged as long after you water or
after it rains):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/p...ry/007522.html

A scientific explanation of the characteristics of good container mix:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cn004

June 23, 2011	#1
KazooGal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 6	growing medium for container grown tomatoes I'm so frustrated trying to grow tomatoes in containers-they don't seem to thrive at all. Can anyone share with me a recipe for a good growing medium for pots? I've got a tomato that needs a larger pot soon!

June 23, 2011	#2
beatpoet Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 214	I do all my gardening in Containers and so far things are going pretty well. I used Promix for about half my plants and the Miracle Gro Organic choice for the other half. Added perlite to the ones with the MG potting mix. I also mix in some Tomato Tone and Bone Meal prior to transplanting. __________________ "After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley

June 23, 2011	#3
KazooGal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 6	potting soil Thanks for the suggestions! I will try adding bone meal to the medium (Miracle Gro Garden Soil). Have hopes for tomatoes this summer...

June 23, 2011	#9
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I have really good success using the following - I layer 1- 2.5 cu ft bag of Miracle Gro potting MIX, then a 25 lb bag of composted cow manure, then another MG, then another cow manure, in my big wheel barrow. when I fill the pots, I just take from the bottom and scoop up - gives me the appropriate mix. Was shocked to see that the local Home ★★★★★ cut the price of the MG mix from 13.50 to 9.50 per bag - and the composted manure ( I use Moo Nure) is about 2.50 per bag. Still, for this season, I've gone through 40 bags of each - good thing my plants are all loaded up (otherwise the cost per tomato will be astronomical!). And I use fresh mix in bleached pots each year - the mix in the pots at the end of the season goes into a pile to be used for the flower garden and non-tomato areas of the bigger veggie garden. __________________ Craig

June 24, 2011	#14
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Why is the potting MIX better than the potting SOIL? Air space in the growing medium. This is why it is important (the poster being replied to is describing the root behavior of "living mulch", but the same principles apply to tomato roots in containers; potting MIX has a lot more air space than potting SOIL, so does not stay water logged as long after you water or after it rains): http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/p...ry/007522.html A scientific explanation of the characteristics of good container mix: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cn004 __________________ -- alias

June 23, 2011	#7
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	Garden soil is for sure not the preferred mix to use in containers, I have seen a few posts of people having mixed results but I would never use it in a container situation. Craig