Potting Mix for 5 gallon bucket tomatoes - Page 3

Rockporter · May 10, 2012

LOL, yes I do believe I have confused my blue storage container SWC's with my 5 gallon buckets.

Elliot · May 10, 2012

What is wrong with miracle grows moisture control? HD is having a sale on it and I bought ten bags .I'll mix it with composted manure as well as perlite.

Rockporter · May 10, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elliot

What is wrong with miracle grows moisture control?

If you are using Self Watering Containers the mix will be too wet for the roots and smother them.

Sun City Linda · May 10, 2012

I think Miracle Grow Mosture Control is now based on peat moss, which is good for SWC. Manures and compost defeat the wicking action and, as Rockporter said, too much and the mix turns into a soupy mess.

Vinny · May 16, 2012

you can use a little cow manure compost in 5 gallon buckets. My mix is something like 4/5 potting mix 1/5 compost. I add some dolomite lime and that's about it. I've never had issues with root rot or anything other than the fungus I fight with plants all over the garden. if anything my buckets dry out a little fast. that's likely just true due to the heat here and the buckets being fairly small. They seem to drain just fine though. I'm only using 1 bucket this year but I grew in 2 last year, all three pretty successfully. I think I'm going to grow tomatillos in them for the fall since they seem so hardy (they took over my raised beds last year and I had to keep cutting them back).

May 10, 2012	#31
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	LOL, yes I do believe I have confused my blue storage container SWC's with my 5 gallon buckets. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

May 10, 2012	#32
Elliot Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hicksville, New York Posts: 503	What is wrong with miracle grows moisture control? HD is having a sale on it and I bought ten bags .I'll mix it with composted manure as well as perlite.

May 10, 2012	#34
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	I think Miracle Grow Mosture Control is now based on peat moss, which is good for SWC. Manures and compost defeat the wicking action and, as Rockporter said, too much and the mix turns into a soupy mess.

May 16, 2012	#35
Vinny Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Homosassa, FL Posts: 63	you can use a little cow manure compost in 5 gallon buckets. My mix is something like 4/5 potting mix 1/5 compost. I add some dolomite lime and that's about it. I've never had issues with root rot or anything other than the fungus I fight with plants all over the garden. if anything my buckets dry out a little fast. that's likely just true due to the heat here and the buckets being fairly small. They seem to drain just fine though. I'm only using 1 bucket this year but I grew in 2 last year, all three pretty successfully. I think I'm going to grow tomatillos in them for the fall since they seem so hardy (they took over my raised beds last year and I had to keep cutting them back).