Fertilizer/Calcium/Magnesium

[Zeus123]

Hello All!

First post here!

Intro-Present: This is my 1st year growing tomato's (normally grow 40 peppers) and I have 10 all in containers. Containers are 10 gallon for the determinate's (3) and 18 gallon for the indeterminate's (7). My soil ph looks in line as per recommendations and I have been feeding them regularly with fox farm grow big. They all have some 10-10-10 pellets mixed into the soil prior to planting and I have also treated the soil with a bit of lime and bone meal.

Questions:
1) Obviously the fox farm has become too expensive (just wanted to give them a light nutrient in the beginning) and I'm now looking into a more cost effective water soluble fertilizer for the remainder of the season. Is there something you would recommend?

2) I've read a bit into bumping up the calcium and magnesium to support health and prevent disease. Is there a product that you would recommend adding along with the weekly fertilizer? I saw 'Botanicare Cal Mag', but I'm worried this will also become expensive in the long run.

Appreciate the feedback!

Thanks!

Zeus

[dmforcier]

What soil are you using in the containers? If it's just what you dug out of the garden, then you're going to have problems with drainage.

Where in GA?

[Zeus123]

The dwarf's are in miracle grow potting soil and the intdet.'s are in garden soil mixed with lime, a little regular soil, some slow acting fert, and some bone meal.

[dmforcier]

MG "Potting" Soil is misnamed. It's like a good garden dirt, which is generally inappropriate for containers. It compacts and doesn't drain well. You can MG Potting Mix, which is a different animal. Well draining and lots of perlite for root aeration. Doesn't need adjusting with lime, either.

Are these the same methods that you used for peppers?

[Zeus123]

No, i should mention that i moved over the last growing season and left all my precious beds. Decided to do whatever I can to have a harvest this year and tossed everything in containers. Just ordered a gallon of TTF along with a pink berkeley tie dye and a green zebra which wont be delivered until 5/15 (hopefully not too late for a GA growing season). This puts me at 12 tomato plants. I'll take pictures and post here as soon as the rain passes.

Zeus