Potting Mix for 5 gallon bucket tomatoes

swinefka · May 9, 2012

Ok I am just a little confused about something on the mix for tomatoes. Alot of different places that I have read where people grow tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets say the use compost manure as one of their ingredients for their soil is very healthy for the tomatoes and give nutrients that the plant needs. But I have also read that you do not want to use manure compost in the 5 gallon buckets because it retains too much water and will suffocate the roots.
I need to know what is true so I know what to use because I will be transferring my plants to 5 gallon bucket in less than a week and want to get it right. Listed below is what I have right now for mix and this is what I was going to use for the tomoatoes.

Miracle Grow potting mix
Spagnum peat
Perlite
Manure compost in the bags

This was going to be in my mixture for each bucket, so would this be bad or good? And if not good with the compost can I get away with the top 3 instead and at what ratio? Thanks for all of the advice.

May 9, 2012	#1
swinefka Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gilberts, Illinois Posts: 27	Potting Mix for 5 gallon bucket tomatoes Ok I am just a little confused about something on the mix for tomatoes. Alot of different places that I have read where people grow tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets say the use compost manure as one of their ingredients for their soil is very healthy for the tomatoes and give nutrients that the plant needs. But I have also read that you do not want to use manure compost in the 5 gallon buckets because it retains too much water and will suffocate the roots. I need to know what is true so I know what to use because I will be transferring my plants to 5 gallon bucket in less than a week and want to get it right. Listed below is what I have right now for mix and this is what I was going to use for the tomoatoes. Miracle Grow potting mix Spagnum peat Perlite Manure compost in the bags This was going to be in my mixture for each bucket, so would this be bad or good? And if not good with the compost can I get away with the top 3 instead and at what ratio? Thanks for all of the advice. Last edited by swinefka; May 9, 2012 at 02:26 PM.