Liquid vs dry fertilizer & what your preference is

gregory · March 7, 2015

What is the consensus and does it really matter. No question we have to add fertilizer when it comes to containers

Say osmocote/vigoro vs a liquid fertilizer like miracle grow or another
Liquid product.

luigiwu · March 7, 2015

I've given a cup of 10-10-10 as a top dressing around planting time for each container.
starting halfway, I supplement with Flora Nova. I really REALLY want to try the masterblend fertilizer that mhgardner (youtube) uses - a coworker used it last year and I truly think his garden did 100% better... but I gotta use up what I have first. No sense in wasting... maybe...

guruofgardens · March 7, 2015

At transplant in the ground, I add some dry Tomato Tone or other to the hole. Once established, I fertilize with a diluted liquid every Friday, usually liquid kelp or Age Old's Seaweed and Kelp.

For containers, I use the diluted liquid after watering first every week. I tried a small amount of packaged bat guano on top of the container soil and it seemed to burn the plant. Will stick to the known liquid.

RayR · March 7, 2015

I'm partial to organics. I amend the containers in spring with Tomato-Tone or Plant-Tone and then at transplant and weekly after with mostly a liquid Fish/Kelp based fertilizer and Bio-Ag Ful-Humix. The combination has made a big difference in yield and quality especially for peppers.

Blueaussi · March 7, 2015

I use Tomato-tone at plant out and every other week during the season whether I'm planting in the ground or in containers. If I think any of the plants need more than that during heavy production or if they're stressed, I might give them a bit of dilute liquid fertilizer of some sort. I prefer organic, and I avoid anything that is high nitrogen for the peppers.

gregory · March 8, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueaussi

I use Tomato-tone at plant out and every other week during the season whether I'm planting in the ground or in containers. If I think any of the plants need more than that during heavy production or if they're stressed, I might give them a bit of dilute liquid fertilizer of some sort. I prefer organic, and I avoid anything that is high nitrogen for the peppers.

Will Tomatoe tone work in a soilless media

RayR · March 8, 2015

Soil by definition is based on sand, silt and clay as the primary components with organic matter as a smaller fraction. Most container mixes are considered soilless since they are based on peat or coir as primary components. Soilless mixes can harbor the soil life needed to turn organic fertilizers into plant available nutrients, so yes Tomato-Tone does work in soilless media.

augiedog55 · March 8, 2015

Ive used both.Fromm the 15-15-15 mix Carolin Phillips uses which works great to using texas tomato food. Of the two Im finding that the texas tomato food really works well .Last yr was awesome

Blueaussi · March 8, 2015

Like RayR said, yes, Tomato-tone works fine in soilless mixes. I use Fafard as a base for all my containers, and add in my compost or Stout Ollie's.

I keep hearing people talk about the Texas Tomato Food, though, and I'm thinking I might try it on a few plants and see what I think. I like to try a few new products or techniques each year.

Elagrow · March 12, 2015

Not to familiar with either of those, I know that Miracle grow though is not no miracle, you be better off just spitting on your plants and hoping they grow. I know I prefer liquids over granular, as they are easier to mix, and produce the same results if not better in a container setup.

I have never heard of Tomato-Tone, or Texas Tomato Food... I primarily use General Hydroponics, or FoxFarm's stuff, you can customize your mixture easily with both brands. They both work on a wide array of plants as well, from snow peas to tomatoes.

elight · March 14, 2015

After lots of trial and error, I think I've finally reached the conclusion that many others here have suggested... That you likely need BOTH. I tried going all-liquid this year with my containers and the plants have really suffered as a result. I'm sure it's possible, maybe just not given my schedule.

I've had a lot of luck in the past with a balanced (4-4-4 or 10-10-10) granular at plant-out and liquid fish fertilizer to promote foliage growth. I also just ordered Texas Tomato Food since the plants have begun fruiting. I do use a fertilizer injector in my drip system but will continue manually applying the high-N fish fertilizer to the not-fruiting plants.

shelleybean · March 14, 2015

I use both. Like so many others here, I use Tomato Tone every two weeks and on alternate weeks, I use Age Old Bloom.

drew51 · March 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregory

Will Tomatoe tone work in a soilless media

Yes, absolutely! Even soluble fertilizers need bacteria and soilless mixes are teeming with bacteria. Urea needs to be broken down by the enzyme urease
which bacteria supply, so even chemical fertilizers need bacteria. I myself would add 1 part compost to help supply bacteria and also is excellent to prevent root rot (extremely well documented). When pots dry completely the bacteria form spores, and within an hour of watering they are all back.
If you removed everything from the earth except bacteria everything here would be outlined. Everything! Cars, chairs, lamp poles....
For every cell your body makes you have 10 bacterial cells on you.
I could probably grow 20 to 30 species in a petri dish from a swab off of your hand.

Drew BSMT ASCP

joepertsx · March 14, 2015

I like kelp and fish emulsion

Worth1 · March 14, 2015

This year I used the rest of my 16-16-16 on the bamboo grove.
In the garden I just prayed it down with ladybug concentrated organic fertilizer.
It will be all that I use for the rest of the year.

This is what I used I have had it around for a while and have one gallon of the stuff.
The garden smells like an ocean fish factory and cow lot combined.

Please tell me what you think.
http://www.ladybugbrand.com/products/Johns-Recipe.asp

I also miked up a 50/50 blend of my own homemade compost and peat moss and spread it all over the top and mixed in some leaves and a little sand.
There are earth worms every where.
This is the first year the soil has looked so good.

Sorry I just realized this was in the container section.
Well I guess you could call a 12'X4'X12" raised bed a big container.

Worth

March 7, 2015	#1
gregory Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mobile zone 8 Posts: 83	Liquid vs dry fertilizer & what your preference is What is the consensus and does it really matter. No question we have to add fertilizer when it comes to containers Say osmocote/vigoro vs a liquid fertilizer like miracle grow or another Liquid product. __________________ Zone 8 Mobile AL

March 7, 2015	#2
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	I've given a cup of 10-10-10 as a top dressing around planting time for each container. starting halfway, I supplement with Flora Nova. I really REALLY want to try the masterblend fertilizer that mhgardner (youtube) uses - a coworker used it last year and I truly think his garden did 100% better... but I gotta use up what I have first. No sense in wasting... maybe... __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

March 7, 2015	#3
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	At transplant in the ground, I add some dry Tomato Tone or other to the hole. Once established, I fertilize with a diluted liquid every Friday, usually liquid kelp or Age Old's Seaweed and Kelp. For containers, I use the diluted liquid after watering first every week. I tried a small amount of packaged bat guano on top of the container soil and it seemed to burn the plant. Will stick to the known liquid. Last edited by guruofgardens; March 7, 2015 at 10:43 AM. Reason: Spelling

March 12, 2015	#10
Elagrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: West KY Zone 6b Posts: 92	Not to familiar with either of those, I know that Miracle grow though is not no miracle, you be better off just spitting on your plants and hoping they grow. I know I prefer liquids over granular, as they are easier to mix, and produce the same results if not better in a container setup. I have never heard of Tomato-Tone, or Texas Tomato Food... I primarily use General Hydroponics, or FoxFarm's stuff, you can customize your mixture easily with both brands. They both work on a wide array of plants as well, from snow peas to tomatoes. __________________ WAY TO GRO!

March 14, 2015	#12
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I use both. Like so many others here, I use Tomato Tone every two weeks and on alternate weeks, I use Age Old Bloom. __________________ Michele

March 7, 2015	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	I'm partial to organics. I amend the containers in spring with Tomato-Tone or Plant-Tone and then at transplant and weekly after with mostly a liquid Fish/Kelp based fertilizer and Bio-Ag Ful-Humix. The combination has made a big difference in yield and quality especially for peppers.

March 7, 2015	#5
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	I use Tomato-tone at plant out and every other week during the season whether I'm planting in the ground or in containers. If I think any of the plants need more than that during heavy production or if they're stressed, I might give them a bit of dilute liquid fertilizer of some sort. I prefer organic, and I avoid anything that is high nitrogen for the peppers.

March 8, 2015	#7
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Soil by definition is based on sand, silt and clay as the primary components with organic matter as a smaller fraction. Most container mixes are considered soilless since they are based on peat or coir as primary components. Soilless mixes can harbor the soil life needed to turn organic fertilizers into plant available nutrients, so yes Tomato-Tone does work in soilless media.

March 8, 2015	#8
augiedog55 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: oak grove mo Posts: 406	Ive used both.Fromm the 15-15-15 mix Carolin Phillips uses which works great to using texas tomato food. Of the two Im finding that the texas tomato food really works well .Last yr was awesome

March 14, 2015	#11
elight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 349	After lots of trial and error, I think I've finally reached the conclusion that many others here have suggested... That you likely need BOTH. I tried going all-liquid this year with my containers and the plants have really suffered as a result. I'm sure it's possible, maybe just not given my schedule. I've had a lot of luck in the past with a balanced (4-4-4 or 10-10-10) granular at plant-out and liquid fish fertilizer to promote foliage growth. I also just ordered Texas Tomato Food since the plants have begun fruiting. I do use a fertilizer injector in my drip system but will continue manually applying the high-N fish fertilizer to the not-fruiting plants.

March 14, 2015	#14
joepertsx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 4	I like kelp and fish emulsion

March 14, 2015	#15
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	This year I used the rest of my 16-16-16 on the bamboo grove. In the garden I just prayed it down with ladybug concentrated organic fertilizer. It will be all that I use for the rest of the year. This is what I used I have had it around for a while and have one gallon of the stuff. The garden smells like an ocean fish factory and cow lot combined. Please tell me what you think. http://www.ladybugbrand.com/products/Johns-Recipe.asp I also miked up a 50/50 blend of my own homemade compost and peat moss and spread it all over the top and mixed in some leaves and a little sand. There are earth worms every where. This is the first year the soil has looked so good. Sorry I just realized this was in the container section. Well I guess you could call a 12'X4'X12" raised bed a big container. Worth Last edited by Worth1; March 14, 2015 at 03:43 PM.