I've come to the conclusion...

[Jetstar]

Yes I've come to the conclusion that container gardening requires application of balanced fertilizer more often than in ground growing. Trying to grow tomatoe, peppers or winter squash without application of fertilizer will lead to frustration of small yields and small fruits, learned that lesson last year! Today I applied a water soluble mix of 15 30 15 for the 2nd time in my 6 week old container garden, after 4 weeks the initial amendments that I added before planting (10-10-10, lime and Epsom salt in addition to Jobes tomato spikes) I added the 15 30 15 fertilizer. I give each grow bag a top feed of 1/2 gallon of mix, so far no signs of over application are showing up. If this feeding shedule works out I'll continue to fertilize every 2 weeks. I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this with positive results, and if those who have done additional application of fertilizer during the growing stage have any advice or opinions? Here's the latest pics of my plants

[greenthumbomaha]

Originally Posted by Jetstar

Yes I've come to the conclusion that container gardening requires application of balanced fertilizer more often than in ground growing. Trying to grow tomatoe, peppers or winter squash without application of fertilizer will lead to frustration of small yields and small fruits, learned that lesson last year! Today I applied a water soluble mix of 15 30 15 for the 2nd time in my 6 week old container garden, after 4 weeks the initial amendments that I added before planting (10-10-10, lime and Epsom salt in addition to Jobes tomato spikes) I added the 15 30 15 fertilizer. I give each grow bag a top feed of 1/2 gallon of mix, so far no signs of over application are showing up. If this feeding shedule works out I'll continue to fertilize every 2 weeks. I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this with positive results, and if those who have done additional application of fertilizer during the growing stage have any advice or opinions? Here's the latest pics of my plants

For inground I'm overly stingy with fertilizer. I add Tomato Tome or similar granular and a hunk of Black Cow compost and hang back till mid-late summer. Containers start out the same way with if the mix is free of fertilizers. Contaimers get a once a month feeding of organic blue stuff. I did buy ttf and didn't see miracle results in the containers.

What was your initial mix?

[Jetstar]

greenthumbomaha, The original was 1 cup of garden lime 2TBS of Epsom salt mixed into the potting mix and around the top outside edge of the grow bag was 1-1/2 cups of 10 10 10 that was covered by an inch or so of potting soil.

[Ed of Somis]

Growing both in-ground and in containers...I sure have noticed a big difference in fert requirements. Although I fert my containers weekly...I try to give weak solutions and limit the nitrogen. High nitro rings the dinner bell for my aphids.

[jmsieglaff]

I very much agree with your assessment about container plants needing feeding much more often. I feed my container plants every 10-14 days (alternating what I use). I fertilize the in-ground tomatoes probably 3, maybe 4 times the entire growing season, but my garden soil is fairly nutrient rich, while the container mix (ProMix) is not. Additionally the daily watering for containers leeches nutrients out much more quickly as well.

I have upped my feeding of summer lettuce (grown in-ground) since I water it daily and it is still early, but seemingly has made a big difference for the better in my summer lettuce.

[Ricky Shaw]

Every day mixed with water at 1000ppm and pH adjusted in 15gal fabric pots.

[Nematode]

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

Every day mixed with water at 1000ppm and pH adjusted in 15gal fabric pots.

Yup like that!
Most container growers have no idea how close to a true hydroponic setup they are.
Come on in the waters fine.

[garyjr]

"Additionally the daily watering for containers leeches nutrients out much more quickly as well".

I would agree completely. I had a friend that has an organic herb and veggie farm and they tested liquid organic versus granular organic and there was a noticeable difference. Those that used the granular were healthier (larger), and a darker shade greener. (tested on pepper plants) He is convinced that although they may get a quick boost from the liquid, in the end the granular releases a small amount of ferts each time the plant is watered. Since we water containers more often it would reason they need more ferts over the long haul.

[Cole_Robbie]

Osmocote is good stuff. I have good results with it as my only fertilizer, mixed into the media at transplanting. My container plants tend to be peppers and micro-dwarf tomatoes, so maybe their demands are not as high as trying to grow a huge tomato plant.

[Ricky Shaw]

I've come to the conclusion.... There's three ways to look at container growing. One is you're taking a slice of your garden with the same general upkeep, and putting it in a pot. The second is a quasi hydroponic program of soilless media and metered fertigation in a container matched to the plant and conditions. The third, is everything in between.

And generally, the closer you get to the second method, the healthier and more productive your plants will be.

[SharonRossy]

I grow in containers and a raised bed. For me pro mix with a slow release fertilizer, lime and Epsom salts mixed in according to Raybo's earthtainer measurements. As well, a weak solution of a water soluble fertilzer with micronutrients is applied a few weeks after planting. I do also add the granular slow release at least twice after just because I water so frequently. But this year I have been careful not to over fertilze and my plants are extremely healthy. The raised bed with the pro mix has worked better than the smart pots. I don't have to water as often. But no doubt container growing requires different techniques than in ground. My in ground tomatoes require less. Aunt Gerties Gold is one that doesn't do well in containers no matter how large or how fertilized.

[fonseca]

Once my plants are in their final containers, they have all the fertilizer they are going to get. It doesn't wash out, it's all slow release organic meals that rely on the microbial population to become available to plants.

Primarily:
Crab shell meal
Kelp meal
Alfalfa meal
Supplemented with:
Neem seed meal
Fish meal
Fishbone meal

Not all of my containers make it through a full season without showing nutrient deficiencies, but the larger ones do. I do top dress with spent coffee and tea grounds, I guess that counts. it really encourages worm activity.

[Barb_FL]

Originally Posted by fonseca

Once my plants are in their final containers, they have all the fertilizer they are going to get. It doesn't wash out, it's all slow release organic meals that rely on the microbial population to become available to plants.

Primarily:
Crab shell meal
Kelp meal
Alfalfa meal
Supplemented with:
Neem seed meal
Fish meal
Fishbone meal

Not all of my containers make it through a full season without showing nutrient deficiencies, but the larger ones do. I do top dress with spent coffee and tea grounds, I guess that counts. it really encourages worm activity.

What types of containers are you using?

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

I've come to the conclusion...

That I don't like growing squash and zuch in containers. Moreover, I don't even like to eat them much. They're spiny and difficult to water and drink ferts like there's no tomorrow, the feral cats of gardening.

That's how I was with Eggplant; Grew great in containers even in my nematode infested raised bed, but other than EP Parmesan, I really didn't like eating it.
Now, for the once a year I make EP Parmesan, I buy the EP.

I also was going to try to grow zuch again and when I thought about it, I didn't like it that much.

[fonseca]

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

What types of containers are you using?

Sub-irrigated:
2x 100G steel stock tanks
4x 27G tubs
10x 5G buckets

With drainage:
20x 10G growbags
10x 5G growbags
10x 5G buckets
10x 3G growbags
40x 1G nursery pots

Approximately. I'm thankful for the near daily thunderstorms over the past two weeks, because I'm tired of hand-watering. I have 2 27G tubs with cucumbers, and they start to droop even with daily watering. Need a compact/bush variety for next year.

I really want more stock tanks. I believe the reservoir holds ~14G, so even with 4 indeterminate tomato plants, I only have to water 1-2 times a week when it's in the 90s.

[Cole_Robbie]

If hydro means growing without soil, most of us already are hydro growers, since there is no soil in pro mix.