First grow ever. Have some questions and need advice!

cheebamaster · March 25, 2015

Hey all,

This will be my first tomato/vegetable grow ever. I plan on doing container gardening as I hear it's easier and the soil here is terrible anyhow.

First, I know it's probably been asked a billion times, but is there any general consensus on what potting mix is considered top notch? I'm confused as to whether I should buy Promix and then just add fertilizer or if I should get a full organic mix with stuff already in it.

Currently, I have about 10 bags of Ocean Forest. Is this a good soil to put in the pots and add the tomato plants to? Or is it better to go with promix which has nothing added.

Second, I bought:

Azomite
Tomato Tone
Neptune Fish/Seaweed fertilizer
My nurserys humates/algae blend that they said helps in a ton of ways.
Epson Salt

(I also have bat guano/bone meal but not sure if I should use those for anything)

I started the plants in a soiless medium and am planning to mix Ocean forest, the humates, azomite, and tomato tone with a tsp of epson salt together and plant all of my vegetables in the container like this. Is there anything I'm missing or should add?

Also, any other advice for growing would be appreciated. I really want this first go around to work out.

Thanks!!

ginger2778 · March 25, 2015

I would skip the epsom salt, unless you know you have a deficiency of magnesium. I would use the Tomato Tone since it is very complete, and skip the other ferts but you can add liquid fish fert in proper proportion when the plant starts to flower, and give it a little dose every 2 weeks or so. Azomite is fine. Follow directions, you should be OK. Any kind of potting mix, not soil is fine, make sure there is enough perlite or other aeration present for the roots. I haven't used it but I think Ocean Forest is well thought of.

Tomato Beth · March 25, 2015

TomatoTone is fantastic. I use it every year, and my tomatoes love it.

Make sure to have a good light source on your seedlings. I use plain old shop lights with 1 warm fluorescent bulb and 1 cool one. Mine are on chains so that I can raise the height as the plants grow. I turn them on in the morning and turn them off when I go to bed. Some people use timers, but if I take a quick look at them every day, I'm able to make sure they get the water they need.

Worth1 · March 25, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomato Beth

TomatoTone is fantastic. I use it every year, and my tomatoes love it.

Make sure to have a good light source on your seedlings. I use plain old shop lights with 1 warm fluorescent bulb and 1 cool one. Mine are on chains so that I can raise the height as the plants grow. I turn them on in the morning and turn them off when I go to bed. Some people use timers, but if I take a quick look at them every day, I'm able to make sure they get the water they need.

I just found a new bag of plant tone I didn't know I had.
I'll be using it till it's gone.

Worth

RayR · March 25, 2015

Fox Farms Ocean Forest is what is called an organic hot mix. It's loaded with organic nutrients. You shouldn't need to fertilize for awhile, definitely stay away from adding any high nitrogen fertilizers.

Ocean Forest Contents:
forest humus
sandy loam
sphagnum peat
perlite
earthworm castings
bat guano,
sea-going fish emulsion
crab meal
shrimp meal
kelp meal
oyster shell
granite dust

March 25, 2015	#1
cheebamaster Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SC lowcountry Posts: 14	First grow ever. Have some questions and need advice! Hey all, This will be my first tomato/vegetable grow ever. I plan on doing container gardening as I hear it's easier and the soil here is terrible anyhow. First, I know it's probably been asked a billion times, but is there any general consensus on what potting mix is considered top notch? I'm confused as to whether I should buy Promix and then just add fertilizer or if I should get a full organic mix with stuff already in it. Currently, I have about 10 bags of Ocean Forest. Is this a good soil to put in the pots and add the tomato plants to? Or is it better to go with promix which has nothing added. Second, I bought: Azomite Tomato Tone Neptune Fish/Seaweed fertilizer My nurserys humates/algae blend that they said helps in a ton of ways. Epson Salt (I also have bat guano/bone meal but not sure if I should use those for anything) I started the plants in a soiless medium and am planning to mix Ocean forest, the humates, azomite, and tomato tone with a tsp of epson salt together and plant all of my vegetables in the container like this. Is there anything I'm missing or should add? Also, any other advice for growing would be appreciated. I really want this first go around to work out. Thanks!!

March 25, 2015	#3
Tomato Beth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: PA 6b Posts: 277	TomatoTone is fantastic. I use it every year, and my tomatoes love it. Make sure to have a good light source on your seedlings. I use plain old shop lights with 1 warm fluorescent bulb and 1 cool one. Mine are on chains so that I can raise the height as the plants grow. I turn them on in the morning and turn them off when I go to bed. Some people use timers, but if I take a quick look at them every day, I'm able to make sure they get the water they need. __________________ I'm a geek and a mom, and I write about it at Confessions of a Geeky Mom: http://confessionsofageekymom.com/

March 25, 2015	#2
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	I would skip the epsom salt, unless you know you have a deficiency of magnesium. I would use the Tomato Tone since it is very complete, and skip the other ferts but you can add liquid fish fert in proper proportion when the plant starts to flower, and give it a little dose every 2 weeks or so. Azomite is fine. Follow directions, you should be OK. Any kind of potting mix, not soil is fine, make sure there is enough perlite or other aeration present for the roots. I haven't used it but I think Ocean Forest is well thought of.

March 25, 2015	#5
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Fox Farms Ocean Forest is what is called an organic hot mix. It's loaded with organic nutrients. You shouldn't need to fertilize for awhile, definitely stay away from adding any high nitrogen fertilizers. Ocean Forest Contents: forest humus sandy loam sphagnum peat perlite earthworm castings bat guano, sea-going fish emulsion crab meal shrimp meal kelp meal oyster shell granite dust