Mittleider Micro-Mix: what type of fertilizer is 'safe'?

tnpeppers · June 16, 2012

I need some help. I am trying to replicate the mix Carolyn Phillips uses on her beautiful tomatoes as an experiment here in New Hampshire. I have a number of tomatoes in 10-gallon 'Smart Pots'; others in 5-gallon pastry buckets. She uses a 13-13-13 fertilizer in her mix, even though Mittleider's instructions call for 16-16-16. We have all seen her 'maters, which I why I want to go with 13-13-13. IF I am lucky enough to find 13-13-13...what should I be looking for? (In other words; are ALL 13-13-13 fertilizers the same?) She said she sprinkles the mix on her soil (1-4 tbs) around the plant. I am assuming she keeps the mix several inches back from the main stem of the plant. Since this is done weekly; I believe that I want to avoid 'slow release' like the plague. Is there any 13-13-13 that anyone could recommend? Are there any that I should avoid? I am hoping to fertilize this weekend, so any help would be appreciated!

Idahowoman · June 16, 2012

For the Weekly Feed that the Mittleider Method uses you can make it with either a 16-16-16, 15-15-15 or 13-13-13 fertilizer.You mix it with the micronutrients and epsom salt .
I wouldn't use a slow release fertilizer.
You sprinkle the correct amount in your pot away from the stem and leaves and water it in.
Over the years I have used 16-16-16, 15-15-15 and 13-13-13 to make the weekly feed and I just bought some 15-15-15 that cost me $10 less for 50 lbs then the 16-16-16.
I usually find it in a farm supply store.
If you scroll down the page on this link it will tell you how much weekly feed and preplant
to use for your size of pot.
http://www.tomatogardening.info/
I hope this helps.
Susan

tnpeppers · June 17, 2012

Thank you, Susan! Now the battle will be finding the right fertilizer...10-10-10 appears to be the 'State Fertilizer of New Hampshire'...I checked a half-dozen locations today for 13-13-13 or 16-16-16...nada. I'll try again tomorrow.

tnpeppers · June 18, 2012

For crying out loud...there isn't ANY 13-13-13 to be had in New Hampshire...regional ware houses don't even stock it for distribution to New England at all; although the SAME distributors supply it to the south, midwest, and west. No one understand why...I did find 12-12-12. I wonder if there is any danger using that instead of 13-13-13?

dustdevil · June 18, 2012

Use the 12-12-12...the difference between that and 13-13-13 is inconsequential. Co-ops often sell it in 50 pound bags...usually it is time release though.

tnpeppers · June 19, 2012

Thanks for the heads up re: time release. I didn't even think to ask...

June 16, 2012	#1
tnpeppers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Zone 6 Posts: 365	Mittleider Micro-Mix: what type of fertilizer is 'safe'? I need some help. I am trying to replicate the mix Carolyn Phillips uses on her beautiful tomatoes as an experiment here in New Hampshire. I have a number of tomatoes in 10-gallon 'Smart Pots'; others in 5-gallon pastry buckets. She uses a 13-13-13 fertilizer in her mix, even though Mittleider's instructions call for 16-16-16. We have all seen her 'maters, which I why I want to go with 13-13-13. IF I am lucky enough to find 13-13-13...what should I be looking for? (In other words; are ALL 13-13-13 fertilizers the same?) She said she sprinkles the mix on her soil (1-4 tbs) around the plant. I am assuming she keeps the mix several inches back from the main stem of the plant. Since this is done weekly; I believe that I want to avoid 'slow release' like the plague. Is there any 13-13-13 that anyone could recommend? Are there any that I should avoid? I am hoping to fertilize this weekend, so any help would be appreciated!

June 18, 2012	#5
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Use the 12-12-12...the difference between that and 13-13-13 is inconsequential. Co-ops often sell it in 50 pound bags...usually it is time release though. Last edited by dustdevil; June 18, 2012 at 01:20 PM.

June 16, 2012	#2
Idahowoman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Idaho Zone 4 Posts: 536	For the Weekly Feed that the Mittleider Method uses you can make it with either a 16-16-16, 15-15-15 or 13-13-13 fertilizer.You mix it with the micronutrients and epsom salt . I wouldn't use a slow release fertilizer. You sprinkle the correct amount in your pot away from the stem and leaves and water it in. Over the years I have used 16-16-16, 15-15-15 and 13-13-13 to make the weekly feed and I just bought some 15-15-15 that cost me $10 less for 50 lbs then the 16-16-16. I usually find it in a farm supply store. If you scroll down the page on this link it will tell you how much weekly feed and preplant to use for your size of pot. http://www.tomatogardening.info/ I hope this helps. Susan

June 17, 2012	#3
tnpeppers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Zone 6 Posts: 365	Thank you, Susan! Now the battle will be finding the right fertilizer...10-10-10 appears to be the 'State Fertilizer of New Hampshire'...I checked a half-dozen locations today for 13-13-13 or 16-16-16...nada. I'll try again tomorrow.

June 19, 2012	#6
tnpeppers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Zone 6 Posts: 365	Thanks for the heads up re: time release. I didn't even think to ask...