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!

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!