Fertilizers for EarthTainers

elight · July 25, 2015

I'm gearing up for my fall planting hear in Florida in about a month. My spring tomatoes didn't fare so well - a combination of re-using a potting mix likely full of diseases, and a poor attempt at fertigation.

I've read through all of Ray's and others' posts about various ET fertilizer techniques. I can't find a recommendation from Ray on a tomato fertilizer to use in the fertilizer strip since Tomato-Tone switched over to "organic" a few years ago. Everything I read tells me that, for best results with tomatoes in a container, I need a synthetic fertilizer at a 3-1-2 ratio. I know that I can get water-soluble Foliage Pro (FP) and Miracle-Gro (MG) at that ratio, but have failed to find any granular fertilizers either locally or online, and I've looked everywhere.

I have on hand a little leftover "new" TT, and also some leftover Jobe's organic 4-4-4. I worry about using either of these organic products in the fertilizer strip. I could probably also find a synthetic 10-10-10 or similar locally.

Another thought is to forgo the fertilizer strip altogether and use FP 9-3-6 or MG 24-8-16 every week down the feed tube. I've read about some people who have done this and it seems to work, although it requires extra effort. I am planning on supplementing with TTF anyhow once fruiting begins.

Any help, input, or experience is greatly appreciated. I can't afford to spend a fortune this season, but very much want to do things the "right" way.

July 25, 2015	#1
elight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 349	Fertilizers for EarthTainers I'm gearing up for my fall planting hear in Florida in about a month. My spring tomatoes didn't fare so well - a combination of re-using a potting mix likely full of diseases, and a poor attempt at fertigation. I've read through all of Ray's and others' posts about various ET fertilizer techniques. I can't find a recommendation from Ray on a tomato fertilizer to use in the fertilizer strip since Tomato-Tone switched over to "organic" a few years ago. Everything I read tells me that, for best results with tomatoes in a container, I need a synthetic fertilizer at a 3-1-2 ratio. I know that I can get water-soluble Foliage Pro (FP) and Miracle-Gro (MG) at that ratio, but have failed to find any granular fertilizers either locally or online, and I've looked everywhere. I have on hand a little leftover "new" TT, and also some leftover Jobe's organic 4-4-4. I worry about using either of these organic products in the fertilizer strip. I could probably also find a synthetic 10-10-10 or similar locally. Another thought is to forgo the fertilizer strip altogether and use FP 9-3-6 or MG 24-8-16 every week down the feed tube. I've read about some people who have done this and it seems to work, although it requires extra effort. I am planning on supplementing with TTF anyhow once fruiting begins. Any help, input, or experience is greatly appreciated. I can't afford to spend a fortune this season, but very much want to do things the "right" way.