New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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#241 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Central OK, USDA-7a / AHS-8
Posts: 157
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@RayR,
I am reading up on your post, this seems promising. I would like to hear from Levant as well, to perhaps compare "notes" as it were. Gary |
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#242 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b
Posts: 1,831
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Thanks RayR! This is an excellent thread.
Dutch |
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#243 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Turkey
Posts: 393
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I've been growing plants in diatomite since early 2000's.I've started hundreds of plants from cuttings or seeds and grown most of them in diatomite.In the beginning they were mostly common house plants later I focused on more challenging ones such as succulents and Hoyas.I possess the second biggest Hoya collection of Turkey (around 100 species) at the moment.Neverthless to say this is a rather humble number considering currently known +400 species though unique because of being grown in diatomite.4-5 years ago I have taken an interest in edibles.I tried chillis, some greens such as parsley,dill,arugula etc and all these experiments resulted in success.Untill last year I 've applied only inorganic liquid ferts (NPK +ME) to my plants in diatomite but all the time I've suspected that there happened a vounteer organic fert component.I'm sure some roots in diatomite died and decayed in rhizosphere thus turning to somewhat organic fert.Diatomite in my pots couldn't be considered sterile!This observation led me to try organic ferts in my systems.Last season although using mainly inorganic ferts I also applied AACT to the chillis in subirrigation pots.I have not been confronted with any negative/adverse effects so far.All the chillis highly yielded, I managed to overwinter them.For me it's time to go a step further.I plan to grow plants in diatomite using organic ferts, AACT literally.This thread deals with only seed starting so it's a bit restrictive although being excellent.I'll continue to post my seedlings here.I think we need a new one on growing in diatomite to share our experiments.
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#244 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,448
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Sure, start another thread!
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#245 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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What is AACT?
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#246 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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#247 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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A separate thread is a good idea.
It's interesting about what you say about the decayed root matter, a sterile growing environment is an impossibility anyway, since bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous they will find their way in. I've never had an actual hydroponics system but I've read a lot about the methods, nutrients and supplements. Organic components have become more commonplace in growing hydroponically as the goal for many has become to produce a better tasting crop than just the high yields. For one thing, other than using live bacterial and fungal inoculants, enzymatic extracts from highly controlled AACT's are used to accelerate break down of organic matter like dead roots cells. Quote:
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#248 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Turkey
Posts: 393
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I'll be pleased to make a contribution.
Chilli seedlings never failed in diatomite!Capsicum chinense 'Pimenta de Bico' |
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#249 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 637
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So I'm wondering: why is growing in DE pruducing a better tasting fruit? How does the productivity differ that the same grown in soil?
I don't totally understand the scientific talk, but keep on reading and soon, hoping it is before I start planting, it will make better sense to me. In last years garden, I broke off a medium branch from my Sweet Basil plant. I didn't know if it would work, but just stuck in into the ground and mostly forgot about it. Did the same with one of my favorite tomatoes. They both grew wonderfully. Would DE be a good way to increase your plants this way, say start of few of your more rare / limited seed and when they reach a certain size, pot up a few of the stems? Have you done a lot of this sort of experience Levet or anyone else working with DE? Yes, I say start a new thread I'm for that. |
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#250 | ||
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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#251 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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How about part DE & part potting mix to sprout seeds? Or is pure DE better? I will soon begin my sowing of tomato & pepper seeds. Maybe I will test more than one medium and compare.
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#252 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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I like the pure DE for seed starting but prefer a mix or regular potting soil when potting up to larger pots. I have much better germination and fewer problems with damping off with the pure DE.
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#253 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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I'm will be comparing 5 different mediums this time with 3 different Onion cultivars. Ultrasorb DE Optisorb DE Jiffy Mix 2:1 Mix of Jiffy Mix & Optisorb 2:1 Mix of Optisorb & Coir |
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#254 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Thanks, Ray- this is really interesting-
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#255 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 86
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I've been eager to try using DE this year, then I remembered - I like to pre-sprout my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants on wet paper towels on a plate on top of the warm cable box. Normally I just tuck them into the seed starting mix with the root pointing down once they start. I assume this would work with the DE as well - thoughts?
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