Best way to add CaMg+ to SWC..trying to chase BER

[greenthumbomaha]

Have to agree that TT was a let down. First year using it and got it from Ozbo.com during the sale last Spring. My tomatoes are much smaller that those of my surrounding community garden members, even the ones I gave transplants to. To add insult to injury, I picked up liquid Orgainc MG fertilizer in the brown bottle, and just now realized its 6-0-0. Its pure clay, so I've been starving the poor things.

[mdvpc]

I am not sure why Espoma changed their formulation. Their old tone was something like 7-4-10 with micros. I like that formulation, one reason I am using the FloraNova Grow, which is 7-4-10 with micros.

Linda-I did get it from Amazon-1 gallon for about 60.00. Its a gallon jug, and at 1 teaspoon per gallon,it lasts forever.

[tomakers]

Originally Posted by mdvpc

I am not sure why Espoma changed their formulation. Their old tone was something like 7-4-10 with micros. I like that formulation, one reason I am using the FloraNova Grow, which is 7-4-10 with micros.

Linda-I did get it from Amazon-1 gallon for about 60.00. It lasts forever.

The old TT was fine, the new formulationnot so good
So I'm back to the old triple 15 and 12-24-12 at bloom.
It does get results, but you have to be careful.
JMO,
Tom

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by mdvpc

I am not sure why Espoma changed their formulation. Their old tone was something like 7-4-10 with micros. I like that formulation, one reason I am using the FloraNova Grow, which is 7-4-10 with micros.

Linda-I did get it from Amazon-1 gallon for about 60.00. Its a gallon jug, and at 1 teaspoon per gallon,it lasts forever.

Michael,
TT - That's an easy answer. Cost. Their cost went up, so it was either reformulate and keep the price the same or raise their price.
It was mentioned by Raybo I believe in one of the earthtainer threads.

Like most companies these days, they cater to / aim for the middle of the pack.
Although if they were smart - they would bring back the "original" due to "popular demand" and just charge more for it. I think we would all be happy to pay more for the one product that you could truly "set and forget".
We all end up spending more anyway - amending with this, trialing with that, etc.

Edit - Tomato Tone - Do you have a rep on the board? if you are reading this how about it?

[Sun City Linda]

I think I read it posted somewhere that TT changed their formulation in part to be fully organic. That previously they had a partial blend. I have not heard one poster that has good things to say about the new TT. There is a fert I would like to try but it is not available here in Ca called Greenview or maybe Greenville. It offers blended organics and synthetics.

[kevn357]

I used 2 1/2 cups of TT in my new containers at start and my tomatoes did nothing for 2 weeks but develop deficiencies. I will never use it again. I switched to 1/2 cup of triple 13 per container every 3-4 days til they recovered.

edit* I don't recommend using the triple 13 to others as I make my own growing medium with very little ferts. I used a different product for the last 6 years with the same containers and mix and never had an issue. I moved and Tomato Tone was all I could find here with similar n-p-k.

Tomato tone seems to work best in gardens or containers that are high in nutrients before planting and just meant to give a boost. Not really made for most container growing imo.

[DogsandDirt]

Originally Posted by kevn357

Tomato tone seems to work best in gardens or containers that are high in nutrients before planting and just meant to give a boost. Not really made for most container growing imo.

That makes sense since organic fertilizers need microbial activity to release nutrients. Most containers, I would speculate, have a much lower microbial population than in-ground or even raised bed gardens. My raised bed tomato plants are always bigger, taller, and more productive than the containers. I'm thinking of trying the GH FloraNova products as well in the containers.

I think it's interesting that the EB organic replant kit contains 8-3-5 fertilizer and it's very finely ground and powdery, not like TT. I'm giving my last EB a second (and last) chance at tomatoes with the EB organic replant kit. We'll see how it goes.

[Sun City Linda]

It seems to me the EB organic fert was pretty good. My first EB was ordered a few years ago as a full kit. It was good but not great last year with, I think Dr Earth Organic. This year it was an all out disaster with TomatoTone. I am using synthetic for all my fall crops and they are growing like gangbusters.

[rnewste]

While I still have a stash of the "Old" 4-7-10 Tomato-tone for the tomatoes, I am blending a 50/50% mix of "New" Tomato-tone with 6-3-3 Plant-tone for my cukes, peppers, etc. Seems to be working fine by upping the combined Nitrogen percentage. I will not be a User of plain "New" Tomato-tone fertilizer for my tomato plants when I eventually run out of my "Old" TT stockpile.

Our friend "bdank" is running an interesting trial of multiple fertilizers on a single variety of tomato (Big Beef or Big Boy, as I recall). In any event, she has a good trial going on at the EB Forum - just wish she would post her findings here on Tomatoville as well.

Raybo

[chancethegardener]

I recommend either to use crab shells or shrimp meal. If these are used at the time of planting, then by the time the plant has fruits, shells/meal will already be decomposing.

[Sun City Linda]

Our friend "bdank" is running an interesting trial of multiple fertilizers on a single variety of tomato (Big Beef or Big Boy, as I recall). In any event, she has a good trial going on at the EB Forum - just wish she would post her findings here on Tomatoville as well.

Raybo[/QUOTE]

Its Brandyboys and she is pretty quiet lately. Up to her ears trying to preserve peppers. Lots and lots of peppers!

[RayR]

I understand the frustration that those who grow Tomatoes in SWC's or traditional containers have with BER and the need to find a magic potion to defeat it once and for all, but I'm in Carolyn's camp on that one, I think for the most part you're chasing your tail. If you find one that works 100% of the time, God bless you, you'll be famous for all eternity.
I'm growing Tomatoes exclusively in-ground, this year got BER, almost all paste varieties mostly on the first flush of green fruit set, the second flush so far has no sign of BER. Pretty typical most years for me on plum shaped paste varieties.

[RayR]

Pretty much what was mentioned in the University of Georgia bulletin, "Preventing moisture stress is important to control blossom-end rot, especially during fruit set and fruit enlargement."

Even so, why do many varieties that experience moisture stress, whether too much or too little moisture never seem to get BER?

[Cole_Robbie]

Originally Posted by DogsandDirt

Most containers, I would speculate, have a much lower microbial population than in-ground or even raised bed gardens.

That is an interesting point. I had good luck incorporating molasses into the fertilizer routine for my container tomatoes.

That U of Georgia article about foliar feeding calcium is 14 years old. Plus, extension centers tend to be a few years behind. Has anything changed in regard to what is generally acceptable in the past few years?

Does foliar feeding anything actually work? I had just dismissed it as a concept and something not even worth trying. I know that a lot of people do it, but I wonder if the benefits they see come from the nutrient spray dripping down to the roots, or getting washed there by the next rain. I just don't see how plants could have evolved to best take up nutrients through their leaves?