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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January 9, 2022 | #841 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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Quote:
As far as PH, it's going to vary, you could get some that is 6.5 or up in the 7's. The DE I have tested here anyway seem to be in the 7's. It never presented a problem for the germination stage anyway, which is my main use, Actually growing seedlings in pure DE can be a problem with some plant types if the PH is in the high 7's. I create mixes with DE,Coco or peat,and compost or worm castings that I've grown seedlings out to the potting up stage. I like to mess around like that to see what works and doesn't, but I've got a good PH meter so I can fine tune the PH of the final mix. Last edited by RayR; January 9, 2022 at 02:03 AM. |
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January 9, 2022 | #842 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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Quote:
As long as the EP Minerals Floor Dry is pure granular Diatomaceous Earth, that'll be the one to get for seed starting or a soil amendment. I see Granger has Floor-Dry which is Medium-Coarse Granules, Optisorb (Large Coarse Granules) and Solid-A-Sorb (Fine Coarse Granules) See the PDF Sell Sheets for details on each product at Granger. You may also some at Autozone also as well as other Autoparts stores. I see Autozone has 2 EP Minerals DE products, one called Oil Absorbent DE 25lb and the other is EP Minerals Floor-Dry 15lb. I don't know what the size of the granules are if one is coarse and the other is finer I still have a stash here that I bought years ago, so I haven't bought any recently. Last edited by RayR; January 9, 2022 at 02:05 AM. |
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January 9, 2022 | #843 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl.
Posts: 2,500
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Plenty info on DE nutrients.
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KURT |
January 9, 2022 | #844 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Coastal CT, zone 7a
Posts: 181
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Thanks for the input. I think I will pick up a bag of Floor-Dry at the closest Napa Auto Parts shop. Might experiment with mixtures.
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January 10, 2022 | #845 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
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I've been using the EP Minerals Floor Dry from Autozone these last few years. It seems identical to what they used to sell as Ultra-Sorb.
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April 6, 2022 | #846 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: ky
Posts: 26
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I just started reading this thread. I have a 50 lb bag of DE, it is ground very fine, like flour. I have been using pro mix with
Fungazide. I still have more vegetables to plant. I'm thinking about mixing, it with pro mix. Has anyone done this or have any ideas for very fine DE. Thanks |
April 6, 2022 | #847 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Coastal Southern CA
Posts: 165
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Kycountryboy: powdered DE best for pool filters, but if you wish to use in the garden, then use it against insects, either spread dry or mixed with water and sprayed. I think some people use it for soil amendment, you'll have to research that. The powdered form will cake up and not be good for seedlings.
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April 6, 2022 | #848 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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There are 2 different kinds of powdered DE
The DE produced for pool filters is DE calcined at high heat with transforms it into crystalline Silicon Dioxide, basically finely powdered sand. It is not safe to ingest or breathe in the dust. Breathing it in can cause the lung disease Silicosis. Powdered DE used for insect control is Food Grade DE, it is natural amorphous silicon dioxide (Diatomite) , which has a very low content of any crystaline SiO2. It is safe to use around the garden (you still want to avoid breathing in the fine dust though or getting it into your eyes) It will also slowly break down in the soil and provide plant-available Silicon. For applying to plant surfaces for insect control it is best to mix it with water and spray it on. |
April 6, 2022 | #849 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Posts: 1,501
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Thank you for all the information with pictures.
I am learning from you all. This is what I am learning by getting the Definition, uses, and Natural Uses for any plant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
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May God Bless you and my Garden, Amen https://www.angelfieldfarms.com MrsJustice as Farmer Joyce Beggs |
April 9, 2022 | #850 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: ky
Posts: 26
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I found what I needed at AutoZone yesterday, I will get busy planting today!
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April 9, 2022 | #851 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Posts: 1,501
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I am surprised that DE is used in many everyday products. I am learning the farming terminology to Apply for a Farming Loan, as I have collected all of the Food History of the Contraband Slaves.
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May God Bless you and my Garden, Amen https://www.angelfieldfarms.com MrsJustice as Farmer Joyce Beggs |
April 28, 2022 | #852 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Coastal Southern CA
Posts: 165
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Long story short, how to I safely transplant root-sensitive seedlings like squash and cucumbers out of a small, 72-cell starter with Autozone's FloorDry? I did not start in egg-cartons. Not worried about the tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, those will be easy.
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April 28, 2022 | #853 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
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Can we look at all the professional growers and horticulture experts plants that use something designed to soak up spilled oil in your garage to start plants in?
It Might be pretty hard to find Some I think. But since it’s so great, all the professionals should be using it I guess? No? Hmmmm What are those experts using? Seedling mix. Me too. KarenO Last edited by KarenO; April 28, 2022 at 06:36 PM. |
April 28, 2022 | #854 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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Quote:
I only use DE for seed starting and more than half of everything I grow seedlings in these days that is not root sensitive is my own mixture of DE, Coco Coir and compost. You can grow them in straight DE but I prefer my mix where I have good control over the PH of the mix and I grow organically, so the organic components of the mix are a plus. For potting up stage for the final weeks before transplant in the garden, they go in a good soil mix like Pro-Mix or such. Squash and cucumbers I grow directly from pre-sprouted seed in 3" or 4" pots in soil mix. No potting up before transplant in the garden. For pre-sproutiing, i usually place the seeds on a moist bed of DE in a closed container. It works just like the paper towel method for pre-sprouting seeds. Onions and Leeks I grow directly from seed in my DE/Coir/Compost mix and there they grow until separating the seedlings and transplanting in the garden. Since my mix is 50% DE, it is very loose and seedlings, even densely planted seedlings are very easy to separate without tearing up the roots to bad. I've grown them is straight DE in the past, but again I prefer my mix of the inorganic DE with the organic coco coir and compost. |
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April 28, 2022 | #855 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Coastal Southern CA
Posts: 165
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My apologies for asking the question. Thanks for the response.
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