GoBigs 2009 Tomato Journal

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

I will be giving goose creek a try again next year a few people sent me PM's offering more seeds I think it was the moisture control that doomed me this year.

Since I am not using self watering containers I think the regular miricle grow will not hold to much water and have thought about building a tainer or two for next so will be interested to see how your new mix does.

Craig

[rnewste]

Craig,

Even with conventional top watering containers, the straight Miracle-Gro will hold too much moisture for tomatoes. At a minimum, I would mix a ratio of 4 parts potting mix with one part Perlite. You need some aeration in the growing media and the Perlite will help accomplish this.

Ray

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Ray I have actually thought about adding additioanl perlite in the past so I might give that a shot next year.

I know when I looked at the moisture control mix this spring it seemed to have allot less perlite then what I rememberd the original mix having.

Craig

[tnpeppers]

I was just admiring your photos, and had a couple of questions...I use Pro-Mix for my container gardening, and was wondering if that would be satisfactory for the type of containers you are using? I am going to try some 15 and 20-gallon 'Smart Pots' this year, and someone (not at this forum) suggested I use the same 'garden mix' I get for my raised beds in the 'Smart Pots'. I don't think that would allow for the necessary aeration (the mix is 50% shellfish compost...great for raised beds). Pro-Mix already contains perlite, but not sure it would be enough for that size container. I use PM to start seed, to put up, and figured 'why rock the boat'? In addition, what do you feed those nine-foot monsters? I use Espoma's Tomato Tone and Garden Lime...do you do something different? Thought I would ask since we are in similar climate zones? How about your mulch? Appreciate any help you can pass along...

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

I have not used promix so I cannot comment on using that and if anything additional you would want to add to it like perilite maybe someone else would have ideas.

As for fertilizing I use half strenth miracle grow for tomatos once every week or two and add a few jobes tomato spikes to each container.

Craig

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Looked up metro mix not pro mix so I had to edit out my comments on Metro mix. Anyone have any thoughts for tn on pro mix??

[rnewste]

There are different "blends" of Pro-Mix, but the one I am familiar with (BX) contains approx 81% Peat-moss, 14% Perlite, and 5% Vermiculite. Vastly different than Miracle-Gro Potting Mix.

For my SWCs this Season, I am primarily using a ratio of 3 parts Sta-Green potting mix, 2 parts bark fines, and 1 part Perlite. This will give my Combo Mix about 17% Perlite, and the bark fines will help keep the potting mix from clumping, further aiding root aeration.

Raybo

[tnpeppers]

Pro-Mix BX is the one I use for containers...it would be quite pricey to fill 15 or 20 large (15-20 gallon) containers with Pro-Mix ($30 per 3.8 cu ft bale), so I was hoping to find a formula for a mix that would be cheaper but just as effective...I get eight-foot tall maters from my Earth Boxes with little effort, but have never tried large containers on their own...