Can I add anything into soil 6 weeks in?

pinklady5 · June 30, 2011

Ok, so I never got to tend to the soil like I wanted to during initial planting. Plants have been in the ground for 6 weeks, they are about 3 feet high, producing flowers and I have a couple of small fruit set. Can I add anything to the soil now to give the plants a boost? The plants are just not as vibrant as they usually are from past years. Fertilizer was mixed in during initial planting. Can I scratch in compost or manure at this time? Can I fertilize with a granual fertilizer again? Help appreciated.

darwinslair · June 30, 2011

sure. just dont overfertilize or you can burn out the plants.

Tom

RainCoast Farms · June 30, 2011

For best use of fertilizer on tomatoes I urge you to use a solution of the fertilizer rather than a granular form. Also, consider fertilizing your plants often; tomatoes have a large appetite when producing fruit. I fertilize weekly. One last thought and that would be to use a fertilizer optimized for use with tomatoes; high in phosphorus and high in potassium with minimal nitrogen. Miracle Grow makes a fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes. Dick

dice · June 30, 2011

If you are still getting a lot of rain, a handful of 5-10-10 scattered under
each plant would probably get washed in by the rain.

tjg911 · June 30, 2011

if you use manure make sure it is aged or you'll burn the plants. the exception is any manure in pellets like rabbit, llama.

i'd add compost around the plant and water it in.

i only spray my plants with neptune's harvest fish and seaweed emulsion every 2 weeks.

tom

b54red · July 2, 2011

You can work in some cottonseed meal or alfalfa pellets; but they are somewhat slow acting so I would also use a solution like Miracle Grow afterwards. They won't burn your plants but they need to be worked in to the top inch of the soil so they will breakdown and be taken up faster.

June 30, 2011	#1
pinklady5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central NJ Posts: 234	Can I add anything into soil 6 weeks in? Ok, so I never got to tend to the soil like I wanted to during initial planting. Plants have been in the ground for 6 weeks, they are about 3 feet high, producing flowers and I have a couple of small fruit set. Can I add anything to the soil now to give the plants a boost? The plants are just not as vibrant as they usually are from past years. Fertilizer was mixed in during initial planting. Can I scratch in compost or manure at this time? Can I fertilize with a granual fertilizer again? Help appreciated.

June 30, 2011	#4
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	If you are still getting a lot of rain, a handful of 5-10-10 scattered under each plant would probably get washed in by the rain. __________________ -- alias

June 30, 2011	#5
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	if you use manure make sure it is aged or you'll burn the plants. the exception is any manure in pellets like rabbit, llama. i'd add compost around the plant and water it in. i only spray my plants with neptune's harvest fish and seaweed emulsion every 2 weeks. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

June 30, 2011	#2
darwinslair Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lake Minnetonka MN Posts: 229	sure. just dont overfertilize or you can burn out the plants. Tom

June 30, 2011	#3
RainCoast Farms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Townsend, Wa. Posts: 11	For best use of fertilizer on tomatoes I urge you to use a solution of the fertilizer rather than a granular form. Also, consider fertilizing your plants often; tomatoes have a large appetite when producing fruit. I fertilize weekly. One last thought and that would be to use a fertilizer optimized for use with tomatoes; high in phosphorus and high in potassium with minimal nitrogen. Miracle Grow makes a fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes. Dick

July 2, 2011	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	You can work in some cottonseed meal or alfalfa pellets; but they are somewhat slow acting so I would also use a solution like Miracle Grow afterwards. They won't burn your plants but they need to be worked in to the top inch of the soil so they will breakdown and be taken up faster.