newb looking for fertilizer number tutorial

[WilburMartin]

Is there a search for this site? I know this could be answered by a quick search.

ANYWAY - Dr. Earth shows 4-6-2 for their tomato specific food; Texas Tomato Food shows 4-3-7, so the ratios are quite different

why?

[dustdevil]

Originally Posted by WilburMartin

Is there a search for this site? I know this could be answered by a quick search.

ANYWAY - Dr. Earth shows 4-6-2 for their tomato specific food; Texas Tomato Food shows 4-3-7, so the ratios are quite different

why?

Actually, those two ratios are quite similar(very close).

There is a "SEARCH" engine in the upper toolbar just below the Tomatoville logo.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Actually, those two ratios are quite similar(very close).

There is a "SEARCH" engine in the upper toolbar just below the Tomatoville logo.

I disagree. Both 4-6-2 and 4-3-7 have almost the same percentage of N.
But their P and K percentages are just the opposite. .

Lets show them in percentages of the total NPK:

4-3-7 : (4 + 3 + 7 = 14 ) : N > 29% ; P > 21 % ; K > 50 %
4-6-2 ( 4 + 6 + 2 = 12) : N > 33 % ; P > 50 % ; K > 17%

I think 4 - 3- 7 (TTF) is more like tomato fertilizer , rich in K , proportionally speaking.

[dustdevil]

Wilbur, here is a link to some ideas regarding fertilizer:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussi...r-for-tomatoes

It all depends upon what's in your soil(ground) already. Getting a soil test done by a lab includes a recommendation for what you need to add to the soil if need be to grow tomatoes. In a comprehensive soil test, trace elements would be included.

Gardeneer, ratios and percentages are two different things. I mentioned ratios and you went off on percentages.

[Worth1]

Lets just look at it like this for a minute and forget about the ratios people are selling because to me it means nothing as far as what I want to use.
Not that it isn't important.
Lets compare your soil to a big pot of soup or chili.
Now here is the question.
Would you walk up to the big pot of soup before tasting it and just start dumping in spices like salt.
Your soil is the same way you have to have some sort of knowlage as to what it needs.
This can be from experianc and or a soil test.
There isnt one product out there on the marlet that has a rtatio to match your soil needs exactly.
The biggest BS culprit is the so called great for tomatoes fertiliser that is low on nitrogen and high on other stuff.
Many time a persons soil after a few years of usint this stuff will find in a soil test they are too high in the last two and too low in the other two.
Now we go back to cooking again.
we can get away with putting in some spices like salt and pepper in the beginning.
Other spices need to go in later or the will loose their flavor.
The same can be said for the type of fertilizer you use to.
Some of it will hang on for longer times than others.
Some of it will get used up faster depending on how available it is to the plant.
The type you use has a lot to do with the type of soil you have.
Now if you will forgive me I will compare it to something else.
Hunting cartridges.
I have a book at home that is well over a thousand pages of cartridges each page a cartridge.
Now there are even more and for the most part they all do the same thing.
You go to the store and they have so many kinds it is mind boggling.'
This is the result of marketing to get people to buy more stuff.
To me what was made in the 30s is just as good as what they dreamed up in the 21st century.

If the fertilizer on the shelves could talk they would all be saying, buy me, no buy me, no over here buy me I am the best.
It is very confusing to say the least.

Worth

[WilburMartin]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Actually, those two ratios are quite similar(very close).

There is a "SEARCH" engine in the upper toolbar just below the Tomatoville logo.

Derp! Totally missed the search link - thanks!

I am totally container gardening, so I had to get some biology working in my sterile potting mix. I believe I am going to try and recycle my mix by dumping out my pots on a big sheet of plastic and amending/composting green scraps and brown (leaves) with my potting mix to hopefully not have to buy a bunch of new potting mix and hopefully not have to amend with fertilizer so much next year.

I am considering a 4'x12' raised bed for next year - I have a great spot for it, but it is a bit inconvenient for me to get to. I need a wheelchair accessible garden tractor! Something like a motorized platform to carry me all over the yard.

[Shapshftr]

Use soil testing and do some math. NPK amounts are worthless.

Fertilizer NPK Ratios – What Do They Really Mean:

http://www.gardenmyths.com/fertilize...y-really-mean/

http://www.gardenfundamentals.com/fe...ght-npk-ratio/

[WilburMartin]

Originally Posted by Shapshftr

Use soil testing and do some math. NPK amounts are worthless.

Fertilizer NPK Ratios – What Do They Really Mean:

http://www.gardenmyths.com/fertilize...y-really-mean/

http://www.gardenfundamentals.com/fe...ght-npk-ratio/

that is super interesting and helpful

[Shapshftr]

Originally Posted by WilburMartin

that is super interesting and helpful

I thought it was very interesting too, but I suck at math!