Fertilizer

yotetrapper · June 4, 2022

What do you all use to fertilize with? I'm not organic so that doesn't matter. I tried doing a search but didn't find much. Thanks

Angela

dshreter · June 4, 2022

I use this:

https://www.masterblend.com/4-18-38-tomato-formula/

zeuspaul · June 4, 2022

I like slow release fertilizers. I have plenty of gardening chores during the growing season and don't want to add to them with fertilizing. I use Osmocote Plus slow release and Espoma Garden-tone organic fertilizer which is also slow release when I first plant out. If later in the season it looks like they need some more I use Texas Tomato Food.

Dark Rumor · June 5, 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeuspaul

I like slow release fertilizers. I have plenty of gardening chores during the growing season and don't want to add to them with fertilizing. I use Osmocote Plus slow release and Espoma Garden-tone organic fertilizer which is also slow release when I first plant out. If later in the season it looks like they need some more I use Texas Tomato Food.

That sounds like a very good fertilizing program, I start with Osmocote, tomato/vegitable fertilizer and blood meal, then add a liquid fertilizer once the tomatoes are growing.

Texas Tomato Food produced good results when I used it 2years ago.

PaulF · June 5, 2022

For my garden which is primarily tomatoes but also melons, peppers and squash/pumpkins, a soil test is done every year or at most every other. From this information the entire garden is kept in balance. That way very little additional fertilization is necessary.

That said, if any plants seem to need a little help, a dose of liquid plant food is added when watering. Sometimes the small transplants look like they need a drink and the higher N plant food is used. Later on after blooms appear I switch to the low N, higher P and K to stimulate blossom and fruit growth. The Masterblend would be a good one however I go with a less expensive source.

With the entire garden space in balance and healthy there is not much need for an extra fertilization program here.

slugworth · June 5, 2022

I went with the pink miracle grow for tomatoes this year.

D.J. Wolf · June 6, 2022

Ok, so my situation is a bit more complicated. I do soil test, and every time I am showing a major nitrogen deficiency, but plenty of P and K. Also, I am running 7.5-7.0 PH, which I would love to bring down, even thought that's difficult. I start with a preplant application of 2# per 100 square feet of ammonium sulfate. The hope there, instead of using urea, is that it will increase the nitrogen, and possibly decrease the PH a bit with the sulphate, although I know it won't do a lot. This year, as a trial, I also put down 2# per 100 square feet of Magnesium sulphate, just as a trail. Then, Once things are up a growing decently, I use Miracle-Gro liquid feed all purpose on a weekly basis to start. Once plants are full size, or what I figure to be full size, I'll back off to once every 2 weeks, since I figure they aren't feeding as heavily, especially on N, once they reach full size.

I don't know if it's just the year, of if it's the magnesium, but this year I have the healthiest, fastest growing plants I think I've ever had.

OldHondaNut · June 9, 2022

I feel like this year I really can't buy fertilizer knowing that the big commercial farms can put same to better use, better yield, and feed more people. I've cut back, used leftover fert from last year and any manure I can find. My yield is going to be down and I see green shoulders on some varieties I've never seen it on.

brownrexx · June 10, 2022

Like PaulF I have soil tests performed by a reliable lab every couple of years and it shows an excess of P and K so I have no need to add those.

Nitrogen is not tested because it is so volatile and changes from day to day so they can not get an accurate number.

It is assumed that everyone needs to add nitrogen so I sometimes do that when I plant my seedlings. I can not use bone or blood meal because the skunks try to dig that up. I use feather meal which is 12-0-0

During the growing season I see no need to add additional fertilizer since my garden soil provides all that is needed.

June 4, 2022	#1
yotetrapper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oakland MS Posts: 231	Fertilizer What do you all use to fertilize with? I'm not organic so that doesn't matter. I tried doing a search but didn't find much. Thanks Angela

June 5, 2022	#5
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	For my garden which is primarily tomatoes but also melons, peppers and squash/pumpkins, a soil test is done every year or at most every other. From this information the entire garden is kept in balance. That way very little additional fertilization is necessary. That said, if any plants seem to need a little help, a dose of liquid plant food is added when watering. Sometimes the small transplants look like they need a drink and the higher N plant food is used. Later on after blooms appear I switch to the low N, higher P and K to stimulate blossom and fruit growth. The Masterblend would be a good one however I go with a less expensive source. With the entire garden space in balance and healthy there is not much need for an extra fertilization program here. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

June 6, 2022	#7
D.J. Wolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Illinois Posts: 199	Ok, so my situation is a bit more complicated. I do soil test, and every time I am showing a major nitrogen deficiency, but plenty of P and K. Also, I am running 7.5-7.0 PH, which I would love to bring down, even thought that's difficult. I start with a preplant application of 2# per 100 square feet of ammonium sulfate. The hope there, instead of using urea, is that it will increase the nitrogen, and possibly decrease the PH a bit with the sulphate, although I know it won't do a lot. This year, as a trial, I also put down 2# per 100 square feet of Magnesium sulphate, just as a trail. Then, Once things are up a growing decently, I use Miracle-Gro liquid feed all purpose on a weekly basis to start. Once plants are full size, or what I figure to be full size, I'll back off to once every 2 weeks, since I figure they aren't feeding as heavily, especially on N, once they reach full size. I don't know if it's just the year, of if it's the magnesium, but this year I have the healthiest, fastest growing plants I think I've ever had. __________________ Kevin (aka the DJ)

June 4, 2022	#2
dshreter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2019 Location: Seattle Posts: 58	I use this: https://www.masterblend.com/4-18-38-tomato-formula/

June 4, 2022	#3
zeuspaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: North County, San Diego Posts: 419	I like slow release fertilizers. I have plenty of gardening chores during the growing season and don't want to add to them with fertilizing. I use Osmocote Plus slow release and Espoma Garden-tone organic fertilizer which is also slow release when I first plant out. If later in the season it looks like they need some more I use Texas Tomato Food.

June 5, 2022	#6
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	I went with the pink miracle grow for tomatoes this year.

June 9, 2022	#8
OldHondaNut Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Zone 8a Posts: 120	I feel like this year I really can't buy fertilizer knowing that the big commercial farms can put same to better use, better yield, and feed more people. I've cut back, used leftover fert from last year and any manure I can find. My yield is going to be down and I see green shoulders on some varieties I've never seen it on.

June 10, 2022	#9
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Like PaulF I have soil tests performed by a reliable lab every couple of years and it shows an excess of P and K so I have no need to add those. Nitrogen is not tested because it is so volatile and changes from day to day so they can not get an accurate number. It is assumed that everyone needs to add nitrogen so I sometimes do that when I plant my seedlings. I can not use bone or blood meal because the skunks try to dig that up. I use feather meal which is 12-0-0 During the growing season I see no need to add additional fertilizer since my garden soil provides all that is needed.