Where to put raised beds for Tomatoes...

[kath]

Thanks, Timmah! Can I ask you how you apply it for plants already in the ground...foliar spray, soil drench? Will an ounce be enough for the year?

[Timmah!]

I mix it with the Actinovate & do both a soil drench and foliar applications. I would buy 2 ounces, it's still cheaper than the Actinovate which is also 2 ounces. It says the ounce is enough to treat 120-250 plants; just depends on how many plants you have and how often you plan on spraying them. I got the soluble version. Could you tell me where you bought your Exel? I'ma ask dude @ my local Frank Otte Nursery to order some; in the off chance he can't get it, knowing some other sources would be good. Seems neither Lowe's, Home Depot nor any local nurseries I've checked carry it or Agro Fos.

[kath]

I found the Excel at Agway, but their suppliers didn't carry Actinovate; called all around but had to order Actinovate on-line. Did you just follow directions on Mycro-grow pkg. for the amount to add/gallon of water for both drench and spray? Like you said, it makes sense to just order a couple ounces. Do you know if it will be good to use next season?

[Timmah!]

I'm using a concentration of 2 teaspoons in a 5 gallon bucket for both soil drench and foliar spray. I will apply the drench every 3 weeks & the foliar once a week. Doesn't mean it's the best way to do it, just the way I'm doing it. =)

[kath]

Is this the first year you've used these products? I did and initial drench with the Actinovate, followed by a foliar spray of Excel one week and Actinovate the next. So you are using the Actinovate along with the MycoGrow at the same time according to the above schedule, right?

[Timmah!]

Yes, this is the first year using these products. The mycogrow soluble doesn't indicate on the labeling to use it as a foliar. As I'm mixing it and the Actinovate for the soil drench, I went ahead and used it mixed for the foliar application, too. Just to see if there's any difference, I'm gonna try two different regimens on the 10 Brandywines I have in the bed:

One I will use the Actinovate & Mycogrow Soluble as both a drench & foliar; the other I will use just Actinovate as a foliar & both as a drench. I'ma shoot an email to them & see what they say about using the Mycogrow soluble as a foliar and if there are any contraindications.

[kath]

Appreciate your input, Timmah, thanks again!

[Timmah!]

My pleasure. By the way, I mixed both the Mycogrow & the Actinovate & did a soil drench and a foliar spray about 10 days ago & noticed no ill effects to the foliage. So at the very least, it doesn't seem to hurt the leaves in any way.

[Talon1189]

I am owned by 5 indoor Ragdoll cats...... Your kitty looks kinda disappointed that you have failed to plant a "catnip" plant in your new garden........ Hahahahaha.......Good luck with your new tomato garden adventure buddy

[Timmah!]

Lol, thanks Talon. What an excellent idea; gonna get & plant some catnip for them tomorrow. My friend has a ragdoll & it has some of the most stunningly beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen.

[salix]

Lucky, lucky Talon! I have only 2 Ragdoll "boys", also strictly indoor. They are beautiful, aren't they? (almost as beautiful as a garden full of tomatoes - just to keep somewhat on topic...)

[Penny]

Looks good Timmah.

[Timmah!]

Recieved a response regarding the Mycogrow: Our product is not intended for use as a foliar. It is designed to create a symbiotic relationship with the root of plants. So the product should be applied as close to the roots as possible.

[kath]

With regard to the response about Mycogrow, I would just use it as a drench, then, but since my plants have been in the ground a while (some for 5 weeks) I'm thinking it might take a lot more product to insure that all the roots are saturated; I've got 320' of tomato row + the peppers/tomatoes in containers. Maybe I'll put Mycogrow on my list for next year when I can treat the transplants and just stick with Actinovate and Excel-LG this year.

[b54red]

Timmah I'm glad you like the conduit idea. I was using them as stakes because they lasted for years. I started adding more stakes when the plants got too big and eventually put in some cross pieces and finally just made a trellis and have been very happy with the results. You might want to consider hammering in a couple of diagonal pieces and firmly attaching to you trellis in case of high winds. When they get covered with tomato foliage there is a lot of wind resistance and they can be blown over if it gets too strong. Look at the picture below and you can see the supporting diagonals. I just used some old metal stakes for this.

Looks like from the number of seed you ordered you need to start building a lot more beds. Your bed looks great and good luck with your tomatoes this year.

I wish I had used block and cemented them together. I have thick treated lumber and it used to look really neat and straight but time and weather conditions have warped some of them very badly. Now the only straight lines in my garden are the chain link fence and the conduit.