Forum area for discussing hybridizing tomatoes in technical terms and information pertinent to trait/variety specific long-term (1+ years) growout projects.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
July 5, 2009 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
|
And Yet Another Fertilizer Comparison - Tomato-tone vs. Tomaten Dung-er
OK, Not something you and I can run down to Ace Hardware and buy tonight, but our friend Ami was kind enough to send me a 1 Kg. box of his local tomato fertilizer:
(I guess the name "Dung-er" looses something in Translation.) So - - another Myth-Busters "Challenge" for Tomato-tone. Without digressing too much (wait for the August Report), I am finding a blend of one bag "Old" Tomato-tone with one bag "New" Tomato-tone is giving me the combined benefits of both (yield, DTM, etc.): This contrasts significantly from the 7-3-10 NPK of what Ami sent me. I have a mechanical divider wall splitting the 'Tainer in half: While not a waterproof seal, it provides perhaps 85% isolation between the two plants and their fertilizers. The fertilizer strips should remain "localized" to a great deal for the trial: I have also treated both sides with Actinovate (wouldn't be without it), so let the games begin: Thanks again, Ami - - should be an interesting experiment on this pair of Celebrity tomatoes. Ray Last edited by rnewste; July 5, 2009 at 11:39 PM. |
July 6, 2009 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E
Posts: 5,041
|
The Germans are just getting into the over the counter sale of specialized organic fertilizers with Myco's. I came across this product last year and had very good results with at my surrogate garden at work. So I sent a box to Ray to see how it would stack up against it's USA counterpart. You will notice that it also contains "Schwefel" which is sulfur. Studies have shown Sulfur plays a role in the outcome of flavor quality of our vege's. Here's a link to the product I sent Ray. Ami
http://www.neudorff.de/produkte/prod...enduenger.html
__________________
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!' |
July 6, 2009 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
|
Hey Ami,
You are going to have to include a German-to-English dictionary for me to understand all of this on the labels and Website!! Ray |
July 6, 2009 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63°
Posts: 838
|
I'll be interested to see the results from the Neudorff fertilizer. It is sold here too and I may need to buy it, since I'm trying to grow organic this year.
__________________
"I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson |
July 6, 2009 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,648
|
I liked old Tomato Tone!! What's up with new Tomato Tone??
__________________
Michele |
July 6, 2009 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
|
shellybean,
I really liked the "Old" Tomato-tone as well, but alas, with raw ingredients tripling in price (thank your Government's Cartel of 1918 Act), the folks at Espoma probably figured they had to come up with a new formula to keep it affordable. I am running a number of "A" / "B" comparison grow-outs this year on Goose Creek, Coldset, NARX, Ed's Millennium to evaluate for myself, if the "New" Tomato-tone is acceptable to me (personally) as a suitable replacement. So far, a mixed bag. Plants in "Old" Tomato-tone bigger and bearing more fruit than those in "New" Tomato-tone. But the flip-side - - those in "New" Tomato-tone are averaging an earlier DTM of approximately 6 days - - go figure!! The plants that I have in a 50/50 blend of Old and New are doing quite well too, so stock up on all you can of the "Old" Tomato-tone for the future to make your own custom blend. Ray |
July 6, 2009 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,648
|
Thanks, Ray. I have to go to the garden center this week so I will indeed stock up on the old formula! I'll be looking for your results at the end of the season. Thank you.
__________________
Michele |
July 6, 2009 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5
|
Hi Ray,
Do you use the Actinovate in addition to the Dolomite Lime? Do you only apply during planting or throughout the growing season? Thanks! Jason |
July 6, 2009 | #9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5
|
Quote:
I think I found the answer to my question in your postings in this thread: http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...ght=Actinovate Now I need to find if it is available in Southern California. |
|
July 6, 2009 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
|
Jason,
I apply Actinovate after the plants are about 2 weeks into their 'Tainers. Only once during the season is required. Excellent product, in my opinion. Ray |
July 6, 2009 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5
|
Quote:
Thanks for your help |
|
July 6, 2009 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
|
I mix it with water according to the package, then use a watering tube to douse the roots around the plant's perimeter. Once per season is sufficient.
Ray |
July 7, 2009 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E
Posts: 5,041
|
basserman, you can apply as a soil drench as Ray does or you can sprinkle it on the rootball or in the hole your going to plant it in. This year I mixed up a gallon batch in a bucket and and submerged the plant balls in the solution for 15 seconds then planted it. I used CowPots and DotPots this year which are biodegradeable to grow my tomato seedlings in so I plant the seedling w/pot which is one reason I went to the dunk and plant this year with actinovate and mycorrhizae. Ami
__________________
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!' |
July 7, 2009 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5
|
|
July 7, 2009 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,351
|
Ray, if there are any problems of translation, please ask. I would be happy to help out if I can.
clara |
|
|