Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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May 8, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Louisville
Posts: 6
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Fertilizer confusion
I have seen some posts on fert ratios for Tomatoes and am confused due to conflicting info. Do bloom boosters really produce bigger and juicier tomatoes?
I read where this is a myth and that it is all a marketing hype. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks Barry |
May 8, 2017 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,292
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I don't know about that, but higher nitrogen fertilizers will cause tomato plants to put more energy into growing more plant and less effort into flowers and fruit.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
May 8, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wasilla Alaska
Posts: 2,010
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This link has some nice charts that show the element requirements for the tomato.
http://www.haifa-group.com/files/Gui...ato/Tomato.pdf |
May 8, 2017 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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If you look at some specialty tomato fertilizers, you might find out that K is the highest in NPK.
If I remember it correctly , it is like 2-3-4 ( N-P-K). I am not suggesting that this is the correct ratio, however. Generally, plants use more N than P and K and P least. Whenever in doubt, good old All Purpose fertilizer with 1-1-1 ratio ( 10-10-10 ,, 17-17-17 ...) should be close enough. MG Blue water soluble has a 3-1-2 ratio. (24- 8 - 16 ). But perhaps , IMO, it is too high in N for tomatoes Especially in flowering and fruit setting stage. OK. What is said is about growing in container, with soil less mix with ZERO initial fertilizer. But in your garden it might be a different situation. That is why a soil test can be valuable. In my case, the test result and recommendation is that there is more than enough P and K but N is low. So all I need to add is N , like 23-0-0 Still confused ? So am I.
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Gardeneer Happy Gardening ! |
May 9, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Perth
Posts: 46
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High P fertilizers are a marketing gimmick, they will do damage to your to your soil in the long term. Tissue analysis show that tomatoes require a lot of N and K with minor amounts of Ca, Mg and then P. The requirement for P is way down the order. Plants only require minor amounts of P, more will not induce flowering. Since most soils have adequate P, additional amounts are not required. It seems to be one of those myths that will not go away!!
The folks over the container growing forum recommend a 4.1.3 ratio, I personally use a 10.2.6 on mine, including containers, in ground and even my roses. Actually, in my part of the world, the sale of P or high P fertilisers have been banned as they are not necessary and do damage to the environment. |
May 9, 2017 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Diego-Tijuana
Posts: 2,598
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Mark's Haifa link really breaks it down nicely. High recommend.
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May 9, 2017 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6
Posts: 1,582
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Most commercial growers do use it after transplanting. They swear it helps with fast root growth.
Not sure it has anything to do with juiciness and stuff though. Here in Europe the standard tomato 'fruiting' fertilizer is considered 2-1-3. |
May 9, 2017 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Perth
Posts: 46
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Yes, here is Australia, fertilisers marketed as 'for flowering and fruiting' also have a similar ratio.
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May 9, 2017 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I have a big container that I grew a plant in last year.
I have a mortgage lifter in it his year same soil. All I have ever put in it this year is plant tone 5-3-3 and Alaska fish fertilizer, the other day I watered it with MG regular plant food the blue stuff. The soil is perlite and MG organic raise bed soil. The darn thing is covered in more blooms than I can count. My concern is BER what product do I need to put in it to stop this from going on if anything that is cheap. There is no (soil) in this soil. Worth |
May 9, 2017 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b
Posts: 1,369
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Gardeneer, consider that you test shows adequate p and I but that does not mean that your plants are aquiring those nutrients. You're right, it does get complicated in a hurry.
Treat yourself this year and do a tissue sampling to see if those elements are making it into your plant. You put in too much effort to not have top yields. |
May 9, 2017 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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Quote:
Bill |
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May 9, 2017 | #12 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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Quote:
My containers have a berm around the bottom so the roots can leave the drain holes and go into the ground, not one time have they dried out. I put the MG in just for the minerals in it. Worth |
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May 9, 2017 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
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Ber is usually an inconsistent watering issue. so, as long as you are watering it regularly and not having big cycles of wet dry wet dry going on they shouldn't do it as much... that said some are just more likely to develop it. like paste tomatoes.
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carolyn k |
May 9, 2017 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I hope I ran a spare wire to the irrigation valve box for my garden drip system.
This will run the containers across the drive way. Now that I think of it I did because I ran two pair one wire common and three zones two being used. Worth |
May 9, 2017 | #15 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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Quote:
Save your eggshells, wash, dry, grind in coffee mill, add vinegar to it. You will witness chemical activity in action by bubbles. What is happening : Eggshell has "Calcium Carbonate" and vinegar has "Acetic Acid" Calcium Carbonate + Acetic Acid >>> Calcium Acetate + CO2 The Calcium in Calcium Carbonate is in Ca++ ionic form and readily available. How Much egg shell ? How Much vinegar ? Don't try to be a chemist here. If you don't add enough vinegar there will be some carbonate intact. If you add too much vinegar, there will be some vinegar left. That aint gonna be much. Household vinegar is better than 95% water . So a few drops of it is not going to do anything to affect the pH of the medium. PS: 1- You can drink some of that solution as a calcium supplement. Ask your Doctor ! 2- You want to make more ? You can use dolomitic/fast acting lime instead of egg shells. THE END of eggshell mystery and other old wives tales.
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Gardeneer Happy Gardening ! |
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