Adding Miracle-Gro to an EarthBox?

Greatgardens · July 6, 2019

I've always been a bit skittish about adding blue water to my EB reservoirs, and as a result, I probably significantly under-fertilize. For those of you that do add MG, how much do to add, and do you use liquid or powder? And does anyone ever add a bit of iron? (I have a couple of plants that are a little pale.) On the bright side, most all of my plants are doing great, including a Celebrity that has an EB all to itself and looks awesome!

Barb_FL · July 6, 2019

I never added Miracle Grow, but have tried Texas Tomato Food, FloraNova Grow, MasterBlend formula, and this year I tried this:

http://https://greenleafnutrients.co...v=7516fd43adaa

You can get a free 300 G sample for just shipping (about $3) and it will be enough for you to judge. In the sample, they send a free scoop with a longer handle so it makes it so easy to dump in the tube.

Requirements: I didn't want anything that I had to pre-mix. I just wanted to dump x amount down the tube.

I liked it so much I bought the huge bag.

I haven't done the TTF for a couple of years, but I remember it being really good.

FloraNova Grow - I just didn't know how much to use.

MasterBlend Formula - it needed to be premixed and was just a drag pouring it down the tube.

----

The sample pack will make 75 gallons @ 4 grams per gallon. The scoop has 2 lines - 20 grams (for 5 gallons of water). I didn't PH it, I didn't need to add calcium Nitrate, it was really easy.

edweather · July 6, 2019

I've grown a few tomatoes in SWCs in the past. I did use Miracle Gro....and some other liquid fertilizers, and if I remember correctly, at about 1/4 strength.

Shrinkrap · July 7, 2019

I haven't used miracle grow, but I've used Maxigrow and Maxibloom. They are powders and I mix as directed.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Greatgardens · July 7, 2019

Thanks for the feedback and info. -Barb_FL -- I'll check out the sample offer. -Shrinkrap -- awesome looking plants!

Overall, it hasn't been a very good year for tomatoes here in IN, but it has finally warmed up and stopped raining nearly every day. The one bright side -- Septoria has been pretty tame, thus far. I'm still hopeful for a good season!

Barb_FL · July 7, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrinkrap

I haven't used miracle grow, but I've used Maxigrow and Maxibloom. They are powders and I mix as directed.

Your plants are beautiful.

Just for clarification, On the Maxi's, you premix and pour down the tube, or can you just put a small amount directly down the tube and fill with the hose.

Shrinkrap · July 7, 2019

Thank you!

This year I've been using this, although not regularly.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Maybe two or three times. I also have the fertilizer strip.

Koala Doug · July 7, 2019

If you're going to use a Miracle-Gro product, I suggest using their tomato formula (it's red instead of blue).

How do all of you Earthbox users handle the calcium issue? Most ferts don't have any (well, Texas Tomato Food does)...

Greatgardens · July 8, 2019

The only time that I have calcium issues (BER) is when I completely change the media in a box. And that is rare. I use lawn and garden dolomitic lime from Tractor Supply. (Hint: search for Dolomite.) I scrape off the top few inches of potting mix and replace it with new + a generous cup of dolomite. I'm still of the opinion that Miracle-Gro potting mix gives the best results, although I do add small amount of a cheaper local nursery mix that has a lot of perlite in it, since MG is a bit skimpy with the perlite. I also do use the fertilizer strip, usually 10-10-10, and if I have any on hand, I mix in some Burpee's or Jobe's organic vegetable and tomato fertilizer.

Incidently, the two boxes this season with the plants that need some more fertilizer had all "local mix" in them. I was out of MG mix and had plenty of the other on hand. Bad decision! BTW, I do have the MG Tomato formula on hand.

Koala Doug · July 8, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

dolomitic lime

I totally forgot about that!

Thanks!

Greatgardens · July 11, 2019

An experienced EB gardener at the EarthBox Forum suggested I use 1 tsp of MG "down the hole" once per week. This would be the same as "the snack" -- calcium nitrate. I have not used CaNO3, but I do have some on hand, so think I'll give it a try on one box.

TigrikT · July 13, 2019

I am using "the snack", weekly in my EB. But I am not growing tomatoes in EB, only peppers and cucumbers.

The last two EBs didnt have enough fertilizer on hand when was preparing them in May, so i see a little bit the deficiency in these two compare to others.

People who recommends MG doses, is the dose for a supplement to the already installed fertlization strip or no strip. Thx

July 6, 2019	#1
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Adding Miracle-Gro to an EarthBox? I've always been a bit skittish about adding blue water to my EB reservoirs, and as a result, I probably significantly under-fertilize. For those of you that do add MG, how much do to add, and do you use liquid or powder? And does anyone ever add a bit of iron? (I have a couple of plants that are a little pale.) On the bright side, most all of my plants are doing great, including a Celebrity that has an EB all to itself and looks awesome!

July 6, 2019	#3
edweather Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28 Posts: 396	I've grown a few tomatoes in SWCs in the past. I did use Miracle Gro....and some other liquid fertilizers, and if I remember correctly, at about 1/4 strength. __________________ You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough.

July 7, 2019	#5
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Thanks for the feedback and info. -Barb_FL -- I'll check out the sample offer. -Shrinkrap -- awesome looking plants! Overall, it hasn't been a very good year for tomatoes here in IN, but it has finally warmed up and stopped raining nearly every day. The one bright side -- Septoria has been pretty tame, thus far. I'm still hopeful for a good season! Last edited by Greatgardens; July 7, 2019 at 09:52 AM.

July 7, 2019	#7
Shrinkrap Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 701	Thank you! This year I've been using this, although not regularly. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Maybe two or three times. I also have the fertilizer strip. Last edited by Shrinkrap; July 7, 2019 at 05:39 PM.

July 8, 2019	#9
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Calcium Issues? The only time that I have calcium issues (BER) is when I completely change the media in a box. And that is rare. I use lawn and garden dolomitic lime from Tractor Supply. (Hint: search for Dolomite.) I scrape off the top few inches of potting mix and replace it with new + a generous cup of dolomite. I'm still of the opinion that Miracle-Gro potting mix gives the best results, although I do add small amount of a cheaper local nursery mix that has a lot of perlite in it, since MG is a bit skimpy with the perlite. I also do use the fertilizer strip, usually 10-10-10, and if I have any on hand, I mix in some Burpee's or Jobe's organic vegetable and tomato fertilizer. Incidently, the two boxes this season with the plants that need some more fertilizer had all "local mix" in them. I was out of MG mix and had plenty of the other on hand. Bad decision! BTW, I do have the MG Tomato formula on hand.

July 6, 2019	#2
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	I never added Miracle Grow, but have tried Texas Tomato Food, FloraNova Grow, MasterBlend formula, and this year I tried this: http://https://greenleafnutrients.co...v=7516fd43adaa You can get a free 300 G sample for just shipping (about $3) and it will be enough for you to judge. In the sample, they send a free scoop with a longer handle so it makes it so easy to dump in the tube. Requirements: I didn't want anything that I had to pre-mix. I just wanted to dump x amount down the tube. I liked it so much I bought the huge bag. I haven't done the TTF for a couple of years, but I remember it being really good. FloraNova Grow - I just didn't know how much to use. MasterBlend Formula - it needed to be premixed and was just a drag pouring it down the tube. ---- The sample pack will make 75 gallons @ 4 grams per gallon. The scoop has 2 lines - 20 grams (for 5 gallons of water). I didn't PH it, I didn't need to add calcium Nitrate, it was really easy.

July 7, 2019	#8
Koala Doug Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Detroit Posts: 688	If you're going to use a Miracle-Gro product, I suggest using their tomato formula (it's red instead of blue). How do all of you Earthbox users handle the calcium issue? Most ferts don't have any (well, Texas Tomato Food does)...

July 11, 2019	#11
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	An experienced EB gardener at the EarthBox Forum suggested I use 1 tsp of MG "down the hole" once per week. This would be the same as "the snack" -- calcium nitrate. I have not used CaNO3, but I do have some on hand, so think I'll give it a try on one box.

July 13, 2019	#12
TigrikT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New Jersey 6b Posts: 26	I am using "the snack", weekly in my EB. But I am not growing tomatoes in EB, only peppers and cucumbers. The last two EBs didnt have enough fertilizer on hand when was preparing them in May, so i see a little bit the deficiency in these two compare to others. People who recommends MG doses, is the dose for a supplement to the already installed fertlization strip or no strip. Thx