Best Tomato Fertilizer ? (irrigation, growing, fertilizing, tomatoes)
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What is the best liquid fertilizer for tomatoes in pots? I don't think I am using the right stuff. They are making tomatoes but so slowly. I think they must need some different vitamins !
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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You want something with a higher third NPK number (the K) such as alfalfa meal or kelp meal. I use a product from a local producer, Hendrikus Organics, which has other benefits and is not cheap, but $12 bag last all season.
What I have read (on line) is that a higher second number is important. Higher at least than the first number. I have been using 7-4-4 from the nursery. This is a general feeder so I need to switch to something else.
I always used Miracle Gro for Tomatoes. 10-10-10 is a good ratio of nutrients. Or something with the middle number biggest (that's phosphorus.) Tomatoes are really heavy feeders and when they start making flowers, you need to start fertilizing them. Not too much so as not to "burn" them, but follow the directions on the package.
Miracle Gro is 18-18-21. That's highest in potassium. It has always worked really well. This year I had run out of Miracle Gro and since I only have one tomato plant, I simply cut up a banana peel and stuck it into the soil. That should rot and provide some potassium until I can get some Miracle Gro.
I always used Miracle Gro for Tomatoes. 10-10-10 is a good ratio of nutrients. Or something with the middle number biggest (that's phosphorus.) Tomatoes are really heavy feeders and when they start making flowers, you need to start fertilizing them. Not too much so as not to "burn" them, but follow the directions on the package.
Miracle Gro is 18-18-21. That's highest in potassium. It has always worked really well. This year I had run out of Miracle Gro and since I only have one tomato plant, I simply cut up a banana peel and stuck it into the soil. That should rot and provide some potassium until I can get some Miracle Gro.
Me, too. I just fertilized again today with Miracle Gro Tomato for my tomatoes and peppers - works for both. I also used the generic Miracle Gro for all plants on my other plants today. 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water, once a week.
I had set up a gravity feed watering system at a community garden where I used to live, where I had a bucket of water set above the raised bed, and I put Miracle Gro in the bucket, which then had irrigation tubes to drip feed the raised bed - worked great.
Some will disparage Miracle Gro as not religiously organic, but it's basically the same thing as taking a man-made vitamin. It doesn't hurt insects and has no poison, etc. It's just man-made or collected, etc., minerals, etc. So, it doesn't harm the environment or your food.
Great stuff for the price. I also use organic soil, but the fertilizer in the organic stuff doesn't last forever. So, I augment with Miracle Gro feeding once a week and get great results.
I always used Miracle Gro for Tomatoes. 10-10-10 is a good ratio of nutrients. Or something with the middle number biggest (that's phosphorus.) Tomatoes are really heavy feeders and when they start making flowers, you need to start fertilizing them. Not too much so as not to "burn" them, but follow the directions on the package.
Miracle Gro is 18-18-21. That's highest in potassium. It has always worked really well. This year I had run out of Miracle Gro and since I only have one tomato plant, I simply cut up a banana peel and stuck it into the soil. That should rot and provide some potassium until I can get some Miracle Gro.
my tomato plants are still in pots, growing slowly and still haven't flowered...can i cut up small pieces of banana peel and put them in the pots?
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