Tomato feeding regime

**WendyC** · 04-07-2013, 09:18 AM

I use Tomorite (or own brand equivalent) and follow the instructions on the bottle! Under glass I think it's a couple of times a week, however I do know some folks feed at half strength every watering.
You start feeding for fruit when the first tomatoes have set, i.e you can see tiny fruit forming. I also sometimes give the plant a high nitrogen feed, like Miracle Grow, if the overall plant seems a little lacking in vigour.
Whatever you do, do some feeding!

**rustylady** · 04-07-2013, 09:35 AM

1. Sow seeds around March in ordinary multipurpose compost, five seeds to a 3 and a half inch pot and germinate in heated propagator on kitchen windowsill.

2. Pot on into individual pots (3 and a half inch ones) when seedlings have two true leaves.

3. When showing first flowers plant out into Morrisons Flower Buckets filled with ordinary MCP.

4. At no stage overwater the plants, keep soil MOIST not WET. Best to water from below by standing pots in a tray of water. Obviously you can't do this with the MFBs, but I stand each one in a large plant saucer.

5. No need for any feed at all until the first flowers have set (baby tomatoes visible), then Tomorite (or own brand equivalent) once or twice a week.

**SimonWhitaker** · 04-07-2013, 09:46 AM

Do you know if toms are much more sensitive to over water/feeding than peppers or aubergines? Both are doing great guns but my toms are just lack luster pale and patchy but producing fruit although dropping some blooms. The peppers and aubergines on the other hand are on for a number year I've had three black enormas already! (Very pleased!)

Everything gets the same treatment,

Set off in propagator (heated)
Individually potted in miracle grow mpc
Potted on to large pots or grow bags with collars (use a variety to experiment)
Fed with tomatorite/seaweed extract once first fruit set

The toms seem to have limited root development never spread fully into the bag whereas the other crops consume the grow bag/bucket space.
Also very leggy this year, I'd put last year down to the weather but I'm beginning to thinks its definitely something environmental ie me!!

Comments appreciated as always thanks!

**rustylady** · 04-07-2013, 10:32 AM

I seem to remember you were having problems with your tomatoes about a month ago, giving them various doses of feed, Epsom salts etc. (and you still haven't added your location to your profile

)

I think their bad start to life may have affected them, but have no idea why the roots aren't spreading into the compost. Is the compost in the bags overwet, and have you made drainage holes in the bags?

Is it just one bag affected, or more than one?

**WendyC** · 04-07-2013, 10:41 AM

How do you know the roots haven't spread? I would suggest over watering too.

**SimonWhitaker** · 04-07-2013, 10:48 AM

They are the bane of my garden!

Grow bags have drainage holes about an inch up from the bottom and they havnt had any feed since I originally had problems I just can't work it out as everything else thrives under the same conditions!

Wendy I know the roots havnt spread because I have them planted in the grow bag collars and of you gently ease them up and you can see, also they are fairly unstable in the grow bag compared to everything else, not to say I go round violently shaking everything!

I don't know how to change my profile I don't think it's an option on the mobile app? Ill look on the laptop (Lancashire)

**SimonWhitaker** · 04-07-2013, 10:50 AM

Rusty I think they may have got stressed at some point and the only thing I can think of is over water at some point but the finger of blame points firmly at me!

At least I like peppers and aubergines!!

**rustylady** · 04-07-2013, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by SimonWhitaker View Post

They are the bane of my garden!

Grow bags have drainage holes about an inch up from the bottom and they havnt had any feed since I originally had problems I just can't work it out as everything else thrives under the same conditions!

Wendy I know the roots havnt spread because I have them planted in the grow bag collars and of you gently ease them up and you can see, also they are fairly unstable in the grow bag compared to everything else, not to say I go round violently shaking everything!

I don't know how to change my profile I don't think it's an option on the mobile app? Ill look on the laptop (Lancashire)

I've never used the growbag collars myself, I use MCP in flower buckets, but I just googled and found this:

Simple to fix into the grow bag - the serrated teeth cut a perfectly sized hole in the plastic - when in place the sloped collar makes a funnel that directs even the most clumsily aimed attempt at watering right to the roots of the plant - without spillage and wastage running down the sides of the bag. Measuring 20cm across and 10cm high, 4 waterers will fit in the average grow bag. The waterers have the added advantage of offering protection as the rims of the funnel act as a deterrent to slugs and snails.

I presume you cut the plastic top of the growbag with the collar, then remove the plastic, wiggle the collar so it sits firmly on the compost and then plant the tomato into the compost of the growbag.

If this is the case, then I really can't see why the roots haven't spread into the growbag compost. You did remove the circle of plastic, didn't you?

Not treating you like an idiot, but I'm desperately searching for solutions to your problems.

**SimonWhitaker** · 04-07-2013, 12:30 PM

Yep all removed they are pretty good and easy to use don't worry I understand its often the simple things! The peppers and aubergines and chillies are thriving in the same set up!!

I suspect the plants are just held back I it's not all the plants just four out of 9 still not a good average!

**rustylady** · 04-07-2013, 12:33 PM

Well, I hope they perk up and give you a good harvest

**SimonWhitaker** · 04-07-2013, 12:45 PM

Thanks ;-) next year they are getting stuck in the corner and ignored! Haha

Seriously I think I mess too much instead of leaving things to their own devices time is such a great healer!

I think in good quality compost ill leave them until they set fruit, my friend always adds grow more as he pots on he swears by it gets hundreds of toms every year from very few plants!

**Potstubsdustbins** · 04-07-2013, 04:03 PM

I used to use grow bags but gave up on them I get much better results using MPC in black flower buckets.

As to feeding 5 weeks after planting I start with the minimal dose of Miracle Grow to aid plant growth.

After fruit set on the first truss my regime is water, Miracle Grow, Tomorite, water and so on until the plants reach their full height. I then change to double strength Tomorite between every watering.

Over feeding in containers is very difficult to do if you water between every feed as this will rinse out any excess.

Not feeding containers after the first 5 to 6 weeks is not an option all the nutrients in the compost will have been used up at this stage.

Potty

**Two_Sheds** · 04-07-2013, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by SimonWhitaker View Post

When to feed
What to feed

Homemade comfrey & seaweed tea, when the flowers appear, as and when I remember. A slosh in the watering can (not measured)

**SimonWhitaker** · 04-07-2013, 05:54 PM

Thanks guys!

Announcement

Tomato feeding regime

Tomato feeding regime

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Latest Topics

Recent Blog Posts