the best feed for tomatoes, pepper, courgette, in pot...any advice

[Sarico]

hi guy. sorry if i keep open new post but i want to give the best to my plant so when i went to B&Q or other shop i've seen a lot different brand, type, quality of plant food... because i'm in the beggining i don't have my own compost and next month fortunally is my birthday and my lovely fiance wil buy as present a wormery ( to be honest i ask that as a present ), i don't know what to use form my plant...last year i used a miracle grow multi purpose but i realized that the courgette where growing very big and with a lot of foliage and not a lot of courgette ( 10 courgette per plant i don't know if a good harvest), and when i read the back i realized that as NPK was high in nitrogen than the other... now that i know that courgette, tomatoes, pepper and any fruit veg need a food higher in potassium. does anyone wich one is better for them to grow in container?
plus the always said how much food to mix in a gallon of water but they don't say how much should i pour in each container? thanks very much

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sarico I like to start with miracle grow to aid green growth, but as soon as the fruits appear I change to tomorite which is high in potash the (K) in the formulation.

When you go to buy your feeds read the formulation as not all tomorite as the same levels of potash, then pick the one with the highest level.

Potash is good for all 'fruits' including potatoes.

Colin

[Potstubsdustbins]

Missed a bit as to how much you should use per container there are many varied opinions on this but when the fruit is on the vine I like to alternate. Water then the next time I feed using the same amount as if I was watering, then back to water and so on.

Colin

[Helgalush]

I grew tomatoes in pots last year - I just used an ordinary multi-purpose compost to pot them up with then used tomorite or B&Q's organic fruit and veg fertiliser liquid stuff - added to my watering can in the ratio that it says on the bottle. I think once they hard started setting fruit I fed them twice weekly, and watered on the other days. I used saucers for the feeding and watering. If they sucked all the water/feed up quickly I went back and gave more.

The thing with containers is not over-watering and not under-watering - can be tricky to get right.

[Sarico]

thanks colin.. you are always ready to help me... so i start with my miracle grow when i see the first fruit i swap to a tomarite.... last year i use to water my courgette once a day and i use to water 1 watering can per 3 container... according the packet i should feed once a week so if i water almost everyday doing like you told me i should feed them 3 time a week.... am i right?

[Sarico]

I grew tomatoes in pots last year - I just used an ordinary multi-purpose compost to pot them up with then used tomorite or B&Q's organic fruit and veg fertiliser liquid stuff - added to my watering can in the ratio that it says on the bottle. I think once they hard started setting fruit I fed them twice weekly, and watered on the other days. I used saucers for the feeding and watering. If they sucked all the water/feed up quickly I went back and gave more.

The thing with containers is not over-watering and not under-watering - can be tricky to get right.

i think the saucer idea is good.. i remember that last year i saw that the top of the container soil was very compact i think because of watering from top....or i can put the pot in a big tub and let them soak the water for few minutes. this will be a good or bad idea?

[Two_Sheds]

The thing with containers is not over-watering and not under-watering - can be tricky to get right.

If you put a saucer under the container, it's a lot easier to gauge. Keep pouring liquid into the saucer until the plant stops drinking it up
how to water seedlings - YouTube

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sarico, don't feed at all to start with you may push the plant on to quickly, in multipurpose compost they will be OK for at least 6 weeks then miracle grow once a week until the fruit sets. Miracle grow is very high in nitrogen and once a week will be plenty. Water as necessary in between.

As others have said saucers are a great idea if you are growing under cover but if you are growing out side don't forget to empty them after rain or you may drown the plant.

Once the first truss of toms has set i.e. the first small fruit are on the vine change to tomorite. On the packet it will say feed once a week or maybe once a fortnight. I along with a lot of others ignore that and feed once a week until the second truss has set and then up it to every other watering.

As the plant grows you will have to water everyday one of the main things about toms is never let the pot dry out other wise you can end up with split fruit or blossom end rot.

Colin

[Sarico]

Now is all clear. I will do like you said. You are my teacher and I am your student because I have square pot I could find a cheap saucer so I remember that in the restaurant where I work we always throw away a lot plastic container so I will use them. For the feed I've just been to B&Q and I found that they own brand as high potash (npk 4-3-8) but it says to put only 15ml in a watering can. Plus I found a meter for garden to check the moisture so I will use it as well just to make sure.

[VirginVegGrower]

Tomorite or seaweed in my case. I have also started using my own comfrey tea made last year, but you need to find comfrey in order to do that.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sarico, I can only advise waht works for me other gardeners will do things differently and their way will be equally as valid.

Read all the advice given and then choose what suits you best.

And remember if you ask two gardeners the same question you will always get three different answers.

Colin

[Sarico]

i know colin is the same for my job when people ask me some recipe to how make a nice lasagna but you can buy the same ingredients but doesn't mean that you have the same result..... but a least i know where to start... like i said is only a temporally feed because when i will have my wormery i will use worm compost and worm juice as feed...
as two sheds show in his video how to water seedling i think i will do the same but in bigger scale...will see when the time comes....

[Maccabee]

but you need to find comfrey in order to do that.

Or grow it yourself

[Two_Sheds]

as two sheds show in his video ....

He is a she

[Potstubsdustbins]

2Sheds Sarico must have missed the painted finger nails.

Colin