When to Feed

[stelladays]

Hi

I have some tomato seedlings that are about 3 inch tall but there is loads of different views of when to start feeding. Some say start feeding when it first flowers others say when the first truss forms (what does this mean)?.

What is every ones experience with tomato seedlings.

Many thanks

[Alison]

They'll be fine at the moment, just keep potting them on into bigger pots as the roots come out the bottom of the pot and they get pot bound. Mine are all in 3" pots at the moment but will be potted onto 5" ones in a couple of weeks and then planted in the polytunnel border by the end of May. The first truss bit is good advice, it means when the first branch of fruit forms and I tend to follow this advice - too much food too early means they just seem to put on green growth rather than flower and therefore produce fruit. I do however always put a bit of comfrey in the planting hole when I plant out.

[VirginVegGrower]

I only start to feed when my first flowers start to set fruit.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Depends where you are going to grow them in prepared ground, or in a container/bucket of some sort.

I grow in Morrisons black buckets in used compost therefore my feeding regeme takes that into account.

Until the first fruit forms I feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser for green growth i.e. Miracle Grow. After the first fruit forms I change to high potash to swell the fruit i.e. Tomorite.

Potty

[stelladays]

Thanks for all the helpful replies, i will be growing them on in pots, they seem to be stuck at this height for weeks, just thinking feeding will help.

I have feed my chilli plants last week and they have moved on big time in the last week, don't know if its the feed or the warmer weather.

Many thanks

[Potstubsdustbins]

The warmer weather will certainly help. When you say weeks do you mean above about 6 weeks as this is about the time limit for MPC to give nutriants to the plants and they will need feeding or potting on into fresh compost.

Potty

[stelladays]

To be honest when i pot them on i pot them straight back into new MPC, think this is where i might be going wrong

Thanks

[Potstubsdustbins]

No new MPC is fine that just what I used to do before I started to save old MPC and revitalise it.

What vareity are they and how old?

Potty

[marcofez]

You could always feed them a weak strength solution and then as everyone says, feed proper at flowering stage!

[stelladays]

They are F1 Sweet 'n' Neat Cherry and they are about 4 weeks old. So would you feed them now with a diluted liquid feed

Many Thanks

[Potstubsdustbins]

If they were put in to new MPC it should not be a lack of nutrients.

Just checked Sweet & Neat are a compact bush vareity and will only be about 12" high when mature. At 4 weeks old I don't think you have much to worry about.

Keep them away from the cold and give as much light as possible, don't let them dry out but don't over water either.

Then have another look at them in a week or so.

Potty

[Two_Sheds]

, i will be growing them on in pots, they seem to be stuck at this height for weeks,

That's because it's been cold. Once we get some warm weather, they will take off

If you over-feed, as others have said, you will get lots of foliage, at the expense of fruit. Also, lots of lush green leaves is very vulnerable to greenfly attack. If you grow your plants slower, smaller and tougher, they aren't so palatable to aphids.

[rustylady]

Hi

Some say start feeding when it first flowers others say when the first truss forms (what does this mean)?

A truss is a side branch with flowers on it.

[stelladays]

Many Thanks for all your replies, some good advice given