growing tomatoes in seaweed

[rary]

Looking through a gardening mag. I noted various adverts for plant food using seaweed extract, so was thinking I will grow tomatoes in a mix of shredded paper with shredded seaweed, the paper to hold the moisture and the seaweed to feed the plants, would it work and if you think not, why?

[veggiechicken]

Composted seaweed or fresh?

Whatever, I think you'd need some "body" in your mix to support the plants - some compost/soil perhaps.

[hamamelis]

As well as structure, I don't think seaweed has a whole lot of nitrogen in it, and as paper doesn't either, I don't think it would work very well without adding something else.

If you're using it fresh, it's going to pong a bit as it breaks down as well...

[lolie]

Looking through a gardening mag. I noted various adverts for plant food using seaweed extract, so was thinking I will grow tomatoes in a mix of shredded paper with shredded seaweed, the paper to hold the moisture and the seaweed to feed the plants, would it work and if you think not, why?

Seaweed extract is a soil conditioner rather than a fertiliser, so you'd need to add nutrients. I also don't think that shredded paper and seaweed would be strong enough to hold a tomato plant in fruit.

I've successfully grown stuff in a mix of paper pellet kitty litter and rabbit poop, though, so I think you're on the right track if you can add some structure and nutrients to the mix.

[rary]

Ok thanks for the comments taking what has been said I should have some structure in the mix, but that's what I was putting the paper in, I may use some course sand in the mix the seaweed will be fresh this week so by the time I plant into it it will be composted,as for the nitrogen how would putting shredded nettles into the mix do

[rary]

Here we go again posting twice would a kind Mod please remove one, or I might catch up on VC

[lolie]

Ok thanks for the comments taking what has been said I should have some structure in the mix, but that's what I was putting the paper in, I may use some course sand in the mix the seaweed will be fresh this week so by the time I plant into it it will be composted,as for the nitrogen how would putting shredded nettles into the mix do

Sand will add body and help drainage but it won't add any nutrients to the mix. It's going to be a while before you can plant tomatoes, so I'd think about either planting a green manure mix and digging it in or planting peas or beans as a first crop before you plant tomatoes in it.

[Jungle Jane]

I was reading about seaweed having a lot of nutrients,maybe the seaweed extract isn't as good as the actual seaweeds collected? I'm sure I read 70 micronutrients or something,also containing magnesium what tomatoes need,a handful of fresh grass cuttings helps with nitrogen I tried it once mixed in with compost for a tomato plant & the leaves were darker green in that pot,I don't know if that's good or not but it showed nitrogen

[rary]

Sand will add body and help drainage but it won't add any nutrients to the mix. It's going to be a while before you can plant tomatoes, so I'd think about either planting a green manure mix and digging it in or planting peas or beans as a first crop before you plant tomatoes in it.

I will be growing them in pots as I have found out by putting some out this year that trying to grow tomatoes outside in the garden in this area is not a good idea as it is generally too cold to grow in the open garden

[BUFFS]

Why not put a three inch layer of seaweed in the pot/tub and top up with compost as I do with tatties, and they love it..

[lolie]

I was reading about seaweed having a lot of nutrients,maybe the seaweed extract isn't as good as the actual seaweeds collected? I'm sure I read 70 micronutrients or something,also containing magnesium what tomatoes need,a handful of fresh grass cuttings helps with nitrogen I tried it once mixed in with compost for a tomato plant & the leaves were darker green in that pot,I don't know if that's good or not but it showed nitrogen

It's definitely good for trace elements.

[rary]

Why not put a three inch layer of seaweed in the pot/tub and top up with compost as I do with tatties, and they love it..

I have done that in the past Buffs, and now I want to find out if they will grow in a higher than normal seaweed mix, and how they taste if they grow, this thread is to find out what others think of the idea and what they think I should add, I will add some sand and had thought of adding nettles as it has been pointed out seaweed may not contain nitrogen but I like Jungle Jane's suggestion of using grass, and I think I will try a pot with high seaweed content and soil/paper mix, the reason for the paper, ---- I have got a large bin bag full of it and can get more free

[lolie]

I have done that in the past Buffs, and now I want to find out if they will grow in a higher than normal seaweed mix, and how they taste if they grow, this thread is to find out what others think of the idea and what they think I should add, I will add some sand and had thought of adding nettles as it has been pointed out seaweed may not contain nitrogen but I like Jungle Jane's suggestion of using grass, and I think I will try a pot with high seaweed content and soil/paper mix, the reason for the paper, ---- I have got a large bin bag full of it and can get more free

If you're growing in pots then you can try all sorts of weird and wonderful combinations to see what produces the best results. Make sure you post lots of pictures, I'm really curious about how the different combinations will go.

[rary]

If you're growing in pots then you can try all sorts of weird and wonderful combinations to see what produces the best results. Make sure you post lots of pictures, I'm really curious about how the different combinations will go.

After reading lolie`s post I have been giving some thought to what was said, as I can get both cow and horse manure I will try a seaweed mix with both of them, the question now is would I still be better adding the sand?