General discussion regarding the techniques and methods used to successfully grow tomato plants in containers.
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February 12, 2011 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 147
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Miracle Grow Moisture Control
I am going to plant a bunch of toms in containers (not SWCs) and am unsure about the soil. Right now Miracle Grow's Moisture Control potting mix is inexpensive at Costco, and I was hoping to use that.
Should I mix it with other substances (bark fines/pearlite) or is it ok on its own? Doing research on the forums I found this recipe: 3 parts potting mix 2p bark fines 1 p pearlite opinions? Is there any reason I should not use moisture control for tomatoes, but should make my own mix instead? I plan on growing dwarfs and Stupice in 5 gal containers. I am also growing Black Sea Man in larger (10-15+ gal) containers. |
February 12, 2011 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4)
Posts: 945
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Most people recommend not using moisture control MG. Use the regular MG potting mix without moisture control.
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February 12, 2011 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN
Posts: 967
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2 years ago I did the same thing as Costo did not carry the regular potting mix and planted all my tomato pots (non SWC) with the moisture control potting mix and will never do that again plants did poorly. I would recomend using the potting mix without moisture control for your tomato plants. I can get the non moisture control mix at our local Fleet Farm for about the same price and that has worked better for me.
Craig |
February 12, 2011 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
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What Craig says.
Plus, even in non-SWC container applications, I would still use the "3:2:1" Combo Mix. Otherwise, you are going to end up with "goop" midway through the Season (no aeration to the roots). Raybo |
February 12, 2011 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 147
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If I can't find bark fines, is sphagnum peat moss a reasonable replacement?
I can find peat moss, vermiculite, pearlite, and MC (non-moisture) at my local hardware shop. |
February 12, 2011 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
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Quote:
I have to believe somewhere in Austin you can find small pine or other bark. Check Home Depot. If all else fails, try a mix with Clay Soil Conditioner to see if the total mix is light and airy. You want microscopic "channels" for the air to get to the roots - - much like worms provide with in-ground growing. You need to simulate this environment in containers if you want a happy outcome. Earl taught me that a LONG time ago..... Raybo |
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February 13, 2011 | #7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Dallas
Posts: 344
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Quote:
But the fines have their place and specific function in the mixes Ray and others formulate that are hard to duplicate exactly with other materials. Some mulches can have some similar characteristics in terms of drainage but many are too coarse, sometimes because the shredders were not sharp enough. Any wood will increase C:N ratios in the near term but the source of the wood (heartwood versus sapwood versus bark) makes a difference to what ratio you wind up with in the mix. Having said that, nature will adjust things the way it likes them pretty much regardless of what you or I do. |
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April 7, 2011 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hicksville, New York
Posts: 503
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What does MG potting soil at costcos cost?
what does MG at Costcos' cost? We have been using home depot's ultralite top soil and mixing it with dehydrated manure and some fertilizer. Anyone try this?
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April 7, 2011 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 147
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Update:
I have found that the Happygro compost at Lowe's is a good substitute for bark fines. It is light and fluffy and the particles are of the right size. I think it would make crappy compost, but it makes great bark fines substitute. It is not on the Lowe's website so perhaps it is only carried in certain stores. The Miracle Gro at my Costco is all of the Moisture-control variety, and thu not desirable for tomatoes. |
April 7, 2011 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Naperville, IL
Posts: 176
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My local Menards always has an excellent price on regular Miracle Gro potting mix - their largest bag has usually been almost half the cost as what Home Depot has been selling it for.
My one attempt with Moisture Control was not a good thing. It was fine for my flower pots in front of my house, but for tomatoes, it just would not even slightly dry out. It was like a swamp in there. |
April 7, 2011 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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What do they use for their moisture control in the Miracle Grow? The reason I ask is down here where it is so hot I use water retaining crystals in my mix for containers and since using it my plants have done much better. I even apply some each season to my raised beds. Since using it I have had far less splitting of tomatoes after heavy rains and it has cut my watering by about one third. Before using the crystals my plants in containers never lived very long and were always unhealthy looking. It is very hard to get out and water containers twice a day during the really hot summer months. That is why I have soaker hoses in my raised beds with water crystals and heavy mulch. Heck if it wasn't for fusarium wilt, early and late blight, TSWV, other leaf spots, aphids, white flies, spider mites, hornworms, stink bugs, hail, high winds, high humidity, flooding rains and droughts it would be really easy to grow tomatoes here.
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April 25, 2011 | #12 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Nashville TN zone 6-B
Posts: 133
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Quote:
Talk about heartbreak |
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April 7, 2011 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WI, USA Zone4
Posts: 1,887
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B54, don't forget the squirrels.
I've used MG potting mix with moisture control in pots and it does dry out. It has a small amount of bark fines mixed in. I think it has too much peat moss mixed in it to ever be top notch, but it does work. |
April 8, 2011 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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I don't know how I left the little darlings off my list of challenges.
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