Soil mixture for smart pots

[augiedog55]

Hello all. I'm new here and need some advice. I'm going to be growing some heirloom tomatoes on my deck in 25 gallon smart pots. I'll have 7 of them so I will need 175 gallons of soil mixture. My question is a 2 parter. Can I make the Raybo 3:2:1 mixture with, say, 3 part mixture horse manure, cow manure and another compost, 2 parts of pine bark fines and one part perlite? Will this work? Also there is a place in Kc MO that sells a promixture used by greenhouses that's 75% pine bark fines and 25% compost with some minerals added. Which would you go with (would I add perlite if I use this mixture)? Also for a fertilizer I have some chick adoo doo that is a chicken manure pellet that I believe is 5-3-3 with 10 percent calcium. Will I need to add anything else for fertilizer to this mix? Say worm castings?
Thanks for your advice in advance. I know it's a lot of questions for a newbie but I want to get it right.
Bruce in Kc MO.

[rnewste]

Bruce,

I've never grown in smart pots, but I would never use manure in a container type system, at the 3:2:1 ratio you propose. Is there a reason you don't want to use Potting Mix as the main "3" component of the Combo Mix?

Raybo

[augiedog55]

Ray, Thanks for your quick reply.The biggest fact would be cost of buying that much potting mixture. That would be approximately 90 gallions if I'm right. I'm trying to save a few bucks. How about the promix I asked about , I can buy it by the cubic yd?

[augiedog55]

Ray, How would be 90 gallions equate into 2 cubic ft potting mixture bags .? My math isn't really good.
Thanks again.
Bruce

[rnewste]

Bruce,

1 cubic foot equates to 7.5 gallons.

ProMix would be an excellent choice to use in the smart pots for the "3" component. This will provide for good aeration and drainage. Manure would choke off air from getting to the root system and stunt the plant's development.

Raybo

[augiedog55]

With the promix being 75% pine bark fines and 25 % compoct for the "3" part would I add for the "2" part more pine bark fines?

[rnewste]

What you want is ProMix BX, which is approx 80% peat moss, 15% Perlite, and the balance Vermiculite. What you are describing is not the ProMix BX that I am familiar with.

Raybo

[augiedog55]

If I can't get this pro mix BX here in kc will any potting mix with approximately 80% peet 15 % perlite and balance vermiculite work for the 3 portion.. Then 2 pine bark fines and one part perlited added? I hate to be such a pain Ray.. I'm just trying to get it right

[rnewste]

Yes, that Potting Mix formulation coupled with the Microbark and Perlite in the 3:2:1 ratio should work fine. Miracle Grow without Moisture Control is most commonly available, if you can't get ProMix.

Raybo

[augiedog55]

I can get that. Thank you. Also can I fertilize with the chickado doo that aprox 5, 3 , 3 with 10% calcuim to start with and for maintinance? Will worm castings also be good for a fertilzer ?

[rnewste]

If you are going to grow tomatoes, then TomatoTone would be my recommendation.

Raybo

[dice]

I had one 5 gallon container in 2011 with this stuff in it plus a
couple of handfuls of composted chicken manure and a handful
of gypsum:
http://www.blackgold.bz/planting-mix
(It is suggested as a soil amendment, but I used it for container
mix, just to see how it would work.)

It was only a cherry tomato, but it grew well and set a lot of fruit.

[fortyonenorth]

Have you already purchased your 25 gal smart pots? If not, you could certainly go with a smaller container. I used 7 gal fabric containers for determinates and 10 - 15 gal for indeterminates and they worked just fine. A lot of folks use 5 gal containers with great success. This would save money on both the containers and substrate.

[augiedog55]

fortyonenorth.here is a list of heirlooms i'm growng this spring.
drubza
evapurpleball
paul robison
hawaian pineapple
green zebra
mortgage lifter and carmello.
i don't know how big these plants are.
what size pots would you recommend for each of these

[fortyonenorth]

I've grown Druzba, Paul Robeson, and Green Zebra. I think you could get by with 10 gal. containers - 15 gal if you want to be generous. There's certainly no harm in growing in very large containers (e.g. 25 gal), but given the choice between a quality soil mix in a smaller container and a less-than-ideal mix in a larger container, I think you'll have better luck with the smaller pot/better mix.