First Tomato Grow

TBoneJack · April 9, 2015

Hello Everyone,

I'm a new member and have recently developed an interest in growing tomatoes, which just happen to be my favorite after-work snack...with just a little bit of salt...but I digress...

I'm an organic grower of herbs, and I mix my own soil with ingredients and their ratios especially chosen with said herbs in mind. So I have experience in organic growing and mixing soils.

OK, so I bought some tomato seeds at Wal Mart (Early Girl and Beefstake). I germinated 10 of each in 18-ounce plastic cups filled with Roots Organic. They are now 2 weeks old with thick stems (I used scissors to drill a hole in the bottom of each cup for drainage).

They are getting big enough to transplant into larger containers. I'll use Roots Organic as well for that transplant.

But I have no idea what a good solution would be when I move them outside into 15-gallon pots (I'll be using homemade Smart Pots). Roots Organic is way too expensive to use for that.

This is my first tomato grow. I would suspect I could use Pro Mix HP or Sunshine Mix #4 as a base mix. But I have no idea what other ingredients to add to it.

Likewise, I have no idea what liquid nutes I might need to add in waterings during fruit production.

I suspect that mixing a nutrient rich soil, and liquid nutes during flowering, would both be required. Yes?

Thanks so much.

April 9, 2015	#1
TBoneJack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 15	First Tomato Grow Hello Everyone, I'm a new member and have recently developed an interest in growing tomatoes, which just happen to be my favorite after-work snack...with just a little bit of salt...but I digress... I'm an organic grower of herbs, and I mix my own soil with ingredients and their ratios especially chosen with said herbs in mind. So I have experience in organic growing and mixing soils. OK, so I bought some tomato seeds at Wal Mart (Early Girl and Beefstake). I germinated 10 of each in 18-ounce plastic cups filled with Roots Organic. They are now 2 weeks old with thick stems (I used scissors to drill a hole in the bottom of each cup for drainage). They are getting big enough to transplant into larger containers. I'll use Roots Organic as well for that transplant. But I have no idea what a good solution would be when I move them outside into 15-gallon pots (I'll be using homemade Smart Pots). Roots Organic is way too expensive to use for that. This is my first tomato grow. I would suspect I could use Pro Mix HP or Sunshine Mix #4 as a base mix. But I have no idea what other ingredients to add to it. Likewise, I have no idea what liquid nutes I might need to add in waterings during fruit production. I suspect that mixing a nutrient rich soil, and liquid nutes during flowering, would both be required. Yes? Thanks so much.