Earthtainer vs. Raised Bed comparison

[recruiterg]

When I compare my plants, the tomatoes in the Earthtainer appear to be a darker shade of green and the foliage appears to be much thicker and fuller. The raised bed plants have good flowering and some fruitset, but seem to be a lighter shade of green and the foliage is more sparce.

Obviously, this may be due to the fact that the Earthtainer toms are growing in Miracle-Gro (has alot of fertalizer already in it).

Can I conclude that something like Nitrogen is lacking in my raised bed garden soil? Is there anything I can do to amend the soil mid-season? Should I just chill out and quit worrying?

Pat

[Moonglow]

Hi, Pat! I'm tuning in to find out what the experts have to say about this. Although I grow my tomatoes in neither beds nor Earthainer, I'd like to try next year. (I grow mine in Earthboxes and Tomato Success Kits).

[Blueaussi]

How do the flowers on the Earthtainer tomatoes and the raised bed tomatoes compare? Insect activity?

[recruiterg]

I would say the Earthtainer toms have more blossoms, but not a really significant difference.

[Moonglow]

Could you please post photos? Thank you.

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Are they the same varities in the tainer and bed? I know some varities are darker then others.

I know nitrogen is for plant leaf and stem growth so that could have something to do with it or maybe your tainer is more of an ideal environment and those plants are thriving.

Craig

[dice]

You could give the plants in the ground a watering with fish
emulsion if you have some. It is mostly nitrogen, but not so
strong or quick release that it will keep a plant from flowering
or induce BER if used as directed on the bottle. It usually works
to green up a pale-looking plant that is a little low on nitrogen.

Do not expect instant results with fish emulsion. It can take a
week before any difference is apparent. The plants in the ground
may catch up once they get a little bigger and grow more roots
(the plants in container mix in the earthtainers have an easy of
time of it when it comes to growing roots, because the soil is
so loose).

[sprtsguy76]

I notice the difference too. I have two identical plants one in a swc and one in the ground. The difference in appearence is dramatic, the one in the swc looks more lush, green and way more flawless. The difference is something I have noticed for three years now. One could conclude that the swc has a more consistant environment and a steady flow of water. Another difference I have continually seen through out the years is that my in ground tomatoes taste better than those in the swc's. I have made some adjustments once again this year with my swc's. This year I'm trying a all in one liquid synthetic fertilizer thats has the ideal npk ratio for tomatoes. I also shrank my wick from a 5" circular one to a 4" square one. I want to see if the perfect balance of nutrients and a smaller wick will help with taste, I hope it does.

Damon

[Moonglow]

Originally Posted by sprtsguy76

I notice the difference too. I have two identical plants one in a swc and one in the ground. The difference in appearance is dramatic, the one in the swc looks more lush, green and way more flawless. The difference is something I have noticed for three years now. One could conclude that the swc has a more consistent environment and a steady flow of water. Another difference I have continually seen through out the years is that my in ground tomatoes taste better than those in the swc's. I have made some adjustments once again this year with my swc's. This year I'm trying a all in one liquid synthetic fertilizer thats has the ideal npk ratio for tomatoes. I also shrank my wick from a 5" circular one to a 4" square one. I want to see if the perfect balance of nutrients and a smaller wick will help with taste, I hope it does.

Damon

Damon, thanks for your notes. Unfortunately for me I have nothing to compare since all of my tomatoes are container-grown (mostly self-watering). However, they are also grown organically.

Is it true that companion planting makes tomatoes taste better?

Thanks.

[recruiterg]

The first photo is Brandywine Suddith (left) and Brandywine Heirloom (right). The second photo is Aunt Gerties Gold and the third is KBX. I think you can see the color differences and the difference in the thickness of the foliage.

[dice]

The ones in the self-watering container definitely look like they
are getting more nitrogen, but the plants in the soil do not look
like they are seriously deficient to me. I would guess that the
plants in the self-watering container have a greater density of
roots in the fertilizer.

If you want to test, you could add a little liquid fertilizer to one
of the plants in the ground and then compare in a week to see
how much difference it made.

[Fert1]

I've only grown in containers the last 2 years, and they are just regular, (large), pots not Earthtainers. Both years my plants in pots were bushier, earlier to develop fruit, and produced more fruit. In general, my container plants thrive better than those in the ground. So far no BER either, (knocking on wood).

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Pat I just thought of another possibility it has been a cool spring for us this year and could it be soil temperature since the swc soil temp was probably higher at plant out and warms faster.

P.S. Plants look great I will have to take updated pics this weekend and update my 2009 journal but I think mine are close to that size for the most part and jsut starting to bloom.

Craig

[feldon30]

recruiterg, Based on the dense foliage, and heavy branching, I would say the container one is getting plenty of nitrogen. The in-ground plant looks just fine to me. I don't see anything to really worry about at this stage.

[amideutch]

Recruiterg, Right now the growing conditions in your tainer are close to ideal as far as temperature, nutrient and water supply are concerned. Once the root structure of your plants in the raised bed get more developed and ground temperature raises your bed plants will catch up and green up. Desert Bat Guano at 8-4-1 or Marine Cuisine at 10-7-7 would make good supplements. Here's a link. Ami

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/se...y%20Fertilizer