What do you put into your tomato hole? - Page 2

Cole_Robbie · February 3, 2015

I'm always experimenting, but greensand has won a permanent spot in all my recipes. It is a mined mineral from areas where sea water was trapped and dried up over time.

In addition, this year my beds, which are mostly made from old cow manure, will get rock phosphate and tomatotone. I have an ez-flo hooked up to the drip, so I can experiment with it, mostly to see what will clog my drip tape and what won't. Molasses should be ok. I am looking at Superthrive as a seaweed product and another product called Mushroom Stuff that is a mushroom extract. They are expensive, but I am hoping to make a tiny amount go a long way by using them in the fertilizer injector.

I'm also going to try an aerated compost tea in the injector. The hard part will be filtering it enough so that it doesn't clog everything.

I also found RV water filters at Menards for $20. They attach to a garden hose and can be plumbed in a series. So this year my drip system will get filtered water. It may not be the greatest filter in the world, but it will be an upgrade from none at all.

kayrobbins · February 3, 2015

I put crushed eggshells in even though it is not scientifically proven to be beneficial. My grandmother and mother did it and it is paying homage to those that taught me to love gardening. I also put in worm casting because I am a great believer in their benefits. And I also put in two plain asprin to help prevent diseases. It may or may not work but it can't hurt.

shelleybean · February 3, 2015

Just the plant.

KarenO · February 3, 2015

I first fill the hole s with water and let it drain. Then sprinkle About a tablespoon each of Epsom's salts and a granular organic fertilizer into each hole and then plant deep, backfill and firm in. My transplants are generally quite large so they are tied in to a stake and caged at planting time.
KO

ScottinAtlanta · February 3, 2015

Compost and a handful of Tomato Tone.

4season · February 6, 2015

I plan to add some mumsey mix this year, never have tried it before but some like it.
Not sure if by volume or weight.
1 bone meal
1 corn meal
1/2 powdered milk
1/4 or 1/2 Epsom salt depending on whose recipe you read. I may read Charles Wilber's book, How to Grow World Record Tomatoes again for ideas.

Stvrob · February 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan&Jayne

Loren Nancarrow said on youtube "If you do nothing else, I want you to do this....we want to give each plant a cup of agricultural gypsum". He says if will prevent blossom end rot.

Would 'recycled drywall work just as well?

4season · February 7, 2015

I would not use wallboard, it may have glues and additives that are harmful.

saltmarsh · February 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stvrob

Would 'recycled drywall work just as well?

http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Cha...ths/Gypsum.pdf

Redbaron · February 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulF

This topic has been kicked around T'ville since 2006. It has been a while since this topic has come up so enjoy the answers. I put in the hole a tomato plant and the dirt that came from the hole and top it off with some water.

That is what I used to do back in Indiana. It will be a few years before I can get away with that here though. Soil is too poor.

So for now, compost and dirt and a bit of slow release dry organic ferts..watered with compost tea and inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi. All to stimulate the biology to heal the soil. So that one day here too I can just dig a hole and drop the seedling in.

crazyoldgooseman · February 8, 2015

A hand full of composted cow manure. 1 crushed egg shell, and 2 Jobes tomato spikes.

charley · February 11, 2015

One fish in the bottom with a handful of fire place ash 2 handfuls of home made compost then goes the worm castings and tomatoe tone then mycorrhizal fungi then the plant and fill in around the plant with more compost

marthahill · February 12, 2015

Well, since I am new here and I see many of you are in similar zones to mine I will add my nickel`s worth here. I add a bit of commercial fertilizer worked in well, then the tomato, topped with a couple of TBSP of epsom salts worked around on top of the soil. The entire garden is amended each year with horse manure so little is needed. I do not water if the soil is moist. Too much water at planting time makes the roots happy to be where they are,,by not watering they will begin to spread faster in search of water and I think that makes a stronger root system. But that's just my opinion.

Worth1 · February 12, 2015

Soil plant and water.
Worth

Redbaron · February 12, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Soil plant and water.
Worth

One day Worth. One day I dream of being able to do that again like I used to do in Indiana in my youth.

Makes it SOOOOO much easier.

February 3, 2015	#16
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I'm always experimenting, but greensand has won a permanent spot in all my recipes. It is a mined mineral from areas where sea water was trapped and dried up over time. In addition, this year my beds, which are mostly made from old cow manure, will get rock phosphate and tomatotone. I have an ez-flo hooked up to the drip, so I can experiment with it, mostly to see what will clog my drip tape and what won't. Molasses should be ok. I am looking at Superthrive as a seaweed product and another product called Mushroom Stuff that is a mushroom extract. They are expensive, but I am hoping to make a tiny amount go a long way by using them in the fertilizer injector. I'm also going to try an aerated compost tea in the injector. The hard part will be filtering it enough so that it doesn't clog everything. I also found RV water filters at Menards for $20. They attach to a garden hose and can be plumbed in a series. So this year my drip system will get filtered water. It may not be the greatest filter in the world, but it will be an upgrade from none at all. Last edited by Cole_Robbie; February 3, 2015 at 03:51 PM.

February 3, 2015	#18
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	Just the plant. __________________ Michele

February 7, 2015	#23
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	what do you put in your tomato hole I would not use wallboard, it may have glues and additives that are harmful.

February 8, 2015	#26
crazyoldgooseman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southern Maryland 7a Posts: 200	A hand full of composted cow manure. 1 crushed egg shell, and 2 Jobes tomato spikes. __________________ Anybody see where I sat my beer? -crazyoldgooseman

February 3, 2015	#17
kayrobbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 820	I put crushed eggshells in even though it is not scientifically proven to be beneficial. My grandmother and mother did it and it is paying homage to those that taught me to love gardening. I also put in worm casting because I am a great believer in their benefits. And I also put in two plain asprin to help prevent diseases. It may or may not work but it can't hurt.

February 3, 2015	#19
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,922	I first fill the hole s with water and let it drain. Then sprinkle About a tablespoon each of Epsom's salts and a granular organic fertilizer into each hole and then plant deep, backfill and firm in. My transplants are generally quite large so they are tied in to a stake and caged at planting time. KO

February 3, 2015	#20
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Compost and a handful of Tomato Tone.

February 6, 2015	#21
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	I plan to add some mumsey mix this year, never have tried it before but some like it. Not sure if by volume or weight. 1 bone meal 1 corn meal 1/2 powdered milk 1/4 or 1/2 Epsom salt depending on whose recipe you read. I may read Charles Wilber's book, How to Grow World Record Tomatoes again for ideas.

February 11, 2015	#27
charley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: copperas cove TEXAS Posts: 637	One fish in the bottom with a handful of fire place ash 2 handfuls of home made compost then goes the worm castings and tomatoe tone then mycorrhizal fungi then the plant and fill in around the plant with more compost

February 12, 2015	#28
marthahill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NE Texas Posts: 13	Well, since I am new here and I see many of you are in similar zones to mine I will add my nickel`s worth here. I add a bit of commercial fertilizer worked in well, then the tomato, topped with a couple of TBSP of epsom salts worked around on top of the soil. The entire garden is amended each year with horse manure so little is needed. I do not water if the soil is moist. Too much water at planting time makes the roots happy to be where they are,,by not watering they will begin to spread faster in search of water and I think that makes a stronger root system. But that's just my opinion.

February 12, 2015	#29
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Soil plant and water. Worth