Tomato feed, how often . . . ?

[CJS]

My toms are racing away, three trucess on some plants, still at bud and flower stage. I have been giving a feed every 3 or 4 days and plain water the rest of time. Is this enough feed, to much, not enough. The bottle says half a cap per gallon, but does not say how often?

Advise please, CJS

[Marken]

I think it depends on where they are growing - open ground, greenhouse, grow bag etc. If its the latter then I would have thought every 3/4 days at full strength would be ample, but to be honest I'd be interested in other replies too.

[CJS]

Yes they are in grow bags.

CJS

[oldherbaceous]

Dear CJS, what brand of Tomato food are you using, someone might have the same and be able to advise you better.

[CJS]

Dear CJS, what brand of Tomato food are you using, someone might have the same and be able to advise you better.

Got a new bottle the other day, 'Nutri', the previous brand was Wilkinsons own. Wilko brand gives little info, looked on Nutri, they give much more and say every 7 days.

Sorry to have troubled you all, I should have read the new dottle info

CJS

[oldherbaceous]

Dear CJS, don't concern yourself over that, at least you have the answer now, and that is the main thing.

Hope things are still progressing nicely for you.

[Geoff]

I nearly posted a similar thing a while ago.

I am using Kays feed which says use weekly first truss, twice weekly second truss, four times third truss. It gives the dilution but no idea of quantity.

I also have some Wilko food which says weekly first truss, 4.5 litres to 6 plants inside, 8 plants outside, gives a dilution and says use double strength for grow bags. Doesn't suggest increasing as plants grow.

Also have some Gardenline from Aldi, gives a dilution then says for grow bags from planting 1 litre per bag per week increase to 4.5 litres after first truss and double after second truss. There are more instructions for outdoor and indoor, presumably in beds.

Do you feed tomatoes in beds or just prepare the ground well like any other vegetable then leave them to it?

What I was going to say was there is a general lack of science in feeding instructions. The only precise stuff I have ever read is the tables in "Know and Grow Vegetables". One tat always bugs me is the often repeated 3 or 4 ozs per square yard to feed fruit trees - which square yards do you feed - wouldn't a quantity per tree be more sensible.

[CJS]

I tell you what, I enjoy my garden . . . but all this X for 1 truss Y for 2 trusses . . . etc I'm not growing show toms . . . they will get it twice a week from now on at the standard strength, and like it . . .

Sacrilege, maybe . . . but to me, that becomes a burden.

CJS

[macmac]

That's it CJS Treat em mean, Keep em keen!

[Elaine]

My toms are growing in the beds in my greenhouse. I use Tomorite or JA Bowers liquid feed. I use two capfuls per 2 gallon watering can as per instructions on the bottle and do this once a week as soon as the flowers appear. I only water the soil around the plants and plain water goes in the bottles in the soil, directed at the roots. My toms have always been plentiful and healthy so far (touch wood ) Cheers.

[Compo]

Or alternatively...........I grow mine in the greenhouse beds in virtually pure well rotted farm manure, I only feed with them home made comfrey and nettle tea (more comfrey than nettle) I do this once a fortnight and pour the tea which I make in five gallon buckets direct into the greenhouse beds, otherwise I use rainwater on a daily basis, I think the toms get a lot of food from the very fertile soil.

CoMpO