A few of this year's tomatoes

[Chris2018]

A look at a couple of this year's tomatoes.
These little girls were planted as seed indoors on the 7th of April and have been growing in natural/organic soil mix and fed natural/organic nutrients.

 

[Trish1974]

Lookin' good!

 

[Chris2018]

The soil mix we used for the 30 gallon fabric pots is a mixture of;

Big Roots soil,
Peat moss, Triple Washed Coir, Clean Sourced Compost , Worm Castings, Ligna Peat, Pumice, Seabird Guano, Langbiente, Feather Meal, Kelp Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Green Sand, Bat Guano, Dolomite (as pH adjuster), Volcanic Ash, Fish Bone Meal, Neem Meal, Glacial Rock Dust, Rock Phosphate, Sulfate of Potash, Humic Acid, Blood Meal, Oyster Shell (as pH adjuster).
Mycorrhizae are provided to allow mycorrhizal colonization of roots

Roots Organic 707,
Coarse peat, coco fiber, compost, perlite, pumice, worm castings, bat guano, fish bone meal, soybean meal, feather meal and kelp meal.

Fox Farms Ocean Forest,
Composted forest humus, sphagnum peat moss, Pacific Northwest sea-going fish emulsion, crab meal, shrimp meal, earthworm castings, sandy loam, perlite, bat guano, granite dust, Norwegian kelp, and oyster shell (for pH adjustment).

Pro Mix HP
Canadian sphagnum peat moss (65-75%), Perlite, dolomitic & calcitic limestone (pH adjuster), mycorrhizae.

 

[Chris2018]

The nutrients that were using are;

Down to Earth Alfalfa Meal
Down to Earth Azomite
Roots Organics Oregonisum XL
Roots Organics Essential Earth
Organic Nutrients Insect Frass + Silica
General Organics GO Box containing;
Bio Thrive
CaMg
Bio Root
Bio Weed
Bio Marine
Diamond Black

 

[Chris2018]

Here is a quick and basic breakdown of the nute's that we use and there make up.

Alfalfa Meal --
We use alfalfa meal for a number of reasons but we like that it provides a nice balance of the major nutrients, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but also magnesium and sulfur. Alfalfa meal contains one of the most powerful plant growth hormone tricontanol and along with nutrients, plant growth hormones, alfalfa meal naturally contains high concentrations of vitamins A, B and E, as well as riboflavin, biotin, and folic acid, as well as 16 amino acids which all help with plant growth and reproduction.
The alfalfa meal we use is 2.5-0.5-2.5

Azomite --
We use Azomite for its natural source of minerals and trace elements.
Benefits of azomite are its ability to help grows stronger plants, better tasting vegetables along with improved weight increase at harvest.

Oregonism XL --
We use the product because of its ability to helps to increase nutrient uptake, encourages vigorous root systems and helps plants resist stress. The blend increases root mass and size by colonizing the root system with symbiotic fungi and bacteria. Oregonian XL is a blend of seven endo/ecto mycorrhizae species, two types of Trichoderma, and thirteen species of beneficial bacteria, as well as yucca, humic acid and soluble kelp.

Essential Earth --
We use this product for its ability to aid in the uptake of micronutrients. Essential Earth is a concentrated natural humic acid supplement derived from natural leonardite.

ORGANIC Nutrients Insect Frass --
This product is made from the excrement and exoskeletons of bugs, full of beneficial microorganisms and chitin it helps plants to defend themselves against pests and pathogens. (2-2-2, plus silica)

BioThrive Grow --
Provides plants with essential nutrients for roots, stems and foliage. Conceived from plant and mineral extracts and its formulation encourages beneficial microbial activity in the root zone.
Ingredients: Alfalfa meal, cane sugar, copper sulphate, glacial rock powder, iron sulphate, kieserite, manganese sulphate, molasses, plant extracts, potassium sulphate, rock phosphate, sodium borate, sodium molybdenate, soybean meal and zinc phosphate.
Non-Plant Food Ingredients:
2% seaweed derived from Ascophyllum nodosumand Laminaria digitata and 0.2% humic acids derived from leonardite.

CaMg + --
Contains an all-natural blend of fermented calcium and magnesium combined with organic acids and sugar chelates. These low molecular weight acids may facilitate calcium and magnesium transport into the plant.
Ingredients: Calcium carbonate, and magnesium nitrate.

BioRoot --
This is a natural plant growth supplement that helps plants establish healthy and vibrant root systems. It contains plant and mineral-derived organic acids and humates.
Ingredients: Alfalfa meal, brewers yeast, potassium sulphate, rock phosphate, sea kelp and soybean meal.



-- To Be Continued --

 

[drewskimac]

Looking pretty good! Mine are already about 4 feet tall and full of tomatoes. I'm not sure how i'm going to keep them contained when they are this large already.

 

[Trish1974]

Looking pretty good! Mine are already about 4 feet tall and full of tomatoes. I'm not sure how i'm going to keep them contained when they are this large already.

Are yours in the ground or in pots? I use the Florida Weave method for staking, put mine are in the ground. Its where you drive a T-post at each end of your rows, then take rope or twine, tie one end low on the T-post (I start at one foot high), loop it around the front of the first plant, behind the second plant, then bring it across the front of the next plant, like making a figure 8 around the plants. When you get to the end post wrap the rope around and figure 8 back towards the beginning, then pull the rope tight and tie to the first post. I repeat again about every 12-15" of growth. Its hard to explain; I think there is a video on YouTube about it. These are pictures from the first summer I used the method. I didn't put in any center posts and my middle plants fell over by the end of the season. I now put a post every 4th plant. It beats every other method I've tried.

 

[Chris2018]

@drewskimac
Give me a couple weeks and I'll be at 4 ft. Theses tomatoes got put in theses tubs less than a month ago and are still young at 8 week but pinched buds off already. There average growth is about 2.5 inches a week so not bad. When did you start your plants?

 

[drewskimac]

@drewskimac
Give me a couple weeks and I'll be at 4 ft. Theses tomatoes got put in theses tubs less than a month ago and are still young at 8 week but pinched buds off already. There average growth is about 2.5 inches a week so not bad. When did you start your plants?

Yours look really health too! I believe I started mine in late February.

 

[drewskimac]

Are yours in the ground or in pots? I use the Florida Weave method for staking, put mine are in the ground. Its where you drive a T-post at each end of your rows, then take rope or twine, tie one end low on the T-post (I start at one foot high), loop it around the front of the first plant, behind the second plant, then bring it across the front of the next plant, like making a figure 8 around the plants. When you get to the end post wrap the rope around and figure 8 back towards the beginning, then pull the rope tight and tie to the first post. I repeat again about every 12-15" of growth. Its hard to explain; I think there is a video on YouTube about it. These are pictures from the first summer I used the method. I didn't put in any center posts and my middle plants fell over by the end of the season. I now put a post every 4th plant. It beats every other method I've tried.
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View attachment 1415057

Thanks! I would do that... But the posts I used are only 5 ft which is a huge mistake. I will be upsizing next season!