Thread: Fertilizer
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Old February 15, 2013   #41
Urbanfarmer
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Freeport, Texas
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Container gardening has it's pros and cons. The two biggest problems we see are: keeping them consistently watered, and, supplying enough nutrition in a confined space.

Think of container gardening as "manual hydroponics", because that's about what it is. Container-grown plants are entirely dependent on you delivering what they want.....same as hydroponics. So think like a commercial greenhouse hydroponic grower. What do they do?

They supply full water and nutritional needs to the plants on a consistent basis. Water is easy, as long as you're devoted or on automatic. But what do they do about nutrition? They supply custom, complete formulas in the correct ratios and concentrations. You can do this too. Just make sure it is a tomato formula with low levels of nitrogen, and high levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

An example: you can fill grow bags with an inert, soilless potting mix. Don't add any nutrition to it. If you water with a top-quality hydroponic tomato formula all season, you more than likely will have outstanding results......as long as you don't let the root zone dry out, and the mix drains well.

Keep in mind, even if you stack the mix with nutrients in the beginning, you still need to augment them with more, because by the time the plants reach the heavy fruiting stage, there isn't enough nutrition left, or in the correct ratios, to allow the plants to perform to their full potential.

Hope this helps.....
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