What do you put into your tomato hole?

Rfdillon · February 3, 2015

As I hope to start planting some of my tomatoes into the ground in~one month, I am looking at gathering together what I will need, and am looking for suggestions as to what to place into the planting hokey. I have heard of everything from bananas and egg shells to kelp extract. I am looking for proven ingredients, and thank you in advance or your help!

gssgarden · February 3, 2015

A handful of compost from the bin until that runs out then its dehydrated cow manure.

Greg

PaulF · February 3, 2015

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.

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.

FarmerShawn · February 3, 2015

I drop in a tablespoon full (or so) of Tomato Tone, a bit of lime, and a walnut-sized (or so) nugget of worm castings from my worm bin. Mix in the bottom of the hole, drop in the transplant, water, backfill, water (again), and top off with a couple handfuls of my soil blocking mix, Vermont Compost Fort Vee, as mulch to keep the weeds at bay (and to feed the plant). I have previously generously spread compost on the row and tilled it in, then spread plastic mulch over the row, with drip tape underneath. Holes are dug fairly deeply with a bulb auger in my cordless drill.

Alan&Jayne · February 3, 2015

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.

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

saltmarsh · February 3, 2015

Water before and after transplanting to settle the soil around the roots.

BigVanVader · February 3, 2015

You'll never know

kath · February 3, 2015

Here are a couple of the threads that Paul was referring to- you can probably find more by doing and advanced search.

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=27216

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=26754

I'm still experimenting, but I usually mix some compost in the hole, dip the rootball into a fertilizer mix, and then spread, mix, and water in a dry organic fertilizer in a circle about 3" from the stem.

Blueaussi · February 3, 2015

If that's like my pie hole, I put more and more tomatoes in it!

AlittleSalt · February 3, 2015

Quote: "What PaulF and saltmarsh wrote"

Exactly what I do too.

creister · February 3, 2015

Two cups of worm castings, 1/2 cup tomato tone, mix with back fill and water. You could also add a handful of rock phosphate.

February 3, 2015	#1
Rfdillon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 121	What do you put into your tomato hole? As I hope to start planting some of my tomatoes into the ground in~one month, I am looking at gathering together what I will need, and am looking for suggestions as to what to place into the planting hokey. I have heard of everything from bananas and egg shells to kelp extract. I am looking for proven ingredients, and thank you in advance or your help!

February 3, 2015	#3
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,286	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. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

February 3, 2015	#5
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I drop in a tablespoon full (or so) of Tomato Tone, a bit of lime, and a walnut-sized (or so) nugget of worm castings from my worm bin. Mix in the bottom of the hole, drop in the transplant, water, backfill, water (again), and top off with a couple handfuls of my soil blocking mix, Vermont Compost Fort Vee, as mulch to keep the weeds at bay (and to feed the plant). I have previously generously spread compost on the row and tilled it in, then spread plastic mulch over the row, with drip tape underneath. Holes are dug fairly deeply with a bulb auger in my cordless drill. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

February 7, 2015	#8
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 3, 2015	#2
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,822	A handful of compost from the bin until that runs out then its dehydrated cow manure. Greg

February 3, 2015	#6
Alan&Jayne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Lady Lake FL (The Villages) Posts: 6	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.

February 3, 2015	#10
saltmarsh Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: 2 miles south of Yoknapatawpha Zone 7b Posts: 662	Water before and after transplanting to settle the soil around the roots.

February 3, 2015	#11
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	You'll never know

February 3, 2015	#12
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Here are a couple of the threads that Paul was referring to- you can probably find more by doing and advanced search. http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=27216 http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=26754 I'm still experimenting, but I usually mix some compost in the hole, dip the rootball into a fertilizer mix, and then spread, mix, and water in a dry organic fertilizer in a circle about 3" from the stem.

February 3, 2015	#13
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	If that's like my pie hole, I put more and more tomatoes in it!

February 3, 2015	#14
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Quote: "What PaulF and saltmarsh wrote" Exactly what I do too.

February 3, 2015	#15
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Two cups of worm castings, 1/2 cup tomato tone, mix with back fill and water. You could also add a handful of rock phosphate.