Regular or slow release in your SWC?

Jaysan · June 15, 2013

I saw on the earthbox forum instructions that they say to NOT use slow release fertilizer in the strip if using non-organic products.

Do you SWC growers go by that rule or not?

I want to make sure I am getting the best I can out of my SWC garden as this is my first year with them.

Sun City Linda · June 15, 2013

You could use slow release or coated fert if you wanted too. It works but is very expensive compared to regular granular. I have been growing in Earthboxes for four years I use regular granular fertilizer. I supplement with a teaspoon of Calcium Nitrate down the water tube once a week. Occasionally I will supplement with additional ferts (liquid) but I have a very long growing season.

ginger2778 · June 15, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

You could use slow release or coated fert if you wanted too. It works but is very expensive compared to regular granular. I have been growing in Earthboxes for four years I use regular granular fertilizer. I supplement with a teaspoon of Calcium Nitrate down the water tube once a week. Occasionally I will supplement with additional ferts (liquid) but I have a very long growing season.

Linda, what liquid fert do you use? As you know I am also an earthbox grower, and use the "snack" too, but haven't gotten a liquid fert yet. I also have a long growing season and I think I need it too.
Thanks for the help,
Marsha

Jaysan · June 15, 2013

I believe I saw where a fellow member was having good results with Lilly Miller 10 10 10 and I am trying it.

I have not used the snack but I do have some on hand.

Sun City Linda · June 16, 2013

Ginger - I keep some of the Bonnie Soy based liquid around (All the big box stores carry it here) and use it sometimes if I need a boost to get things going. Later in the season when I have a lot of fruit set, sometimes I use a water soluble "ripening blend" (no N, high P and K) I ordered last year from Kelp4Less. Last year I used some seaweed product also. I think I will not need to use as many additional supplements this year as I have switched to a 10-10-10 fert.

Jason I am using Lilly Miller 10-10-10 this year also. So far so good. I start using the snack (Calcium Nitrate) right after plant out as an aid to help prevent BER.

ArthurDent004 · June 16, 2013

Sun City Linda - What was your experience ordering from Kelp4Less? I just heard about this place but they don't have a BBB report. I was thinking of ordering some Azomite and Calcium Nitrate.

ginger2778 · June 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArthurDent004

Sun City Linda - What was your experience ordering from Kelp4Less? I just heard about this place but they don't have a BBB report. I was thinking of ordering some Azomite and Calcium Nitrate.

I am not Linda, but my experience with them was very good service with fast shipping.

Linda, thank you for suggesting the no nitrogen blend, I have to get some! I am very familiar with Kelp4Less since I bought their calcium nitrate.

Marsha

Rockporter · June 16, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaysan

I believe I saw where a fellow member was having good results with Lilly Miller 10 10 10 and I am trying it.

I have not used the snack but I do have some on hand.

I use Lilly Miller in mine and I had some organic I tried this year, the Lilly Miller is far better. The tomatoes with the organic are not doing well and I will be pulling them shortly.

**mdvpc** · June 16, 2013

I have done two things this year-the first was using tomato tone in the container as per the recommendations, supplemented with about every 2 weeks a soil drench with either GH FloraNova Grow, 1 tablespoon per gallon, or Texas Tomato Food, about 1/6 gallon per swc (this is in San Antonio). The second is in El Paso, and I am using only the liquid soil drench regimen. Both are working very good.

Sun City Linda · June 16, 2013

I have had good experiences with Kelp4Less. One of the posters on the Earthbox forum recommends them often. Unfortunately the owner (I guess) joined here and was a first post SPAM! And, we all know what happens to spammers here!

Balr14 · June 21, 2013

I have 18 earth boxes and have been using them for 4 - 5 years. I use Alaska organic tomato and vegetable pellets on top of the soil and add MiracleGrow liquid through the feeding tubes every 2 weeks. I've get great results for Wisconsin's growing season. My neighbor has a regular in-ground garden, which is bigger than the area my containers cover. I easily out-produce her, by 4 or 5 times the plant size and yield. Here's a picture from last July and so far this June (it's been cold).

Jaysan · June 22, 2013

That's quite an earthbox garden you have there!

The Lilly Miller 10 10 10 is doing well for me also. I started late with CN in the tube but the BER is still staying away.

One note, I have 4 sweet success cukes in one 18 gallon swc and they sure can drink some water when it is sunny. Probably close to 2 gallons a day. All my plants look healthier in SWC's also.

SharonRossy · June 23, 2013

Does anyone here use a foliar fertilizer? I put in slow release fert when I planted, and then have been fertilizing weekly with MG. just wondered about any type of foliar feeding. My container plants do incredibly well too, as we don't have a long season in Montreal.

**mdvpc** · June 23, 2013

Sharon

I have used our members Texas Tomato Food as a foliar. Works great.

luigiwu · June 28, 2013

Linda, with the Lilly Miller 10-10-10, and the Calcium Nitrate snack when the plant starts fruiting, do you do anything else? These are notes for me for next year.

I am new to gardening and used Garden-Tone as the fertilizer ring for my tomats this year. I'm reading though, that the Garden-Tone is a really weak fertilizer. Now that there is some fruit setting, I need to supplement with something, right? What would you recommend?

June 15, 2013	#1
Jaysan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 167	Regular or slow release in your SWC? I saw on the earthbox forum instructions that they say to NOT use slow release fertilizer in the strip if using non-organic products. Do you SWC growers go by that rule or not? I want to make sure I am getting the best I can out of my SWC garden as this is my first year with them.

June 16, 2013	#9
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	I have done two things this year-the first was using tomato tone in the container as per the recommendations, supplemented with about every 2 weeks a soil drench with either GH FloraNova Grow, 1 tablespoon per gallon, or Texas Tomato Food, about 1/6 gallon per swc (this is in San Antonio). The second is in El Paso, and I am using only the liquid soil drench regimen. Both are working very good. __________________ Michael

June 23, 2013	#14
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Sharon I have used our members Texas Tomato Food as a foliar. Works great. __________________ Michael

June 15, 2013	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	You could use slow release or coated fert if you wanted too. It works but is very expensive compared to regular granular. I have been growing in Earthboxes for four years I use regular granular fertilizer. I supplement with a teaspoon of Calcium Nitrate down the water tube once a week. Occasionally I will supplement with additional ferts (liquid) but I have a very long growing season.

June 16, 2013	#6
ArthurDent004 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 148	Sun City Linda - What was your experience ordering from Kelp4Less? I just heard about this place but they don't have a BBB report. I was thinking of ordering some Azomite and Calcium Nitrate.

June 22, 2013	#12
Jaysan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 167	That's quite an earthbox garden you have there! The Lilly Miller 10 10 10 is doing well for me also. I started late with CN in the tube but the BER is still staying away. One note, I have 4 sweet success cukes in one 18 gallon swc and they sure can drink some water when it is sunny. Probably close to 2 gallons a day. All my plants look healthier in SWC's also.

June 23, 2013	#13
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	Does anyone here use a foliar fertilizer? I put in slow release fert when I planted, and then have been fertilizing weekly with MG. just wondered about any type of foliar feeding. My container plants do incredibly well too, as we don't have a long season in Montreal.

June 28, 2013	#15
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Linda, with the Lilly Miller 10-10-10, and the Calcium Nitrate snack when the plant starts fruiting, do you do anything else? These are notes for me for next year. I am new to gardening and used Garden-Tone as the fertilizer ring for my tomats this year. I'm reading though, that the Garden-Tone is a really weak fertilizer. Now that there is some fruit setting, I need to supplement with something, right? What would you recommend?