General discussion regarding the techniques and methods used to successfully grow tomato plants in containers.
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July 12, 2006 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Harrisburg PA
Posts: 95
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Question about lime
I'm wondering whether I should be adding lime to my containers during the season. Does anyone do this? If so, how much should I add and how often? Is there a special kind of lime I should be using?
Thanks for any help! Paula |
July 12, 2006 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Yes, I would recommend liming your container mix. I use ProMix for my containers, and for every 5 gal of mix, I add about a cup of granulated/slow release fert (whatever is on sale), and a cup of dolomitic lime.
I don't add anything else until after the first fruit set, after that, it's a handful of the dol lime and a handful of the slow release every couple of weeks. And I also occasionally foliar feed with seaweed emulsion for trace nutrients. Also, be sure to mulch well, leaving some space around the stem. |
July 12, 2006 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Z5b SW Ont Canada
Posts: 767
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It depends on the pH of your soil - I have alkaline clay & don't add lime.
Sorry - I'm referring to garden soil, not container mix.
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So Many Tomatoes ... So Little Time |
July 12, 2006 | #4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Quote:
I've found that more needs to be added to keep BER to a minimum (in containers); just my personal experience. |
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July 13, 2006 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Andrews, Texas
Posts: 104
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It all depends on your water. I mix my own container soil using pine bark, peat, expanded shale (or perlite) and absolutely no lime. This is due to the abnormally high calcium and magnesium content in my water. Water quality is the main determining factor in how much lime, if any, should be added. The calcium and magnesium supplied by lime are more important than the pH, as pH will shift in container growing despite any attempts to control it. Dolomite lime is what you should use for container mixes.
Jason |
July 13, 2006 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Harrisburg PA
Posts: 95
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Thanks so much for the responses. I'll definitely be adding some (if it ever stops raining).
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July 13, 2006 | #7 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 4,386
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I have never added lime and rarely have ber-when I have had ber, its my own fault because usually too much water. And when I do get it, its only the first couple of fruits.
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Michael |
July 13, 2006 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,038
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I don't add lime either. I have 20 container and almost all have set alot of fruit. Only one plant , Kootenai had BER on the first 2 fruits set, all others fine.
I have had a little more BER in the past, but we haven't been over 95 this year, and I mixed liberal amounts of a product Tomato Tone in my containers this year. Don't know if it helped or not, but it certainly didn't hurt. Jeanne |
July 13, 2006 | #9 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 4,386
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Jeanne-I use tomato tone in my containers of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and cucumbers. I mix 300 ccs in when I put the plant in. TT supposedly has all the macro and micro nutrients that you need.
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Michael |
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