General discussion regarding the techniques and methods used to successfully grow tomato plants in containers.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
February 12, 2013 | #16 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Central Mass
Posts: 20
|
Quote:
I'm sure theres a million differnt approaches that are all different and varying degrees of organic/synthetic/both... I'm not saying its better, just something that didnt work well for me... In fairness my garden is VERY labor intensive because I do what I do the way I do it...lol! And YES I am one of those who applies smaller ammounts of fert. frequently. So as a semi stay at home (for various reasons) I actually like it this way. But I wouldnt want to do what I do if I had 200 pots though! LOL!!! So what you're saying is: You havent seen any difference in uptake. Question answered. Thanks. Also... Sorry if we highjacked the thread. Didnt mean to- Is there a specific one for syth vs organic advantages/disadvantages I missed? Last edited by Wayne C; February 12, 2013 at 08:10 PM. |
|
February 12, 2013 | #17 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,464
|
Wayne there probably is a syth vs organic advantages/disadvantages thread or two or three somewhere here. If not you can always start one.
I'm with you though, I like the organic methods better. Two completely different systems, both can work for the intended purpose of growing plants and harvesting the fruit, but you have to rewire your brain to really understand either one of them and make them effective. It reminds me of a YouTube video I watched awhile ago, this guy had two homemade shoe box type deep water culture hydroponics units in his kitchen and he was going to compare the General Hydroponics line of nutrients (mostly synthetic) against GH's General Organics line of nutrients. Organics is something he never did before and what was so obvious is he never read about what the General Organics line was designed for—which is soil! A DWC system is not designed for organics anyway, at least not without some major modifications, but his conclusion was the General Organics nutrients sucked because the plants didn't grow as big. Actually he sucked because he had no idea what he was doing from the get go. He understood chemical salt fertilizers, but never did his homework about what organics is all about. |
February 12, 2013 | #18 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
|
A lot of people don't know what organics is about, or how they work. So that is not surprising. But by the same token I wouldn't know how to set up a proper organics system in hydroponics or containers myself, and I do know how to grow organically outside in the ground.
So even though I have 35 years experience growing organically all over the United States, I can't even answer the question of how to even start making a Earthtainer system work organically. The vid on YouTube for Earthtainers says they have an organic fertilizer mix though? So maybe check with them?
__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
February 13, 2013 | #19 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,464
|
Quote:
Earthtainers and Earthboxes on the other hand are a closed system, so you have to think about how and what you are going to add as soil life to work an organic system of nutrient recycling. |
|
February 13, 2013 | #20 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal Inland
Posts: 2,705
|
Actually, my brother grows fully organic in containers quite successfully and writes about it in books and magazines. I think Ray grows organically in his Earthtainers so I know its possible. But to me, growing organically, in an Earthbox seems like an oximoron. The wicking depends on the peat or other sterile potting mix and the organics depend on a living mini herd that would die off in a sterile enviornment. To the extent that you start adding compost or manures, you encourage a soggy, non wicking situation.
|
February 13, 2013 | #21 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 321
|
Linda,
I'd be very interested in reading about what your brother is doing organically in containers. Can you give the name of one of his books or where his articles appear? My goal is to grow organically in containers, and that's been a real challenge for me. Thanks, Lyn |
February 13, 2013 | #22 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal Inland
Posts: 2,705
|
He grows a different kind of crop but very similar in requirements to tomatoes, or so I understand. He is Cultivation Editor for Skunk Magazine who published his first book True Living Organics, (Amazon) My Brother is partially disabled and grows organically in potting type soil in less than 5 gallon pots. I have not told him that I switched to a synthetic blend in my EBs, lol, sure he would not approve.
|
February 13, 2013 | #23 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 321
|
Thanks Linda! The growers of your brother's specialty crop have a lot of good information - I've learned so much from several of their grow forums on the web (and from the young guys at my local hydro store who are getting used to seeing me in there)
Lyn |
February 13, 2013 | #24 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,464
|
Quote:
|
|
February 13, 2013 | #25 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
I think Super Bloom is 15-30-15, and 20-20-20 always works for me-
|
February 13, 2013 | #26 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal Inland
Posts: 2,705
|
RayR- if you want to work hard enough at it, and spend enough money innoculating the "wanna be" soil, I'm sure it can work in a SWC. I just dont think it works well, or for that matter quickly. Too many variables. My fall crop was late due to late 100 degree temps so most of it froze out but production with the new synthetic blend far outpaced anything I have seen to date with various organics and supplements in my EBs. Made a believer out of me
|
February 14, 2013 | #27 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 3,205
|
I use the 10-10-10 synthetic from Lowe's in my Earthbox's and I have great success.
__________________
In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~ |
February 14, 2013 | #28 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
|
There is a huge difference between organic and synthetic fertilizers in the amount you can put on. With an organic...you can not burn the plant. With a synthetic it doesn't take much to ruin/kill the entire plant/row you are fertilizing. That being said. Organic growing is a healthier option for the environment and the plant is more resistant to insects than with synthetic fertilizing ( I wonder if it has more nutrient dense per fruit, too. Just a thought, that is all). I can't grow and get good enough production using organic methods. I need the plant to produce a heavy crop, otherwise I am wasting the space in my field/garden to get enough to take to market.
You will never see the same NPK ratios with organic fertilizers as you see with synthetics, either. It just isn't possible. For example 11-48-8.. 20-20-20....not formulas you can get in organics. The high NPK ratios are always synthetic formulas
__________________
carolyn k Last edited by clkeiper; February 14, 2013 at 09:16 AM. |
February 14, 2013 | #29 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,464
|
Quote:
There are some high NPK organic ferts, but they generally only have a smaller percentage that is immediately plant available, regardless the bulk of organic nutrients have to be converted to plant available ions by soil life, that's why soil life is so critical to making organic production successful. |
|
February 14, 2013 | #30 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
|
If you can't then time to rethink your methods. Because there are many people that have cracked that problem. I routinely outproduce my neighbor who uses all the best conventional products. He basically has an unlimited budget compared to mine and he spends a LOT on his garden. Me and my no budget garden out produce him by double most years. If I had his budget, I am sure I could double it again.
__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; February 14, 2013 at 02:21 PM. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|