UGC Reader Question: How Much Fertilizer do I put in my Upside Down Tomatoes
Urban Garden Casual reader, Joyce Dunn, asks the following question:
“My husband saw the upside down tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets and wants to plant two now!!
All I have (it’s too far to go to town) is organic Miracle Gro potting Mix, Espoma dolomite, and Espoma fertilizer 4-6-6.
How much of each would you say goes into a 5 gal. bucket?
We would like to get the ratio right so we don’t burn the tomatoes. BTW, I like your site and have bookmarked it - very interesting.”
Joyce, thanks for the kind words about Urban Garden Casual, we’re glad you are enjoying it!
I hope my answer will help. I would use the Miracle Gro potting mix to fill the pot. However, if you can get a little composted manure, you can add up to 1/3 of the volume of the bucket of manure, mixing it in well.
I don’t use dolomite on my tomatoes. Instead, I use a seaweed emulsion, a manure tea or my favorite fertilizer which is Planet Food by Simplexity. However, if you are going to use dolomite, use no more than a handful mixed into the potting soil you use.
However, I am a fan of the Espoma fertilizers, and using a small amount would really make your tomatoes do well. When adding in commercial fertilizers, I generally use about half of the recommended amount. Make sure you keep the tomatoes well watered , that will prevent any problems with the fertilizer you are going to use.
Good luck!
[For other Tomato growing tips and information, visit our sister site Tomato Casual.]
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Thank you Joyce good job, Ray White ( Dad )
September 30th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I found that urine, diluted by half as much water and applied as often as water was needed worked well. The other “R” is recover so that’s what I did and it paid great dividends, the tomatoes grew furiously the whole season!