Algarve, Portimao, Portugal
I'm new to growing toms, but have heard that I need either nitrates or magnesium in the soil, I use liquid horse manure generally in the garden is this sufficient please? If not what should I use? Thanks
- 28 Feb, 2013
Answers
Epsom salts will add magnesium (it's not really salt). I use a regular spoon (colher) per plant each month.
28 Feb, 2013
Liquid horse manure is rich in nitrates so is a big help but, as Paul says, don't use it too much until the first flowers set otherwise you will just get leggy plants. Epsom salts are a help certainly for magnesium but the important one is nitrogen. If you use a commercial tomato feed or liquid comfrey fertiliser it contains magnesium anyway.
28 Feb, 2013
Nitrogen is the worst thing you can give to tomatoes...too much and you get a lot of leaf, less fruit.
I would also be wary of adding to much magnesium(epsom salts) on a regular basis as that can affect calcium uptake leading to blossom end rot.
If you are growing in well prepared garden soil you won't need additional fertilisers during the growing season. Only grow bags and containers need fertilising with a proper tomato fertiliser. No matter what you grow them in, it's regular watering that gets the healthiest plants and the best crop.
2 Mar, 2013
Yes. Sorry Graham. I think I was having a senior moment, or, nowadays, a senior few months. High in phosphorous but low in nitrogen is far more sensible.
3 Mar, 2013
It's a good idea when the first flowers set, to use a liquid Tomato feed or, I use liquid sea weed once a week! particularly important for pot grown plants!Good luck!
28 Feb, 2013