Tomato and Chilli Feed

Hi, I've got some Chillis and Tomatoes growing and doing ok, but they've been going for about 6 weeks now and I think I should probably feed them - but I'm not sure what with. It says on the tomato food I've got to use only when the first fruit has set, and I'm a long way from that just yet - so what can I use?

 

"they've been going for about 6 weeks now and I think I should probably feed them"

Don't normally feed them until the first truss has set (little fruit has appeared where the flower used to be) ... ah you said that already. Shouldn't need to feed before that.

 

I agree with Kristen, don`t feed yet, the plants need to grow slowly and steadily.:thumb:

 

I tend to agree about not feeding until the first truss has set but Deserter has come up with something interesting here.

They have been growing for six weeks presumably in the same pots???????

Maybe they might need a bit of a feed to keep them growing well, especially in this modern multipurpose that contains very little feed these days.

Hence so many different bottles and packets of feed available at garden centres these days.

 

I`d be more inclined to potting them on rather than feeding them.

 

So what is the difference, larger pot, more feed?

 

Larger pot same compost. keeping the plants growing on.:thumb:

 

more leg room :wink:

 

More leg room means more compost which means more feed.

I'm not disagreeing, I always put toms into 5 in pots before planting out, and planting lower at each pot on.

I just think the old rule regarding feeding before the first truss has set is a bit of a myth, it suggests the plants should be starved into producing flowers and fruit, but they do that anyway regardless.

 

"I just think the old rule regarding feeding before the first truss has set is a bit of a myth"

I reckon its he balance of the feed that is important. What is the N-P-K of potting on, compared to the N-P-K of a "Tom" feed? (I've got DOFF Tomato Feed on the table here, so I can answer that one! its 5-5-10 - wouldn't a higher Nitrogen fertilizer be appropriate for the initial stages of growth? Although I read something today about growing Heirloom varieties and reducing the feed, and the crop size, in order to obtain the best flavour. Anorexic Tomatoes anyone?!

 

I agree Kristen, a tomato feed is high potash, for fruit production, so the plant should be well established before you apply it.

A balanced feed early on, if the plants are looking a bit starved can only do good, surely.

I also agree that if you feed your toms like crazy and water like crazy you will basically end up with supermarket toms, but from your own greenhouse.

One reason why I only grow outside these days, and only water if its really necessary.

 

Thanks all! The toms are mostly in 3 inch pots anyway at the moment, and are coming up to needing a repot in any case, so I'll stick with that for the moment - I'm planning on putting outside in a couple of weeks, at the moment they're on a window sill inside and so I can't pot in a bigger pot right now. They look ok I think, although I have some Gardener's Delight that I'm growing from seeds I harvested last year, which have a few straggly leaves on - I've never grown toms from seeds I've harvested myself before, so we'll see how that goes.

 

"I'm planning on putting outside in a couple of weeks"

Now you are scaring me! 1st June would be OK, but "a couple of weeks"?? <Shudder!>

My Gardener's Delight are a bit more scrawny than my other Tom plants.

 

I say "outside" - I have a couple of those plastic greenhouse things and the plan is they'll go in there. Don't think I have a choice as they won't fit inside for another six weeks! I'll harden them off first - I'm in Essex and I think we should be free of frost by the May bank holiday. Hope so anyway!

 

The plastic grow-houses don't provide much insulation at night ... but if frost is forecast you could probably put a blanket or somesuch over it?