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Tomato first-timer - help!

2

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  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    edited April 2020
    Very surprised that people here do not realize that a liquid feed contains the micro nutrients necessary to reverse potassium deficiency. Essentially the potassium but just as importantly magnesium to ensure the plant can absorb the potassium and that these plant need it now. It is not a case of providing the food for the fruit, as per 'normal' advice, it is reversing a mineral deficiency for the health of the plants.




  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    But with new compost there shouldn't be any deficiency 🤔
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's my thinking too @purplerallim. To be honest, most tomatoes [especially ones like Moneymaker] will grow in almost anything without much help. Light, warmth and a consistent watering regime [appropriate to the plant size and conditions] is what they mainly require, especially in the early stages.

     However, no one needs to listen to anything anyone else says, so the OP can carry on with other advice if they want   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I agree. There is no reason why these plants should have any deficiencies, they do not need feeding until they set the first trusses.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    The plants ALREADY DO have a potassium deficiency @punkdoc. Look at the images and the OP's original post. Feed them now, pot them on with added bonemeal. Otherwise there is a risk of total loss of the plants.

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    No evidence of potassium deficiency and if there were, bone meal would not be the optimum treatment, its only real use being for slow phosphate release.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    I give up, purple veins and degeneration of the lower stem = Potassium Deficiency in Tomatoes.

    I'm begging to remember why I didn't visit the forum for over 5 years.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    If it was potassium deficiency you would do better burying banana skins under the soil than adding blood fish and bone.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’m puzzled as to th reason why a good multipurpose compost should have such an imbalance of nutrients ... 
    @cwr ... would you care to give us the brand and approx date purchased and any other factors you can remember. It would be good to know if there’s a faulty batch out there. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • cwrcwr Posts: 6


    Hi everyone! I just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone for your help after my tomato-induced panic, and I thought I’d give a quick update.

    Owing to a lack of space, I did have to plant two tomato plants out into the greenhouse. We had two nights of 3-4 degrees, so I “expertly” (!) covered them with cardboard boxes in the evenings and tried to insulate as much as possible, and so far they’ve survived (but no doubt that may change, and if they do grow they’ll be a bit stunted!). I’ve given them a small amount of feed to see if it’ll help them - as much an experiment than anything at this point.

    But all the other ones are repotted into bigger pots, staying at home, and are thriving, until such a time as it’s warm enough to get them into the greenhouse! When they do go in the greenhouse, I’ll plant them up to their bottom baby leaves (these pots weren’t big enough to do so) to stimulate root growth too.  The very bottom leaves are still a bit worse for wear (probably permanent now I’d imagine), but the rest of lush green foliage, so all is well.

    And the compost was John Innes All purpose, but looking at them now, I think it’s likely it was that the pots were far too small, and the weather too cold.

    Thanks again everyone - I’ll try to remember to post later in the year with an update! 

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