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Mycorrhizal fungi and tomato plants.

Wilfred WatsonWilfred Watson Posts: 1
in The potting shed
I usually prick out my tomato seedlings into small pots, typically 10cm. Then when they have grown on I pot them on into a bigger deeper pot so that I can sink the plant lower to encourage root growth further up the stem. I let them grow on before planting out into the greenhouse border. I was wondering if it would be beneficial when potting from the small pot to the large pot, to sprinkle some mycorrhizal fungi onto the roots and into the compost to encourage a secondary root system to help the uptake of nutrients as the plant grows and eventually bears fruit. Or would that be a total waste of money?

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    No point in using it on a plant that only lasts one season, there's not enough time for the network of fungi to grow to such an extent that it may benefit the plant.

    It can help long-lived plants establish a bit faster in some circumstances.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree. It won't benefit tomatoes at all   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree too. If there's any benefit at all, it's for shrubs and trees. Don't waste your money buying it for tomatoes.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Better to plant your seedlings slightly deeper in the larger pot to encourage additional root growth from the stem.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've yet to see any proper evidence that adding MF does any good to any plant. 
    IMHO, it's just a gimmick to sucker money out of gullible consumers
    Devon.
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