For the highest yield from your tomato plants, you need to use the best tomato feed to supply nutrients at all stages of growth. However, the type of soil you have will determine how you are going to fertilize your tomato plant. Some soils may require the necessary nutrients right from transplanting, during flowering and after fruiting, that’s why a soil test is best to help you know the missing nutrients. However, if you’re like me, you’re growing your tomatoes in compost – so let’s make this easy and focus on the basics. When to Feed Tomatoes

Light sandy soils tend to be hungrier. Clay soil is much more fertile, so needs less fertiliser. Garden compost A1: If your plants are in a greenhouse, start feeding when the first truss of tomatoes (stem with small green fruits) has set. If outdoors, start feeding when the second truss has set. Tomatoes, strawberries and bedding plants need a potassium-rich feed to encourage flowers, such as Tomarite. The high phosphorous content encourages root development and strong growth so bonemeal is often added to the planting hole when planting bare root roses or other plants. Liquid seaweed (ratios vary) Certainly after the recent rain my four outdoor plants don’t look very happy so will see what Epsom salts and aspirin do for them.This produced the largest yield of ripe tomatoes in our trial with a whopping 14.3kg from three plants. True to its name, it’s ready to use and doesn’t need diluting. Simply pour it on to the compost at a rate of two 50ml capfuls twice a week (once the second truss of fruit has formed),followed by 500ml of water each time. It’s ideal if you have only a few plants and don’t want to waste feed you’ve diluted. You wouldn’t believe how complicated it can become beneath the soil surface when one nutrient prevents the uptake of another or the pH balance is upset by over feeding etc. Overall, this season is not going to be nearly as good as last years epic, but several plants seem to be proving their worth as reliable, consistent croppers across multiple seasons.

The process of adding green waste to your own heap is very eco-friendly and, added over many years, it will improve your soil. If you wonder if using Tomorite on your houseplants is worth it, the answer is definitely yes! Here are some of the benefits: Branch removal above the first truss is usually done (gradually) when fruit on the second truss have set and so on.

I’m not a big fan of removing as many branches as possible because it’s the leaves that make the energy for growth but removing unhealthy leaves, old leaf branches and branches permanently in shade is a good idea. Not only does Tomorite have all the right stuff, but it’s also straightforward to use. Just mix one teaspoon per gallon of water and spray or pour on your plants’ soil. No measuring cups or spoons are required!

Yes. Kind of. Epsom Salts is the name for the chemical compound “Magnesium Sulfate” – and you’ll find it recommended by many gardeners for a whole host of different things. Epsom Salts are useful when growing tomatoes to help with several problems. First of all, if your tomato plants have yellow leaves, then this usually means that the plant has a magnesium deficiency – and so Epsom salts will help. Epsom salts also help deliver flavour to your tomatoes and can help with growth. They’re not a be-all and end-all though. Deliver too much to your tomato plants and you’ll possibly cause root problems with your tomato plant. They look very unhealthy as if they are giving everything to the fruit and everything else is suffering The short answer is no, because soil structure is also highly important and artificial powdered and pelleted products will not improve the structure of your soil. Greenhouse: Start feeding when first truss of of tomatoes (stem with small green fruits) has set. In soil feed at alternate waterings.It’s true that wide swings in temperature can cause leaf curl but it can also be caused by water stress – a consistent water supply (such as using a timer or valve) helps relieve water stress (dry/wet swings). Well, in short: it depends on your plants. Different plants have different needs, so you’ll need to determine what works best for each plant. However, if you’re looking for a general fertilizer that you can use on most houseplants, tomorite is a good option. I have found Indigo Rose to be a sensitive plant so maybe some shading (garden fleece) to protect against direct sunlight will reduce leaf curl.

Can be used for other crops such as peppers, chillies and cucumbers. (our guide to growing cucumbers is here.) Roses also require regular watering, especially during the summer. It is very hard to overwater a rose, but they will not appreciate having their roots sit in cold water for long periods.

Find out how to make your own compost heap Common fertilisers and their N-P-K ratios Vitax Q4 (5.3- 7.5 -10) Avoid piercing the bottom of the planter, as this will stop the nutrients from being washed straight out, but be careful of over watering and flooding the planter. On a pillar it is best, where possible to train the branches around it for the same reason as above.