Used Tomato Tone yesterday after all the rain

GardenGroupie 6/15/2014, 9:56 am

Hi from Boston area suburbs. So much rain my tomato plants are still somewhat stunted and not as happy as last year. My amendment included Coast of Maine compost and vermiculite, but I don't think I planted deep enough in the raised bed. The plants weren't leggy, so hopefully I'll get away with that. I've pruned the bottom branches after seeing a bit of brown on the bottom leaves and to avoid too much water splashing.

Anyway, after all the rain I used Tomato Tone for the first time. I followed the instructions for creating a perimeter around each plant, three inches from stem. I watered a bit after. I guess I wasn't sure what should happen after that as the granules pretty much stayed on top of the soil and it's just sitting there. Is this normal?

Thanks,
GardenGroupie

**camprn** 6/15/2014, 1:23 pm

Tomato tone is great, if you need it. And I love that lobstah compost.

You are not alone, the tomato plants have yet to take off. Mine are still under a foot tall. I believe, in our region, the main reason the tomatoes ate slow is that the soil temp is not warm enough to really make the plants grow to their maximum. We are going to get heat here pretty soon and your tomato plants will take off. There will be no reason to fertilize more until later in the season. Good luck!!

GardenGroupie 6/15/2014, 2:25 pm

Thank Camprn. Do you know if it's normal for Tomato Tone to sit on the soil or should it have been absorbed? I added it yesterday and much of it still sitting in the circle around each plant.

**camprn** 6/15/2014, 2:44 pm

GardenGroupie wrote:Thank Camprn. Do you know if it's normal for Tomato Tone to sit on the soil or should it have been absorbed? I added it yesterday and much of it still sitting in the circle around each plant.

Tomato tone has some pellets in it that are like a time release. If I use it, I sprinkle it around the growing mix surface above the plant roots. Then gently rake it in with my fingers or a hand cultivator. It doesn't need to go deep, so gently mix just the top of the soil. Each time you water, a bit more of the nutrients are released.

If you used quality compost to make your mix you should not have to fertilize. That is what compost is for.

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Used Tomato Tone yesterday after all the rain

Used Tomato Tone yesterday after all the rain

Re: Used Tomato Tone yesterday after all the rain

Should Tomato Tone get absorbed right away?

Re: Used Tomato Tone yesterday after all the rain

Re: Used Tomato Tone yesterday after all the rain


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