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Any way to salvage a over fertilized tomato plat? UPDATED

Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 1:37 pm
by TheKRE
Almost positive my Hybrid beefsteak tomato plat has been over fertilized with miracle grow.

I bought it at Walmart when it was about 12' tall and watered it with miracle grow at suggested rate on box once every two weeks since. Also watered it about every three days with normal water. Recently I found out that a family member was watering it with miracle grow on the weeks a wasn't. Plat is now 4ft - 5ft tall with lush foliage. Three weeks ago it was putting out lovely big flowers , non of with formed fruit, now for the past two weeks just buds that die.

I've stopped using miracle grow on it all together, just water every couple days. On a side note, a couple of leafs at the bottom of the plat are kind yellow.

Is there anything I can do to encourage flowers and fruit, or am I out of luck?

Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 1:51 pm
by hendi_alex
If the plant were mine, I would top it at about 24 inches and then continue to water as needed but with no fertilizer. I believe that as the nitrogen leaches from the soil, the new top growth will begin to flower and set fruit.

Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:24 pm
by TheKRE
hendi_alex wrote:If the plant were mine, I would top it at about 24 inches and then continue to water as needed but with no fertilizer. I believe that as the nitrogen leaches from the soil, the new top growth will begin to flower and set fruit.
I read some where else before that this could help , I'll try it. Thank you for the reply!

Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:35 pm
by johnny123
I agree, sounds like it got alot of nitrogen.

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:10 am
by Tony02905
I tend to not use Miracle grow for the tomatoes. Even their MG for tomato plants. I personally believe its too high in nitrogen. Once my tomatoes are large enough, I am going to try either Espoma Garden-Tone or Tomato-Tone. I have heard very good things about both products.

To prevent BER and fruit cracking, should I add some bone meal to the soil before planting in the ground?

Update

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:24 pm
by TheKRE
well I have a bunch of flowers and tiny tomatoes now! Some of the tomatoes aren't getting bigger it seems and some are drying up. Could watering once a day not be enough in this drought? My only growing tomato scummed to sun scald today. :( Moved plant to a place with a bit more shade.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:29 pm
by hit or miss
Is this 'mater in a pot? If so you need to step up the watering. We are getting 105 degrees every day and potting soil doesn't hold water very well. I'd be watering it twice a day if so. My plants in the garden are mulched with tons of straw and I'm having to water every two days now.