Pale Tomato Plants

[TomatoGirl]

So I fed them with the miracle grow for tomatoes. I believe it's 18-18-21
I didn't do full strength just incase it stressed them. So I'll keep you posted over the next few days as to how they are doing and if they perk up. Nearly all are blooming now, and the black cherry has one baby tomato forming. So I'm hoping my babies will make a full recovery.

[TomatoGirl]

You can see how green they were, but also how small. So they are still growing strong.

[RadRob]

Those pots are small so you're gonna have to feed them weekly. The plants will use up all the ferts fast and rain will also deplete the pots. I don't know what your temps are but if it's hot and or windy you might need to water twice a day.

AND you're gonna have a jungle pretty soon, once they take off you won't be able to get between the rows.

FYI: watch the dog, mine picks his own tomatoes.

[TomatoGirl]

Growing in pots isn't my preferred way of growing them. But with only 1 garden patch I can't grow tomatoes in it every year. Hubby has taken over the rest of the garden with landscaping, so this is the best I can do. I normally get a pretty decent crop, but there is only the 3 of us, so 20 tomato plants should be enough, even if the yield isn't the best. The temp in the summer here is normally between 25-40 C. I don't even need to water every day. But I will keep on with the fertilizer.
I had a lovely little pvc greenhouse and they grew amazing in there, but after 2 years it was done. This is the best I can do for now in the space that I have, that will still get 6-8 hours of full sun a day. It's going to be wild for sure!!
Yes, Toby picks his own tomatoes. He favours the cherries lol

[TomatoGirl]

So they seem to be getting darker after feeding with fertilizer. I left one of the plants uncomposted and unfertilised to compare, and it's definately more yellow than the rest.
I went to a friends house today, I had given them 6 of my plants. Their plants were almost 5 feet tall, thick stemmed,dark green and gorgeous. I had such plant envy. But theirs are grown in ground, in their previous compost area.
But saying that, my plants are the smallest out of everyone's, but I'm the only one with tiny fruit. Everyone else is just getting flowers. I believe this was because of the aspirin water. I think had I not overdosed them, it would have been ok.
You live and learn I guess!
But they aren't dying!! So thanks for your advice guys!!

[applestar]

In the containers placed on pavers, they are warmer than grown in the ground. I'm having to admit that peppers and eggplants will tend to grow better (I.e. mature faster) HERE in containers. Maybe the same comparison could be said of tomatoes in your area.

Fertilizing and watering become a big issue with container gardening, but SIP's (Sub-irrigated Planters) based on Earthbox, Global Bucket, and Earthtainer paradigms do seem to work really well. I'm continuing to experiment with them since I started last year, but I'm also going to try growing some of the more productive peppers and eggplants in the ground again this year, while less productive ones will be grown in containers.

I'm trying some variants of automated Raingutter Irrigation System (another wicking-irrigation design) this year also. And maybe drip irrigation if I get the chance. I'm tying these in with the pond to be sort of aqua-ponic (except the pond water will be part of the irrigation water for container plants, not hydroponic.

[AnnaIkona]

Hey folks, doesn't Nitrogen make tomatoes grow more leaves? I was wondering, maybe if you feed them with a high Nitrogen Fertilizer, the leaves will turn better and new leaves will start to grow.
Does this make sense or is this a dumb idea? I was just wondering...

[TomatoGirl]

Those pots are small so you're gonna have to feed them weekly. The plants will use up all the ferts fast and rain will also deplete the pots. I don't know what your temps are but if it's hot and or windy you might need to water twice a day.

AND you're gonna have a jungle pretty soon, once they take off you won't be able to get between the rows.

FYI: watch the dog, mine picks his own tomatoes.

Just wanted to update and say thanks for the advice. I fertilise them once a week, as you suggested and watering twice a day on the super hot days. Other than that I give them fish emulsion once a week also and they are THRIVING!! Thank you for your advice. They are totally a jungle right now, but they are VERY happy. The fact it's a jungle is giving them some shade in the heat wave we are having, so that has turned out OK.
Here are some of my tomatoes I am patiently waiting to ripen!!
I'll add a photo of my "jungle" when I take one later today.

Thanks again!!

[rainbowgardener]

Beautiful!

[TomatoGirl]

I've had good results with this stuff:

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Thank you for this suggestion. I bought it and am having marvelous results!! I won't use anything else now. I remember using this a couple years ago, and I totally had the best crop. I'd somehow forgotten. So thanks for suggesting it. My tomatoes are loving it. SO MANY flowers and fruit!! I am amazed!

[TomatoGirl]

Beautiful!

Thank you.

[TomatoGirl]

Here's my jungle right now.

[AnnaIkona]

Amazing!!! Glad they are all doing so well.

[TomatoGirl]

Amazing!!! Glad they are all doing so well.

Thank you. I thought I was going to lose them all!! I'm thinking it may have been a fertiliser issue after all and nothing to do with the aspirin. Not sure I'd try aspirin water again though.

[Gary350]

I would never spray aspirin on my tomatoes. Potting soil is missing a lot of minerals the plants need, mix 1 part dirt with 4 parts water, stir well then use water only to water your plants. If you have a plant water mister set it to water your tomatoes none stop for a week.