Thoughts on Fertilizing/Feeding after fruit set

[tcy1227]

Hi All,


I have heard mixed advice on feeding plants after fruit sets. I have 3 heirloom plants in a cedar box on my deck in NYC. The plants are fruiting well, and about 6 feet tall at this point.

The first month or two of growing, I used Miracle-gro (wish I had gone completel organic) to feed about once every 2 weeks.

Any advice on feeding now? I am curious as my fruit, while very tasty (I have harvested 3 tomatoes, with a bunch more about to be ripe), are not as big as I anticipate or wished for. In fact, on my Buck's County, there is one bunch with a relatively large fruit (tennis ball size) but the others are smaller - about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Will feeding or fertilizing help grow bigger fruit? If so, what is best to use? There is a liquid fish fertilizer at my local garden shop/hardware store, but it seems high in nitrogen - If memory serves me, t is 3-1-1.

Any advice?

Thanks
Tom

[Kisal]

I have always fed my tomatoes all throughout the growing season. It never seemed to hurt them in any way.

[Carre]

Are you sure you're using 3-1-1?

They do need nitrogen since they can't make it them selves but, I think 5-10-10 is better.

Excess nitrogen can encourage excess vine growth and interfere with fruit set. But it doesn't sound like you have a problem with fruit set.

Phosphorous and potassium are key to larger fruit


http://www.njtomato.com/growtip7.htm

[Carre]

Sorry, Didn't answer your original question.

Fertilizing throughout the life of the tomato plant is fine.

Just not too much. Your fertilizer should say how often on the packaging.