As I was learning I killed a whole lot of plants by using too much fertilizer. I would buy some water soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro and dilute it down to about a third of the recommended concentration. Assuming you water once a day I would alternate between using the diluted fertilizer and plain rainwater if you have it. I notice here in California where we import salty Colorado River water you get a salt buildup in your pots from using tap water all the time, in really bad cases it has left a crust of salt and minerals on the surface of the soil and rim of the pot that stunted the growth of the plants and even killed some. It might be a good idea to soak the whole pot in rainwater occasionally if you start getting a buildup of fertilizer or salt to leach them out. If bottom watering don't leave the plants constantly sitting in a puddle of water because the water will wick up to the surface and make any salt buildup worse. Occasionally top water to flush the soil.

Linda
I'm sure you will receive responses from several experienced folks of which I'm certainly not one. What works for me is as follows. When I transplant I use root starter at about 50% of the recommended strength and a couple weeks later I yse at 1/4-1/2 recommended strength of Alaska Fish emulsion. I get healthy plants that transplant well into their permanent pot or garden location. After that it's Tomato Tone fertilizer.
Jim

I agree that using one of the many liquid types is much easier and you are less likely to overdo it. Seedlings in small containers don't need all that much.

I use 1/2 strength once a week or so.

Dave

I agree on the theory of less = more. I use worm tea mainly for my setup, and during my learning realized that worm tea can and will be just as strong as bought fertilizers and can burn plants. Enjoy your gardening time.

WOW!! Thank you all for your suggestions/advice! I was just sitting here screaming at all the searches that I was doing and not getting any answers!!

I had bought Miracle Gro forgetting to check the box to see recommended doses for seedlings. I also have a couple of bottles of fish emulsion.

I also have my buckets of snow melting down. I refuse to use our tap water...even to drink! If I run out of snow water which I doubt that will happen very soon..we just got over 50" of snow week before last and it's still so cold so it's not melting at all..I fill water bottles up and let them sit a couple of days.

Again, I cannot thank you all for taking the time to help me out! You've made my day!!

Linda

Like Jim above I use Alaska fish emulsion 1/2 to 1 tbls per gallon of water at pot up time and that's it until plant out -
I have tried fertilizers in the past and found you get really lice plants and not a big root system - those plants for me would develope blossums and fruit and then king of go down hill in production after that

Instead I feed for roots with biofungacide(in pro-mix) and michorriza 20 strains both endo and ecto - the plants build a great root system then I do the fish emulsion at pot up and then at plant time - I don't fertilize until they have been in the ground for about 2 weeks - works for me and the plants really produce
Dennis

Dennis....being this is my firsy experience with tomatoes...I'm a huge fan of fish emulsion so I just finished with the root starter w/B1 and then will proceed w/fish emulsion. I did repot up with Promix. I really like Hoffmans but need to plan a road trip to get it. I'm so far away from anything that I would be surprised if this village is on the map!!

Gosh, I hope I'm not pushing my lick with questions but just thought of one more....does it matter what kind of tomatoes I have started or does fish emulsion work good on all types?

Linda

works with all varieties
Dennis

Why are you fertilizing seedlings? I don't usually fertilize seedlings. But, when I do it's 1/2 strength blue juice.

Good luck.

Randy

I soak a handful of my daughter's rabbit droppings in a gallon of water to create a diluted fertilizer water and alternate using that water and tap water that's been set out over night.

Works well for me... but only cause we have a bunny :)

Just so you know lboyce, if you go the fish emulsion route.....think twice about feeding seedlings inside your home with that....omg, I did that last Spring, and I could not escape the "fish smell" in my house...it was BAD, and once you have that in the seedling soil, there is no getting rid of that smell.....ewwww

Seeds should be germinated in normal soil or seed starting medium.
Once the seedlings grow couple of true leaves, I use a liquid 6-8-6 (BLUE?) fertilizer, at a rate of 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. When transplanted, double the amount.

" * Posted by mvisland 6B (My Page) on
Mon, Mar 8, 10 at 19:56

Just so you know lboyce, if you go the fish emulsion route.....think twice about feeding seedlings inside your home with that....omg, I did that last Spring, and I could not escape the "fish smell" in my house...it was BAD, and once you have that in the seedling soil, there is no getting rid of that smell.....ewwww"

hahahaha, just had a good laugh on this one. I drained 2 more gallons of worm tea from the bins and my kids were running through the house covering their noses. thanks for the laugh

The ONLY fert I use on seedlings is Tomato-tone, dissolved in water at the rate of one tablespoon per gallon, then only use that once every two weeks, bottom watering the plant-s. IMO, far too many people buy into the "better living through chemistry" theory. In reality, growing things, especially small ones, don't need much beside water and sunlight to grow and prosper.

Mike