Been awhile since I read a MG label but if I recall correctly it used to read something like every two weeks not weekly. I know many use it for container plants regularly, like every 7-10 days, but they also dilute it to half strength or less in that case. Are we talking about container plants or in ground plants? All my container tomatoes are fed with a 3-2-2 fertilizer once every 7
days but it is much weaker than any of the MG products I know of.

If in ground, weekly use sounds excessive to me, much less more often than that.

You don't mention which of the many MG products you are using but most of them are quite strong and high in salts that can damage your soil if used excessively. So I guess I would ask why you need to use it so often? What nutrient deficient symptoms are your plants showing?

I understand how 94 degrees can seem hot for Ohio but keep in mind that it is much hotter in many southern states and the tomato plants are doing just fine - not setting fruit of course - but the plants are fine. 109 here today and we have broken 100 almost every day for the past 2 weeks. Can't imagine what it may be down in Texas and it isn't even July yet. :-)

Dave

Dave,

These are all container plants. I'm using Miracle-Gro water soluble all purpose plant food. The box says to use every 7-14 days, 1-1/2 tablespoons per gallon... However I only use the one tablespoon per gallon, as instructed by the head honcho at the nursery down the street :).

I started fertilizing because 4 weeks after transplanting, they barely grew half an inch. I knew the issue wasn't lack of or too much water, as the plants tell you when they're thirsty (also I tested daily 3-4 inches into the soil)and since transplanting our weather stayed between 75-85 degrees and sunny, temperature wasn't an issue either.

I'm using pine needles as mulch, as they're plentiful and free here.

Since fertilizing, they've grown a lot and look great. I'm just worried that the high heat (I can't imagine living in 109 degrees!) will require some extra feeding. If not, I'll let them be, but if so, I just don't want to over-do it. Although I'm limited to a measly 5 plant garden due to space, I've spent countless hours giving my plants TLC and would hate to lose them.

Seems ok but if plants are showing heat stress hold off fertilizing until they recover or you could make it worse. I'm not too keen on pine needles for mulch. Can't think of a reason not to use them as long as they stay on surface.

According to the soil test I am sure that my garden soil is rich in P , K, Mg, Ca. So basically I have to provide more N, as it is used more and also leaches. I look at my plants and can tell if they need N or they have enough of it. Even then I use no more than half strength but more often.

Container plants are different and I fertilize them differently with all purpose fertilizer more often and maybe at 1/3 to 1/2 strength. When I pot, I add some fast acting lime, Epsom salt and granular ferts to the medium.

So roughly every 3rd time that I water them I also fertilize them.

After years of gardening I have learned to read the lips of the plants. This is particularly simple thing regarding the Nitrogen.

Sey