[patriot08]

Dale Nelson, local weatherman at Kris TV, Corpus Christi, Tx is a master gardener and is huge demand at gardening symposiums.

There are two Tomato formulas... One formula for sandy soil and one for clay soil. The first time you use the tomato formula use the "Original" formula no matter what type of soil you have.

Original Formula / Sandy Soil 1 cup 10-20-10 (1-2-1 ratio) fertilizer 1/4 cup super phosphate 1/2 cup gypsum 2 cups cow manure Dig a hole and mix ingredients. Then, add regular dirt on top of formula before placing tomato plant in hole. Otherwise, formula will burn the roots of the plant. Don't let formula touch the roots when they are first planted. Let the plant grow into the formula. Water regularly. Stand back and watch them grow! Best varieties are Sonny, Bingo, Carnival, Heatwave, Celebrity, Big Boy, Better Boy and President. Best cherry tomatoes to use are small Fry and Cherry Grande. Everything needed is available at any local nursery.

Caution: Please be aware that excessive use of phosphorus in our clay soil over a long period of time can be non beneficial to your plants.

Clay Soil* 1 Cup 21-0-0 (1-0-0 Ratio) Ammonium Sulphate 3/4 Cup Gypsum 2 Cups Cow Manure Mix these ingredients together with existing garden soil and plant one tomato plant per hole mixture.

*Most clay soils in this area already have too much super phosphate, which tends to stay in the soil for a long period of time. The local nursery people tell me, the best way to correct this is by adding ammonium sulphate which is 21-0-0.

http://www.kristv.com/pages/dales-tomato-formula/

[greeneyes]

Thanks for sharing that information. It should be very helpful to all of us who love to grow tomatoes.

[Silentgypsy]

Thanks for info! Soil structure’s a mystery to me. Now on my second library book about it.

[June2]

ping for later

[Sarajevo]

Original Formula / Sandy Soil 1 cup 10-20-10 (1-2-1 ratio) fertilizer 1/4 cup super phosphate 1/2 cup gypsum 2 cups cow manure

Things that make me go, "Hmmmmmm". Using 10-20-10 fertilizer, then topping with more phosphate doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. I'm not a big fan of fresh cow manure either. Every time I've used it, I end up with tons of toadstools in my garden.

My raised beds are filled with slightly aged horse manure, and some local organic matter. When I plant my tomato's, I wait until the plant is approx. 4 inches tall. I trim all the leaves off except the crown. I dig a hole that is slightly deeper than the plant is tall. In the bottom of the hole, I place a hand full of 3% phosphate (not Super Phosphate or Triple Super Phosphate), a couple handfuls of dirt and mix them, then I put the plant over that and cover it up to the crown.

This technique works great for me, but then again, I don't have sandy or clay soil. I have Texas Hill Country caliche which is high pH. I am going to try ammonium sulphate on other area's of the property though.