Archer,
Florida
Distributor of Organic Worm Fertilizer: VermaPlex™
and Pure Black Castings™
Earthworm Castings "The Fertilizer Nature Intended"
Vegetable Garden: Growing Healthy Tomatoes
Tomato Blossoms and Fruit
Tomatoes are one of the worlds most popular fruits (or is it a vegetable?). Whether we grow them in vegetable gardens, container gardens, in greenhouses, on patios, or in raised beds...we DO grow them!
Growing the best tomato plant is possible by following these simple guidelines.
Growing Tomatoes by Fertilizing With Pure Black Castings™ and VermaPlex®
1. Tomato from Seeds:
Your tomato seeds will sprout quicker if
you use this method
Start with a good potting soil mix and add Pure Black Castings™ at a 5:1 ratio. Using small flats or containers, overfill the container, then scrap off the excess mix with a ruler or other straight object level to the top. Press down LIGHTLY.
-
Place an inch of Pure Black Castings® on the top of the soil, make and indention (1/4 inch) and drop in your tomato seeds. Spray the seeds with VermaPlex® mixed 20:1 with water.
-
Back cover seeds and dampen with the VermaPlex® /water mix. Place containers in a tray and add water until potting mix has absorbed enough to be well moistened.
-
Cover the container with plastic to prevent the moisture from evaporating. Place in dark, warm place.
-
Twice daily, check plants for seeds sprouting. Seeds sprout much faster with the Vermaplex® application, so it's a good idea to check in the a.m. and p.m.
-
The moment you see tomato seeds germinating, place the container in good window light or grow-light. You will get week, spindly tomatoes if you don't supply light a.s.a.p.
-
When most if not all the seeds have sprouted, remove the weaker seedlings, leaving the single strongest tomato per container.
-
When the tomato plants have formed their first true leaves, apply mix of 4-6 ounces VermaPlex® per 1 gallon of water.
-
Here's how you encourage your tomatoes to grow a thick, strong stem: Transplant the tomato seedlings into larger containers twice before putting them into the garden or final container. Plant the tomato seedling all the way down, leaving only the top 1/3 of the plant above the soil. Trim away any leaves that touch the ground.
-
After tomatoes start blooming, apply a VermaPlex®/water drench (2 ounces per 1 gallon water) mixture every 1-2 weeks. Scatter a handful of Pure Black Castings™ around the plant throughout the growing season, followed by the VermaPlex®.
2. Growing Tomatoes from Seedlings:
Tomato seedlings are expensive to buy or, if
started from
seeds, take a great deal of care to reach
seedling stage.
Treat your tomatoes well and you will be rewarded
with
plenty of fruit for harvest.
-
Remove any blooms that are on the tomato plant.
-
While preparing your containers, let your tomato plant soak up a water/VermaPlex® mix by pouring the mix into a tray and placing your tomato seedling pot into it.
-
Add about 1 cup of Pure Black Castings™ into the garden soil/potting soil mix for each transplanting container. Fill the containers.
-
Dig out a hole for the transplant and place a handful of Pure Black Castings™ into the bottom of it. Wet thoroughly with VermaPlex®.
-
Sprinkle Pure Black Castings™ around planting area after backfilling the tomato plant. Drench with VermaPlex® (mix 20:1)
-
After tomato starts blooming, add 2 ounces VermaPlex® per 1 gallon of water and drench plant every 7-14 days.
-
Apply a handful of Pure Black Castings™ around your tomato plants several times during the growing season.
Tomato Growing Tips:
- One of the causes of
blossom drop and blossom end rot in tomatoes and other flowering
vegetable is lack of calcium.
You can prevent this disease by mixing calcium into your planting mix . Also, excess nitrogen inhibits the plants ability to absorb calcium as well as encourages too much foliage growth rather than fruiting.
- Tomatoes benefit from slow-release fertilizer like
worm castings. Inoculating your soils with
microbes
makes nitrogen and other nutrients available to the plant without
the risk of burning. You'll also
- prevent run-off,
- retain moisture,
- and improve the over-all health of your garden soil.
Best Organic Fertilizer Value:
Want to start seeing better results by using these organic fertilizers made from all natural worm castings? The 1 gallon VermaPlex® with 10 pounds of Pure Black Castings™ Combo is your best value.
Book Nook: Vegetable Gardens
This lovely volume describes how to plan and create a vegetable garden. Discusses where to plant, what kinds of vegetables to grow, seeds and seedlings, watering, maintenance, and pests.
Check out Vegetables Gardens today at Barnes and Noble.
Follow Digger's organic garden blog: tomato blossom end rot and blossom drop entry.
Digger Jones Dig's Tomatoes!
Visit our online store for these all natural, organic fertilizers (created by earthworms, enhanced by man).