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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

It looks like there are three schools of thought on soil management and fertilizers among those growing giant tomatoes and pumpkins. One group supplies most of their nutrient needs throughout the season by fertigating, running low concentrations of water- soluble nutrients through drip watering systems and varying what they run through their systems based on where we are in the season or by soil testing and plant tissue analysis. Another group are the organic growers who load their soils up early in the season and then work on helping soil life break those nutrients down into something the plants can use throughout the season. People in these groups might or might not be using foliar feeding, aerated compost tea or soil inoculation. Among the top growers of both tomatoes and pumpkins are people either doing one or two. And then there are all of the rest of the growers, the losers. Agree or not?

2/12/2019 2:06:17 PM

Wixom MI.

Lol....:-) Marv is now calling me a Looooserrrrr !!!!!!!!

2/12/2019 2:36:45 PM

On a cliff in the desert

The rest of group is innovators. We try new things out and find out that it doesn't work. When something does work, the other 2 groups take our innovations.

2/12/2019 2:45:51 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Anyone in group 3 using soil conductivity or doing any brix readings to decide if more nutrients are required?

2/12/2019 2:59:23 PM

Wixom MI.

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=300263

Marv here is a article on how i grew my 2016 tomatoes.

2/12/2019 3:05:16 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Chris:
I'm just having a little fun here and trying to stimulate people's thinking and planning. You have had several great growing years and have done well. I know you will have a good year this year. You have been very forthcoming about how you went about it. But, you know, you and everyone else can always do better and it most likely will not come from doing the same thing over and over again.

2/12/2019 6:44:02 PM

Wixom MI.

I get it marv, i was having some fun too. I agree it's been a quiet slow winter in the tomato form and its hard to get the chat going this winter !!!

2/12/2019 6:55:04 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

I am in Group 4.
I am comparing my soil test reports to those of some of the premier growers & am pulling my hair out.
My Phosphorus, K, S, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe & B are all low to very low// major low compared to those of Steve Daletas!
Since 2017 I have improved my pH (previously rather basic) but rather discouraged otherwise with the results of my soil amendment efforts.

2/12/2019 8:28:02 PM

Grittyville, WA

Who are the losers Marv... Is this tomato click bait? You got me.

2/12/2019 9:39:15 PM

Grittyville, WA

Marv... are you talking trash about my mom again...

2/12/2019 9:41:01 PM

Grittyville, WA

Picking on little old ladies out there with their watering cans, carefully watering every day with clean chlorinated water. Cool post Marv I like how you are breaking it down.

2/12/2019 9:46:27 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I’m doing both really.
Relying on soil amendments and organic ferts at planting,and giving it a little boost with water soluble ferts during the season.
I soil test for melons but haven’t for tomatoes yet.
This year I will.
Building your soil takes a lot of time I’m learning.

2/12/2019 10:26:32 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

I loaded my soil up in the fall with organics. Mustard cover crop. Some more organics in the Spring. Soil test. I will be running drip lines with small concentrations of nutrients. This will be a first for me. Always experimenting, trying to figure out what works for me on my area.

2/13/2019 12:26:21 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Doing the same thing over and over again will likely get you the same results. If you are happy with those results keep doing the same thing over and over again. If you are not happy with those results......hmmmmmmmm.

2/13/2019 9:13:54 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

When I grow giant tomatoes again I will build a shelter over the plants to protect the megablooms from the rain. Had many large megablooms end up not being fully pollinated due to all the rain last year. Along with growing fewer plants should improve my chances of bigger tomatoes.

2/13/2019 12:02:56 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Hope you grow again. Out of my 5 years of growing and all the different seeds, your 7.10 has grown the heaviest consistently over the last two years in my environment and my garden. I have rounded up all of those seeds that I could. Have a few left for this year.

2/13/2019 1:42:05 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Last year as a first year grower I grew a 4.05 Megamutt and 2 other tomatoes around 2.4 pounds using Miracle Grow type fertilizers. This year I am taking the learnings from last year and using different fertilizers/organics along with some better seeds from last year, I set my goal at consistently growing at 4.0 pounds this year.

2/13/2019 2:38:19 PM

Wixom MI.

Marv have you ever tried grafting ?

2/14/2019 4:51:03 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Yes, awhile back. I got great roots but the usual tomatoes.

2/14/2019 6:53:34 PM

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Is it me to open up group 5?
I grow my tomatoes with lots of professional potting soil
AND
adding nutrients with the water.

Three German records in a row can´t be wrong.

2/15/2019 7:57:41 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Udo, you are in Group 1, the fertigators.

2/15/2019 8:34:42 AM