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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

What would you say if I said no matter how good the root system on your tomato plant might be that it will only be able to supply your plant what the plant needs but not what it could possibly use? Would you be happy only supplying the needs of the plant and thus not giving that plant everything it could possibly use in order to reach its full potential in size? I have seen this opinion expressed in several places and have begun to believe it. Thus the need for foliar feeding. This next season I will be giving my plants the extra boost they surely need by putting some nutrients on my leaves. The biggest area of unmet needs and wants is related mostly to micronutrients and trace minerals. There are a lot of products available for use in foliar sprays and I have yet to find the perfect one, the one that has boron and everything else included. I may end up using more than one. Solomon, writer of The Intelligent Gardener, who is mostly organic, has even suggested we spray Miracle Grow with micronutrients on our leaves. He says it contains most everything and so little of this will actually get onto the soil that it won't affect an otherwise organic soil system. Others suggest using more than one product and rotating the use. One one time the other the next. Anyone out there with thoughts on this? What does Wallace do and why? Anyone know? Maybe it can extend to tomatoes? I know he uses his own product but does he supplement it with something else? What will you be doing? Something I hope. But,then again, doing nothing is a choice though not mine.

1/24/2019 9:09:32 AM

Norfolk, UK

Hi Marv,

I’m curious about the opinions around “no matter how good the root system on your tomato plant might be that it will only be able to supply your plant what the plant needs but not what it could possibly use?”

I do foliar feed, in rotation with compost tea, together with a wetting agent to aid effectiveness using seaweed or seaweed plus feed (https://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Garden+Equipment/Plant+Food+and+Care/Chase+Sm4+Seaweed+Plus+Feed++1+Litre_MH5801.htm).

However, my rationale is more that it may cover a shortfall for those minerals that may be in the soil but are not being ingested full due to a nutrient lock up / ph availability etc.

1/24/2019 2:40:42 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I do believe foliar feeding does make up the shortfall for some nutrients but that it also has the potential to do even more. I looked at what you are suggesting as a foliar feed and I would feel more comfortable with the product if it listed more about what exactly it contains such as for instance boron.

1/24/2019 6:10:04 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Marv, do you believe that Boron deficiency is a significant factor in tomatoes not growing to their maximum potential?
And if so, what evidence would you offer in support of that.
I have been amending my soil with Bo ever since I have been doing soil testing but it stays borderline low despite the amendments.
I would hate to do foliar feeding with Bo, it would be such a minuscule amount, but if it made a difference I would.

1/24/2019 9:45:38 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Materdoc, I feel that boron is quite important. The question in my mind is how much is enough. Most people are talking about having your soil level of boron at the level of 2ppm or 4 PPA. But, if you look at some of the soil tests that are reported, many levels are much higher with some successful growers being at the 5ppm/10 PPA level, very high since many other growers feel that exceeds the toxic level. These guys at 5ppm/10PPA are growing 2500 pound pumpkins in the UK. They are fertigating, putting boron in their water, as well. As I am not wanting to be criticized and I don't want to kill everything in my garden I will be aiming for 3ppm/6PPA this year and using foliar boron as well. If this doesn't harm anything I will aim for 4ppm/8PPA next year plus foliar feed as well. I could end up at 5ppm/10PPA if I am still growing. If I weren't such a coward about it I would be aiming for 4ppm/8PPA this year. The only reason I am not is that I will be spraying boron on the leaves every week or so and that gives me comfort. This is my opinion and I am certain some of the other growers will not agree but I think I am right. Your soil boron is leeching out every year and if the level is staying lower than you would like, add more. You can add up to 1ppm/2PPA per year and even more if you put it on your soil in several doses maybe a month apart. Its up to you. You could put different amounts on different areas of your garden as sort of a test. If you go for 5ppm/10PPA in one spot, let me know what happens. I think it will be fine but I don't know for certain.

1/24/2019 10:14:07 PM

Grittyville, WA

I love the enthusiasm and i think you are on track to be very very successful...but as you may guess i think the top grower will be the person who figures out how to shut the plant down by denying certain things it needs which will cause it to invest all its resources into its fruit... I think my late season 5.04 the plant knew it was dying and stopped investing in its own root system and probably stripped the necessary nutrients out of its own dying leaves... It was certainly deficient and yet it grew a big tomato because it wanted to... Not because it was fully supplied with resources. And a deficiency is actually what triggers its desire to invest everything it can muster into one tomato. Its an annual plant and it possesses the knowledge that it wont live forever. I think you might get the best result by causing it to think its dying. But, admittedly babying them is more fun.

1/25/2019 12:33:03 AM

Grittyville, WA

I dont want you to change the direction you are going on my account I just want folks to know that an alternative philosophy exists so they can try a less-is- more philosophy also. The person who wants to 'grow like dan' might have to master both philosophies. Or... perhaps he girdles his plants.

1/25/2019 12:42:09 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Materdoc, check out this boron level from Ian. It is in ppm so multiply by 2 to get PPA.

1/25/2019 6:05:35 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Sorry. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=287464

1/25/2019 9:37:14 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Thanks Marv, that’s interesting.
I think I will try to ramp up my Boron levels more this year.

1/27/2019 11:59:39 AM