Can I use my Aquarium Ferts on my Tomatoes?

I am also using my WC water on our annuals and herbs. Had never considered using the mixes, would have to read up on this, may need to add phosphorus and other items for the tomatoes. Would be worth looking into, I'm sure the store bought stuff is filler and unusable matter for the most part. Good luck.

I would not add ferts just for the Tomatoes. Just do another WC and use that water for the Tomatoes. Servers 2 purposes--- Extra WC always go for fish. Fish water always go for plants (unless medicated for sick fish).

so water treatments like prime, etc... are ok to use on your plants? you cant use those products on fish you intend to eat, why your veggies?

my wc water is making my tomatoes explode! no kno3 for tomatoes... it' nitrates... they don't like it.
oh and of course banana peels... don't forget them.

i use those... sub kno3 for kh2po4... in my tank. that's the water i use for my "garden". works great! from what i hear though nitrate = taller plants, less maters too. levels that don't hurt your fish should be ok for nitrate.

check this out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk1zHKNGSGs

too much water on your tomatoes will make them explode

swinneyw said:

too much water on your tomatoes will make them explode

Click to expand...

True, which is why they grow a giant amount in CA where we have long hot dry summers. It's about all the area around Sac and Davis smell, huge trucks running all summer full of tomatoes everywhere.

They do not like to be over watered.
I'd use a good manure with high NH4 content.
Use a hygrometer for soil moisture(cheap and useful for not over watering).

That, more than tank water or not, will help and offer the best flavor.
Too much/too little water is the issue.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Nutritional needs (including water) for tomatoes is dependent upon many factors. Tomatoes are an extremely diverse species and the major component for how to care for is based upon the genetic background.

Tom Barr referred to the tomatoes seen around Davis and Sac. These trucks are hauling determinate processing tomatoes to make ketchup and tomato sauce (and decorating the roads). These tomatoes are grown for specific sugar, water, and solid content to make the best sauce. They are not very good for eating straight. There are some tomatoes bred for growing under the conditions of the humid Tropics and Sub Tropics that do not have the issue of cracking from too much water.

A quick couple of definitions: Determinate = the plant grows to a certain point and then dies. Indeterminate = the plant only dies when something kills it (frost, drought, or a gardener sick of tomatoes). The difference between these types is only one gene. These are usually placed on the variety description on the seeds or plants when they are sold.

Determinate tomatoes need a balanced nutrition with high nitrogen during early growth. At flowering a shift to higher P, K and Ca will instigate more flowers. Sufficient Ca is required at flowering to prevent blossom end rot (BER). Watering during this time should be enough to keep the plants rigid but not saturated. As the fruit mature a decrease in water is needed to increase the sugar content of the fruit and prevent rots. A little bit of wilt in the afternoon is desirable at this point.

Indeterminate tomatoes are a completely different ball of wax. These lines need constant steady amounts of all nutrients and moisture levels held steady. These tomatoes need NPK, Ca, and all of the other nutrients in constant supply as they are growing new vine, flowering, and producing mature fruit all at the same time. A steady feed of Miracle grow or other balanced mix is needed.

A quick word of warning about using manure or any other organic ferilizer in a garden. For best results add in the manure 2-3 months before planting in warmer climates or the fall before in climates where it freezes. Depending on the C to N ratio in the manure, the bacteria decomposing it can actually temporarily deplete the soil of nutrients.

Back to the original question of using aquarium fertilizers on the tomatoes. Other than a greatly reduce concentration they are chemically almost identical to Miracle Grow, Peters, etc.. They just cost a heck of a lot more generally. As to whether to use the water from a water change on the tomatoes. Indeterminate = always yes. Determinate = only until after flowering.

(Can anyone tell I work with in research with vegetable crops?)