A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Grrrrrr!

I planted my tomatoes about a month and a half ago, and they're only about thre or four inches taller than they were when I planted them! I planted my mom's the day before and she has blosssoms!!! We have nothing! *Sigh* I've put MiracleGrow on them once--should I continue? The peppers and beans are thriving, though!

How are the conditions where they are planted? Soil, sunlight, etc.? Different environmental conditions will make for huge differences. You could certainly fertilize again. Every couple of weeks will be fine. Otherwise, work on adding organic matter to your soil.

alot of other people have posted different methods of watering too. Some people keep the soil moist at all times, this is how i was always taught as a kid for everything.

Some people stress their plants and let them go till they wilt then water them a good dose & repeat this process. . claiming that it yeilds better than moist soil at all times.

This is my first year since being a boy gardening, so i really dunno how to tell you whats better, but can tell you that watering is a key factor I keep my soil moist (checking it everyday & watering if need be). And mine are currently maybe 1' tall and have been in the ground at MOST 3 weeks.

Odd that the peppers are doing better. peppers and tomatoes like the same conditions, except that peppers tolerate somewhat drier soil. I find that soil amendments, manure, compost, bone meal, blood meal...work better than liquid feeding. I'd make sure there's a good mulch around the plants, and as John said, dose 'em with fertilizer every 2 weeks. In fact, if there's o mulch yet, I'd get some plant-Tone and put down 2 or 3 tablespoons around each plant and then mulch w/ straw, grass clippings or shredded leaves. If the plants haven't wilted, they're getting enough water, but I always check by sticking a finger in the soil to the second knuckle. If it's fairly moist, I hold off.

I am not sure how it happened exactly, but I seem to have a knack with tomatoes. I have two big plants on my balcony. They get LOTS of sun (south facing balcony) and because they are in pots they tend to dry out and start to wilt before I can water them. I have to water them twice a day, am and pm, , with about a liter to a liter and a half of water each time. If I peep outside in the middle of the day and they are drooping, I will dose them with water again. It has been in the upper 80's F here and they tend to droop often. But there are TONS of tomatoes coming.