2026 Gardening Growing Thread

How often do you water. How often do you fertilize, and where are you located ?

I'd cut off all the yellow leaves and cut them off at the main stem, each leaf 'frond' entirely.
Not seeing the typical symptoms of early blight, as I posted previously.
Lastly, what did you use for soil ?
I’ts possible I’ve overwatered them? I don’t have a schedule per se, but generally a few times a week, always gently and at the soil level.

I’ve applied 2 doses of “Tomato Tone” so far, in a wide ring around the plants. My raised bed tomatoes are doing fine with this.
IMG_8234.jpeg

I’m located in Tacoma. I did some DIY soil testing the other day but I’m not confident I did the tests correctly. Showed low nitrogen levels. Pots are filled with a 50/50 mix of Fox Farm “ocean forest” potting mix and Tagro. Perhaps I need to bump up the fertilizer levels?
 
I'd fertilize...

On the soils, that combo is certainly nutrient dense, but also heavy and may not drain as well as tomatoes would like, thus holding moisture for long enough to cause issues. There's gas exchange at the root level, and heavy, dense soils when watered heavily don't allow for the gas exchange, as the space between the particles is filled with water, and also the soil settles tighter in the pot. Container growing typically needs a light, fast draining soil , much faster than in ground soils drainage wise.
This extended wet period is not to a tomato plants liking, and can lead to other issues such as Fusarium.

Lift a pot and feel around in the drain holes at the bottom, do a potted plant prostate exam so to speak, stick a finger in the drain hole as far as you can...use two fingers if you want a second opinion...
😁

If your finger comes out wet, and muddy, there's drainage issues. You can drill holes in the bottom of the pot to help alleviate this, and even use a bamboo stake to poke through the soils aligning with your new drilled holes, but you may damage some roots, so be gentle.
You'll then need to dry things out a bit, put some sort of riser under the pot like a piece of wood or anything that gets the pot away from direct contact to the ground, then only water when the plant 'asks' for it, when the leaves droop a bit in the morning...as it's not uncommon for leaves on tomatoes in pots to droop a bit in hot direct sun, as the black pots can raise soil temps above their comfort zone.

Not seeing Alterneria symptoms, so next look for dark brown lesions on the stems at ground level...an indicator for Fusarium.

Based on what you have said, I'm inclined to think poor drainage or associated soil borne pathogens, but its hard to diagnose things without hands on of course.

Tomatoes are reasonably heavy feeders, but Nitrogen isn't something they need a ton of, so not to concerning...use the fertilize you have, and it's formulated fine...Nitrogen is water soluble, so feed regularly.
 
I'd fertilize...

On the soils, that combo is certainly nutrient dense, but also heavy and may not drain as well as tomatoes would like, thus holding moisture for long enough to cause issues. There's gas exchange at the root level, and heavy, dense soils when watered heavily don't allow for the gas exchange, as the space between the particles is filled with water, and also the soil settles tighter in the pot. Container growing typically needs a light, fast draining soil , much faster than in ground soils drainage wise.
This extended wet period is not to a tomato plants liking, and can lead to other issues such as Fusarium.

Lift a pot and feel around in the drain holes at the bottom, do a potted plant prostate exam so to speak, stick a finger in the drain hole as far as you can...use two fingers if you want a second opinion...
😁

If your finger comes out wet, and muddy, there's drainage issues. You can drill holes in the bottom of the pot to help alleviate this, and even use a bamboo stake to poke through the soils aligning with your new drilled holes, but you may damage some roots, so be gentle.
You'll then need to dry things out a bit, put some sort of riser under the pot like a piece of wood or anything that gets the pot away from direct contact to the ground, then only water when the plant 'asks' for it, when the leaves droop a bit in the morning...as it's not uncommon for leaves on tomatoes in pots to droop a bit in hot direct sun, as the black pots can raise soil temps above their comfort zone.

Not seeing Alterneria symptoms, so next look for dark brown lesions on the stems at ground level...an indicator for Fusarium.

Based on what you have said, I'm inclined to think poor drainage or associated soil borne pathogens, but its hard to diagnose things without hands on of course.

Tomatoes are reasonably heavy feeders, but Nitrogen isn't something they need a ton of, so not to concerning...use the fertilize you have, and it's formulated fine...Nitrogen is water soluble, so feed regularly.
Thanks for the advice @Mossback
Much appreciated!
 
Thanks for the advice @Mossback
Glad to help.
I grew large scale tomato plantings in ground and in containers for years, and have had all the problems that there are with tomatoes...at least all the problems that I know of.

Late blight is the worst, everything is going great, fruit is hanging, things look good and within a couple weeks after onset of late blight it's all gone to hell.
🤣
 
You can always pick up at pot and feel for weight, if you haven't watered for a few days and it's heavy...it's likely a drainage issue.
 
Glad to help.
I grew large scale tomato plantings in ground and in containers for years, and have had all the problems that there are with tomatoes...at least all the problems that I know of.

Late blight is the worst, everything is going great, fruit is hanging, things look good and within a couple weeks after onset of late blight it's all gone to hell.
🤣
I do remember your tomato growing posts on the old site and was secretly hoping you’d chime in for advice. Not that there aren’t other great tomato growers around here but it seems like you know a thing or two. If Skip was still with us I’d take his advice as well.
 
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