Home What's New Message Board
BigPumpkins.com
Select Destination Site Search

Message Board

 
Tomato Growing Forum

Subject:  Soil amendments for container growing ?

Tomato Growing Forum      Return to Board List

From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Soil test back and help needed ! So I have 22 sq feet and containers are 15 inches deep ! What do u think I need ? And how much ?
Any and all thoughts appreciated ! Thanks

Ph 5.9 p 76 k 386 cal 3167 mg 522 sul 179 Om 14 %
Boron 1.5 manganese 6.2 zinc 7.7 copper .26 iron 15.8
Cec 28.6
% base sat cal 52% m 13.5% k 3.2%

10/28/2020 1:02:30 AM

SaladDoug_UK

Norfolk, UK

I think you have the option of amending as per surface area (and mixing to six inches) OR calculate the surface as if it were 6 inches, but amend the full volume.

Eg use this to calculate a new surface area https://www.omnicalculator.com/math/volume

My preference would be for the full volume, on the assumption that the 6 inch amendments for soil is really for practicability. Once you have a new surface area, you can run it thru the normal calculators.


Btw - 15 inches sounds a little shallow if I had the option of going taller?

10/28/2020 2:52:33 AM

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Thanks SaladDoug
Using that calculator I get 2sq ft per container for surface area , or 4 cubic feet ! And they are 17 inches deep ! Have 9 containers ! The plan is to mix And amend all containers together thoroughly By volume ! Had to do 5 separate soil samples ! What we have here is the average of all 9 containers mixed together ! Trying to dial them in and Make them all the same !

10/28/2020 10:54:35 AM

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

All soil samples will be on the diary a little later ! So if I mix them all together what I get is the first post as a average ! Looks like I need calcium and the micronutrients the most ! But sample # 4 as a base line for doing well, will be upped ! So with all amendments I could just be setting myself up for another BER YEAR ? What do we think ? Thanks

10/28/2020 12:22:03 PM

SaladDoug_UK

Norfolk, UK

@Greenbud - what are the dimensions of your containers?

10/28/2020 3:03:31 PM

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Round - 23 inches across 17 inches deep !

10/28/2020 4:00:16 PM

SaladDoug_UK

Norfolk, UK

Based on those cycling era being straight sided (?) - I get that out to be just shy of 116 litres per container, and at 6 inch depth the equiv of 8 square ft of surface area ( or 0.75 square meters)

Not see the posts yet - sounds like you have multiple individual soil tests; are these of soil already in some containers, so amendments tailored to that container / soil test - or of soil elsewhere you are hoping to use?

10/28/2020 5:02:19 PM

Marv.

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Listen to Douglas. He is the man on containers.

10/28/2020 5:02:45 PM

SaladDoug_UK

Norfolk, UK

P.s. Marv. I hate containers (shhh...) - needs must tho sometimes!

10/28/2020 5:08:54 PM

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Yes 113.5 litres per container ! Yes they are 5 individual soil samples from each ! Should be on diary sometime could be awhile ! Samples 1-3 are very high in everything but micros . 4 is what I grew the Canadian in , it did great ! And sample 5 would be new stuff I will make two more containers from ! I guess I could do them individualy like marv did suggest to me ! I told marv earlier I’m hating this container thing but have no choice right now . Lol

10/28/2020 5:41:48 PM

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

So in the end here , when u see My soil results on the diary Doug , I would ask you what do I need in sample # 2, 4 , and 5 per 113 liters and then I have a idea of what to put in the rest ! That will work ! And thank u so much , I think I’ll have my good friend Ron Wallace send u a surprise ! From me ! This is crazy I think my brain is going to start leaking out my ear soon ! Lol

Thanks again mike. P

10/28/2020 6:15:13 PM

SaladDoug_UK

Norfolk, UK

If your samples are from each pot, then I would amend individually

10/28/2020 6:19:49 PM

Greenbud

Coventry Rhode Island USA

Sounds good .

10/28/2020 6:20:30 PM

Marv.

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Why not just average the tests if the pots are all the same size, then mix them up and add whatever to the whole lot? Then refill all pots.

10/28/2020 9:40:09 PM

Total Posts: 14 Current Server Time: 11/24/2024 7:54:18 AM
 
Tomato Growing Forum      Return to Board List
  Note: Sign In is required to reply or post messages.
 
Top of Page

Questions or comments? Send mail to Ken AT bigpumpkins.com.
Copyright © 1999-2024 BigPumpkins.com. All rights reserved.