[GreyScales]

Just for some context, I'm a container grower in a block paved back garden; while I'm on the waiting list for an allotment. So other than what I mix in at planting, I'm mostly limited to liquid fertilisers to feed hungry plants like tomatoes.

I don't regard myself as an organic grower, I doubt whatever plant food they've added to Verve compost is organic. However I try to use natural fertilisers as I know petroleum derived salts aren't good for microbiological life. Who are responsible for breaking down the BFB, rock dust and other materials into water soluble elements. So I think it would be rather counter productive to put together a good potting mix just to poison the life in it.

I've been using Green Future organic tomato fertiliser since April and it's certainly been doing the job for the strawberries and overwintered chillies. However at two teaspoons per litre it's almost gone already and I've got eight tomatoes, six tumbling toms, four berry tomatoes and a range of chillies and peppers on the way.

Given how much I'll be using in the future and how quickly this container has gone, I'm tempted to go for the five litre container, which would be rather expensive. So I thought it would be a good idea to check with everyone here first and see if there are other options. I imagine many people make their own free fertilisers, but given I'm not in a position to grow my own plant food as of yet; what do those who buy theirs in feed their tomatoes with?

Thanks for any recommendations in advance

[RJR_38]

I just fed mine with chicken pellets and BFB last year (same treatment as everything else pretty much) and I got a good crop outdoors. Don't know if it's right though

[GreyScales]

I just fed mine with chicken pellets and BFB last year (same treatment as everything else pretty much) and I got a good crop outdoors. Don't know if it's right though

I've always heard general purpose plant foods are fine until they start fruiting, but then they need that extra potassium boost.

[Yorkie]

Maxicrop general purpose and tomato fertilisers - liquid, seaweed based.  For flowering plants you're basically looking for a high potash fertiliser.  Sulphate of potash (powder) would also do the trick.  Make sure you stick to the application rates, or you'll just end up with magnesium deficiency.

[RJR_38]

So liquid seaweed then?

[GreyScales]

What's the dilution rates for Maxicrop like? I think the main thing that went against my current one was how it didn't go very far.

[Eightball]

Well you live in Merseyside so does that mean you are close to the beach? may be able to go an collect your own seaweed and make a feed. Have to check with local councils first to ask permission.

Also you may not be in a position to grow your own plant food but comfrey grows wild all over the country. Have a scout around local parks, woods, nature areas etc. That's what I do and have found a massive amount of comfrey.

I also make a plant feed out of nettles for leafy greens, sweetcorn and brassicas. Also grows all over the place.

They are just as good as any commercial feed in my opinion and the best part is they are free

[Totty]

Make some comfrey tea. Perfect for toms, organic and free.

Totty

[Headgardener22]

Make some comfrey tea. Perfect for toms, organic and free.

Totty

If you're prepared to put up with the smell 

[GreyScales]

Funny enough I tried to inquire about collecting seaweed from New Brighton beach via e-mail. After lots of passing around between different departments; they first thought I was going to try to eat it, advising against that due to the pollution of industrial work in the area. Then when I correct them, no response Though I suppose the advice against eating applies to using it as a feed for edible crops as well.

[Goosegirl]

No - using it as a feed for plants is no different than using other feeds for plants, but if it could be contaminated with industrial pollutants, I would avoid it. I've used both Maxicrop general and tom liquid feed in the past and, though I can't remember the dilution rates I used, I have just looked on their website and their concentrated seaweed plant food is diluted at a rate of 12 ml in 4 litres for a normal solution, though you can dilute it more for a weak one or less if you need to make a stronger solution, but for a 250 ml bottle, you should get about 85 litres-worth of dilute feed at the normal rate. They now have several newer products than when I last went on their website.