What's the best way to fertilize young tomato plants?

Started my tomato plants from seed, they are about four weeks old and doing well, just transplanted all 52 plants (6 different types) into 16 oz cups, have to move my grow lights every 3/4 days so the plants don't hit the lights. Last fall I dug in manure into my garden to prepare for this planting season. I plan to transplant my plants into my garden on May 25th (live in Maine), my friends tell me to put a spoon full of epson salts and egg shells into each hole; then top dress with tomato-tone on a monthly basis. The only thing I have ever used is manure, should I try the epson salts, egg shell and tomato-tone? I am thinking of testing it on some of the plants, my other friend said forget all that, just use fish emulsion. Thanks.

I'd go with the fish emulsion. I've been hearing wonderful reports on it. For another perspective, check out what Drthor did for planting her bumper crop of tomatoes. She used a product called Azomite (I read that link, and plan on purchasing some for my next tomato crop), and something else in each planting hole.

She has a totally beautiful crop of tomatoes coming in!

Here's the link.

P.S. I just posted this over on another forum in the beginner's section, regarding using a hoop to plant out earlier...
____________________________________________
"Beginner Vegetables: Raised garden ...do you amend beds to start new season"

Sounds like you both are awaiting warmer weather for your warm weather crops. Do either of you have a hoop over your beds? From my understanding, a hoop can be a very useful tool in extending your growing season(s) on both ends.

In this case, I believe you could warm up your soil in advance by laying plastic garbage bags on top so the sun would heat up the ground underneath. Then, you put your hoop in place (or install if over the covered ground). By the time the soil heats up, and the ground is ready, you plant out your young 'uns with some confidence they won't croak in the cold ground.

The beauty of the hoop is that you can cover it with a number of coverings designed to accommodate changes in the season(s). In advance of your spring?summer? plantout, you'd cover it with 4-6 mil clear plastic sheeting. The hoop will capture the heat from the sunshine during the day, and transfer it to the soil during the night. This gives you an earlier start on your plantout season. After your seedlings are established, you can replace the plastice with a floating row cover, or other lightweight cover designed to let in light and air for circulation, and keep out the buglies you don't want attacking your babies.

It works the same way on the other end of your season, by extending your summer heat (under the hoop) a ways into your fall season. Also, you get to protect early fall crops from too much cold, too soon.

A hoop can be installed over your raised bed in roughly 10-15 minutes. They can be tall as you like, or close to the ground as you like. If you're interested in the instructions (which a 10-year-old could do...), let me know and I'll post them here for ya'll.

Here's a picture of how one gardener used a hoop this past January to set out her tomato plants in mid-February, well in advance of her last freeze date. Granted, she had to use the plastic plus blankets on occasion, because I think her temps dipped to a low of around 36 degrees during this period.

But, today, Drthor's crop is one of the earliest, healthiest, and most productive tomato crops growing, and some of us are exhibiting tomato envy and kicking ourselves for not being prepared or brave enough to do what she did! You should see her crop. I've posted the link to her thread, and you can go see her hoops in action, in the various stages of use.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1159852/

Godspeed, and Good Harvest! ^^

Linda

I would go with the fish emulsion.

If you have blossom end rot (BER) or have had it in the past, Epsom Salt sprinkle a palm full in the planting hole (mixed into the soil) and sprinkled lightly in the row as a preventative measure. BER is a physiological problem due to uneven moisture preventing calcium from reaching the end of the fruit.
Fish is good Tomato-Tone is good, both are fertilizers.
Forget the egg shells - they break down too slowly to help with BER.
Buster

Thanks for the comments, fish emulsion it is. Linda, I do not have a hoop, however it sounds interesting. I will wait for the end of May and then drop the plants in, will turn the garden/dirt over in early May, and will probably dig the holes a week or two prior to planting (to let the dirt warn up), plan on laying the stems on their side and then bend the plant to get the stem to produce more roots. Thanks again to all for the comments. Concerning BER, the last time I planted tomatoes (a few years ago) I did get BER but thought it was because of me watering to much, so I gave up on tomatoes for a few years and now attempting to grow them again. I plan on "watching" my tomato watering very carefully and will add some epson salts this year, thanks, Bob.

When you decide to transplant into your garden, dig a hole, & add the fertilizer into the bottom of the hole, cover a little with dirt, then add your tomatoe plant. Cover with soil & water. You will have flowers & tomatoes soon.

Thanks, now I have a plan, can't wait to the end of May, Bob.

the only thing i do is dig a hole put miracle grow potting soil in the hole put the plant in , cover it , slight pack it , and water it with miracle grow water solution as per mix by the box . the weather takes care of the rest . two months after i will add an fish emulsion mix / with fish oil added to it to the outer edges 6 to 8 inches round the plant . the plants grow to massive size and grow maters the same .

Sarge

The way I fertilize tomatoes in a cup is just mix a little Miracle Grow in the water. Enough to barely change the color. Pour the mixture in a tray and sit the cup in it until it is wet to the surface. I put a teaspoon of Miracle Grow around each plant in the garden every week and water it in.

Bro Jim, you sprinkling regular MG plant food granules?

absolutly