55 Gallon Fertilizer

I have a 55 gal drum set up to water plants from. I want to use a water soluable type of fertilizer that I can put in the drum and use it to water the plants daily with. I am thinking a high middle number on the fertilizer would be best. Any suggestions???

I have a friend who does a living on flowers and vegies I bought fert from him he uses 10 20 10. I am drip feeding 40 hanging baskets with a weak solution of this through a drip system every time I water. Our baskets have shown a big improvement since starting this. In fact they have never looked better. Before he found out I am using a fertilizer injector system he said mix it about one third strength or about 18 tea spoons to 55 gallons if you want to use it every time you water.Or 55 spoons if watering with it every 7 to 10 days. Ernie

EWEED,
WOW, Beautiful!! I have some of the "blue" stuff, I think its 15-30-15, I will hafta try that. Thank you. I used it about one table spoon to two gal of water, and wound up burning my plants, :(

I hope this works. I have had my tomatos in since late april - mid may, and BER got 14 of them so far, and I have got, ZERO. They all remain green :(

The B.E.R. is probably being caused by inconsistant watering try watering them every day enough to keep the soil damp. The B.E.R. should go away.

We have had about a dozen large reds and four yellows today I spied a couple more ready. Soon I will be swimming in them.Ernie

EWEED,
Yes, they are watered daily :( Its either BER or NO ripening, boo hoooooo

What is "B.E.R."?

I think it's what Pacific Northwest gardeners say on those few sunny January days that lure us outside to look at our winter interest plants. Usually it's spelled burrr or simply brrrrr & is followed by, "it sure is cold today. I can't wait for summer!" :)

AERYNSUNSHINE;
B.E.R. = Blossom End Rot. Where the tomato, (pepper, squash in my case), rot from the blossom end.

HAHA Herpst!

Thanks, skid :-) I think I'm having the same problem with my 'mater plant. It has some fruit on it, still green, but I noticed that the newer blossoms were dying off.

Should the tomatoes be ripe by now?

AERYNSUHSHINE,
Does yours look like this too?

AERYNSUHSHINE,
I forgot to add, yes, thats what I hear re: supposed to be ripe. I have 14 tomato plants, avg amount of GREEN fruit I would say, but not a RIPE one in SIGHT!!! :( Booo hoooooo

Skidivur, I gave up on tomatoes after trying many years to get one or two to ripen out here in the foothills. It just doesn't get hot enough before blight sets in. I never had BER, just blight. I have had BRRR the past few chilly 46 degree mornings though!

Eweed, that is a lovely pot/planter!

POOCHELLLA,
Well, you got me beat. I dont recall having blight. Must be a king county thing, lol.

EWEED,
I called the "blue" company and they refused to help me find out the amount I needed.

I got another brand, sort of green in color, and they were eager to assist. They advised 4 tablespoons in 55 gal for daily feeding, so I hadda drain out my rain barrel of the 55 gal if mis-mixed stuff, and refill it, (you cant IMAGINE the trouble I had to get nature to provide 55 gal of water ON DEMAND), and put in the new amount of fertilizer. I hope THIS helps, :(

Skidivur,

I had it completely wrong. I'm still new to gardening :-)

My maters seem to be fine...no rot on them at all. I thought blossom end rot was something which affects the actual blossoms...before tomatoes are formed. Some of the blossoms were dying and falling off. However, there are new tomatoes forming on some of the blossoms.

Thanks for putting up the picture so I know exactly what you're talking about.

As for ripening, I may have gotten a late start on mine, mid-June.

I've gotten a few tomatoes so far. I had to cut so much off some of the plants due to a bacteria/fungus disease there's not much left on a couple of them. The cherry tomatoes are thriving though. Next year I'll put them up earlier and hang clear plastic in front of them to make a sort of greenhouse effect until the weather really warms up. It will be interesting to see how that works.

Hi Katy! - Just wanted to let you know that I cover my tomato plants thru the end of June - it keeps them dry, and creates the "greenhouse" effect that you spoke of. I drape some pretty hefty clear plastic over the plants - but keep it open at the very bottom.
2 important things to mention: take off the plastic if the daytime temperature increases, say into the upper 80's. Not too much of a problem, because our June weather is typically on the cool side. Also, replace the cover at night until the evening temps are into the upper 50's or so. This works great for me - I have been doing this for a number of years. Tomatoes stay dry & warm, which makes them happy & prolific. I don't have a problem with blight or anything else. Good luck! K

Thanks Katye, it's nice to know that can work. Well, the usual gardener's refrain... next year! LOL

KATYMAC,
Have you decided which plant to use in those upside down hangers, determinate or indeterminate?

skidivur, I don't think it matters really. I try to go for the ones with the shortest maturity time. The planters are on swivels so if one begins to encroach on the path I just rotate it a quarter turn.