hey, thinking of planting some tomatoes, I was wandering if someone had a good soil mix for planting outdoors in the ground. I want a basic, easy to make soil mix of maybe some perlite, garden soil, compost,etc. I just dont want to have to go and find all these different ingredients. I would love to be told of a good soil mix with about 2-4 ingredients or so that is well drained and can support a good crop of tomatoes. Also, (less important question), what fertilizer do u guys use? Thanks alot for the help fellas, have a good day.

It is hard to beat Miracle Grow for Tomatoes as long as you don't have 10 acres to fertilize. Make sure you have enough lime in the soil or they will rot on the vine. Use most any soil mix and pour the water to them, especially when they start to put on a lot of tomatoes.

thanks alot for the info, will do

For the ultimate:
- mix about half soil and 1/2 top soil
- put 12" boards around the garden about 4' wide by whatever length you want.
- Fill the boards with the soil mix.
- you will never walk on this soil just plant the tomatoes in it
- cover the soil with about 4" of straw mulch
- keep the plants well watered but try to water early so the leaves dry before nightfall
- Miragro is good as Timbercruiser said just stay away from high nitrogen fertilizers or you'll get all growth and no fruit
-- plant a variety of tomatoes to keep them coming until the frost takes them
- alternatively put down 1' x 10" planks and use that as a walkway between the rows so the soil isn't compacted
- make sure you have full sun for the best crops

Dan O.

my wife grows the best matters in our part of the country.

dig the soil well to loosen, put 1/4 cup cotton seed meal ; 1/16 cup lime in the hole and mix soil redig and plant the tomato plant 1/2 it's height in the grown.if the plant is 8" tall, plant 4" in the grown.
water only in the morning.
can't miss.

I also add corn meal to all my garden plots. its an organic fungicide that can keep blight from hitting tomatoes, and the worms LOVE to chow down on it. Can buy it in feed stores, or smaller amounts in grocery stores(yellow cornmeal). About 10# per 1000 sq. ft every 2 years does wonders for the patch. Taz