Tapla and Justaguy, I wanted to point out your dislike of organics in containers was reaffirmed by Ray's experiment. I know the problems associated with using organics in containers and that researchers have tried to obtain results equal to conventional methods with much tweaking of the organic systems and have had some success. But Ray's experiments last year certainly back up your contentions in other threads that using organics in containers would give disappointing results. At least it certainly did using Fox Farm vs the old formula of Tomato Tone. The old T.T. formula was a mix of synthetics and organics and look at the results in Ray's picture--the tomato with lots of fruits on the right (TT) VS the pitiful organic one (Foxfarm) next to it that you can barely make out. Even Ray's miracle gro soil mix WITH fertilizer did not help Fox Farm. Now having said this I have had good results growing certain vegetables organically in containers. Perhaps they would been bigger with synthetics but I was happy with the results. I certainly would not be happy with the results that Ray got with Fox Farm and was surprised the difference was that dramatic. By the way I use both synthetic and organics fertilizers but I am interested in improving organic results particular when told it just can't be done. Any chance that some of the non-plant ingredients are soil-type microbes that would help the organic fertilizer breakdown and be utilized in containers? Ray, I also noted the change in the formulas on my old bags of TT and the new. I was disappointed that they did this as I liked the higher potassium and the synthetic components ameliorate some of the organic drawbacks. I already had Plant-tone if I wanted to go purely organic. As far as your new experiment, it will be interesting to see how the new TT with all the biological microbes stacks up to the old. Also the ferts, in the Miracle Gro are long gone now and won't impact the experiment.

I have used Tomatotone with my tomatoes, eggplants and peppers for three seasons with 5-1-1 and think it works well. I used Osmocote in making the 5-1-1 and used Foliage pro alternating with TT through much of the season. The TT is especially useful when we have a lot of rain and I don't want to add extra water with fertilizer. Follow the package directions and scratch it into the surface. Don't try to dissolve it in water. It's not meant to be used that way.

That entirely depends on a) the nutrient status of the plants and b) how rich your soil is. If they are healthy and dark green, and your soil is rich, fertilizer is not necessary. If either situation is not the case, a little bit of organic fertilizer will help. 3-4-6 is not nitrogen-rich by any means. All plants need nitrogen, even when flowering. Something like Miracle Gro 24-8-16, on the other hand, would be too high in nitrogen to be used as a frequent fertilizer.

You may get a few different answers here, but if it were me, and since you are already using MG, I'd save the MG that you are using for another crop and I'd try to find a soluble 'blossom', or 'fruiting/flower' formula (each product or brand may have a different labeling description.) It doesn't have to be MG, it can be any soluble product with a lower first number (N). I'd also save the Tomato Tone for the first spring working of the soil, and later top or side dressings. My thinking is as follows. Tomato Tone is, in my estimation, a fairly good product. However, it is purposefully a slower release formula. As you pointed out, it's getting late in the season, and you'll get a better return for your efforts if you wait until spring and next year. Later in the year (now) fruiting plants, like tomatoes, often benefit from cutting back on nitrogen. Nitrogen is needed by plants for maintenance and growth. There is no need for growth as the plant will soon reach the end of its life. It does, however, still need a small amount for maintenance. If nitrogen is not available in the soil, the plant will prioritize, and 'steal' it from less important places (like lower leaves.) There's an argument to be made about restricting nitrogen aiding flavor, but that is often subjective, and even unnoticeable for many people. If you wish, you can do a side-by-side testing and tasting next year. So, I would find a soluble fert. with a small amount of N (not zero) and apply that as long as the plants will benefit. Keep in mind that there is diminishing returns. In other words... fertilizer is useful until a certain point where sufficient nutrients already exist in the soil, and adding too much will cause more harm than good. Further, as you harvest, there are less fruits, and less need for ferts in general. So, use a blossom formula, but gradually slack off. Save the Tomato Tone for another season, and keep the MG you already have for earlier in a year, or for another crop.