skip to main content

Growing Tomatoes

Milk. It does a (tomato) body good?

16 years ago

Hello. My wife showed me a link about milk and tomatoes at the link below and I was wondering if anyone had any first hand accounts of using it. Do you use it for a specific problem, like mildew or fungus, or as just a generic plant booster? I do have some problems with powdery mildew attacking my cucumbers and this would be an easy organic fix. And any trick that would make the tomatoes do better is always appreciated.

http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/06/12/tomatoes-like-milk/

Thanks!

Mike

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

sunsi
16 years ago
hehe, I was just at that site reading about her milk mixed with other things but I thought living out here in the boonies I'll attract every critter around looking for a free meal. One of the worst offenders is my Welsh Corgi, "Stella" who will eat anything just like a horse in the grain bin will eat themselves to death. Maniacal rather than instinct, lol
jwr6404
16 years ago
I often use skim milk for calcium when I plant my tomatoes. don't know if it helps or not.
Related Discussions
Buried milk jugs for watering?
Q
Comments (9)
I have used milk jugs to protect various plants during cold Spring weather. Removing the caps and cutting off the bottom turns gallon jugs into useful cloches. These work very well but I usually have far more plants than milk jugs. So, little newspaper teepees with a stake have been a 2nd choice. But, the reason I'm throwing this idea in is because what I just read here that George wrote and what I read in a Coop Ext bulletin about what to do with the jug after the cold nights have passed: ". . . invert the bottomless mini-greenhouses, and bury them between seedlings so the jug is about a foot deep and the bottom edge is just above the soil level. Place a shovelful of manure in this container for manure tea each time water is added. Roots will grow deeply in search of this nutrition and moisture. During longer periods of hot weather, these deep roots will keep plants thriving . . ." I'm not real keen on the looks, bother, and even usefulness of plastic in the garden. However, that's a way to use a plastic jug as critical protection and then bury it upside down, out of sight & out of the way, for the rest of season. . . . also, a rather tidy place for a shovelful of manure. (They also suggest using 4 or 5 jugs full of water and surrounding the plants for frost protection. Well, if I don't have enuf jugs to use as cloches . . . ;o) digitS'
...See More
I can't believe what a difference powdered evaporated milk made.
Q
Comments (47)
Might be my fault Dan. I was temped to say something about digging up old threads just to be controversial but bit my tongue. ;) But I only threw in the "organic" on pest controls to distinguish them from synthetic pesticides because the milk advocates always come back with "it's better to use milk then to use chems". Also wanted to point out that it was raw milk - not available to most - Dixie was advocating. The bacterial count and types in raw is substantially different from that in pasteurized so pasteurized milk has even less potential value to plants than raw. Dave
...See More
Looking for tomatoes that look good and taste better
Q
Comments (31)
There are a lot of good suggestions above re good to grow varieties. Here are a few I would add. Lyuda's Mom's Red Ukrainian, Druzba, and Burgundy Traveller. Eva Purple Ball is excellent as mentioned above. Re tomatoes growing in the heat, higher temps improve tomato flavor in every way you can imagine. But STRESS reduces flavor much faster. Most complaints about heat should really be talking about stress. In high temps with full sunlight, the plant has maximum photosynthetic ability and produces the highest level of plant sugars and other flavor compounds. If the plant is stressed by lack of water, disease pressure, pests, nematodes, etc. there will be a significant reduction of flavor potential. So my rule of thumb is to keep plants healthy and un-stressed to get the best flavored tomatoes possible. Heat is not a problem for a healthy plant. DarJones
...See More
Need a good acidic tomato to grow
Q
Comments (18)
Andrew Gerhardt's Jumbo Red, ***** Sada, in case someone wants to check out the above variety I just wanted to say that it's Andrew Rahart's, not Gerhardt's, Jumbo Red. Andrew Rahart lived near NY City and collected varieties from neighbors. Others of his are Myona, Pink Ping Pong and a few more I can't remember right now. I like the variety very much, but it isn't jumbo as you know and I don't find it to have an agressive taste but would recommend it to others as you did. Carolyn
...See More
vtguitargirl
16 years ago
Sunsi, I have to put out the cheapo wire fencing around all of my beds to keep the Corgis from digging. Baby carrots are their favorite!
sunsi
16 years ago
LOL, nooooo another naughty Corgi you lie! :D

One thing I've noticed about Corgis when they are caught doing something they know you don't want you would expect them to slink away like my German Shepherd does (although that a rarity because he's hardly ever bad). But let me characterized my Corgis behavior with dialog if I were to catch her red handed in the garbage she reacts sorta like "I'm kinda busy here did you want something?" and continues what she was doing, lol

I'm trying to picture your Corgis digging up carrots with those short little legs, hehe must be a riot. Yes, I've learned to rig everything Corgi proof and that I understand you might have two Corgis (?) double trouble I would think :D

Here is a link that might be useful:
blanesgarden
16 years ago
Answer....Nope.....Besides, who wants to waste 4 bucks a gallon for milk on any plants? Not me. Or anyone else raising 4 Kids.....
figfarmer
16 years ago
You sure that's a Corgi?? Looks like a coyote to me. FF
John A
16 years ago
I use a 1 to 9 milk-water solution for powdery mildew on cukes and squash, but the only thing that works for early blight on tomatoes is DACONIL.
John A
sunsi
16 years ago
figfarmer Quote:
You sure that's a Corgi?? Looks like a coyote to me. FF

I really thought she looked more like this, lol

Here is a link that might be useful:
timshaw
16 years ago
I have used milk on my tomatoes as a soil drench and as a folier spray but not religously so I can't attest to its effectiveness. I have read that you just use the dregs of a nearly empty container so you really don't have to spend any money. I'm another corgi owner, my girls are fenced out of individual beds, but anything growing outside of fence they consider fair game. They especially like sugar snap peas and will put there front feet on the fencing to get at them. My wife buys small amounts to give them as a treat when out of season. But they are cute.
Tim
sunsi
16 years ago
Ahhh that's right I haven't grown snap peas now for a few seasons but I do remember my Corgi sharing (devouring) them along with us right out of the garden, lol

I hope we aren't giving people the wrong impression of Corgis because they are exceptional dogs incredibly intelligent and require owners who are also incredibly intellgent and exceptional, hehe *ahem* :P

Related Stories

HEALTHY HOME 16 Ideas for a Healthy, Feel-Good Home

By Laura Gaskill

Making these small tweaks and bigger shifts at home can help you thrive everywhere you go

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Bid Bad Garden Bugs Goodbye and Usher In the Good

By Matt Kilburn

Give ants their marching orders and send mosquitoes moseying, while creating a garden that draws pollinators and helpful eaters

FEEL-GOOD HOME Simple Pleasures: Scent and Memory

By Laura Gaskill

Fragrant jasmine, fresh-brewed coffee, baking bread. Scents can evoke memories and bring sensory pleasure to our homes

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Turning a Netherlands Barn Into a Country Home

By Louise de Miranda

Once a place for chilling milk, this Dutch home now lets the owners chill out in easygoing comfort

DINING ROOMS How to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort

By Elements of Style

Instead of reaching for pillows and footstools when you dine, settle in with dining tables and chairs that fit the room and body

FEEL-GOOD HOME 21 Ways to Waste Less at Home

Whether it's herbs rotting in the fridge or clothes that never get worn, most of us waste too much. Here are ways to make a change

HEALTHY HOME Sleep Happier and Healthier in a Toxin-Free Bedroom

By Robyn Lawrence

Light pollution, toxic bedding, wallpaper that off-gases ... if you're not getting good sleep, these bedroom blights might be to blame

LIFE Slow Living 101: Tips for Turning Off the Chaos

By Laura Gaskill

It may feel as though you're too busy to slow down and enjoy life. But even little changes can have a big effect

MOST POPULAR 33 Magic Household Cleaning Tips

By Pauline Warlet

Houzzers from around the world share their tips for transforming housework into child’s play

FEEL-GOOD HOME Simple Pleasures: Make Do and Mend

By Laura Gaskill

Experience the satisfaction of fixing, repurposing and creating things yourself around the home

Sponsored

More Discussions

Has anyone heard of a storage tomato? Looking at Giallorosso di Crispi

4

"Purple" tomatoes?

4