Jobe's Tomato Spikes

Anybody use them?

How do you like them?

These came up in another gardening thread and someone made the point that they've been around forever so there must be something to them, but interestingly no one had actually tried them, so I just bought them..?! Thanks for the input!

.. nobody ?!

And so the great Jobe's experiment begins..!

I've used something very similar on my tomatoes with good results.

Good to hear! I'm doing it mainly for an experiment, and if I see them slowing up I'll supplement with the Miracle-Gro but I'm expecting good things from them!

Beachwalker said:

Good to hear! I'm doing it mainly for an experiment, and if I see them slowing up I'll supplement with the Miracle-Gro but I'm expecting good things from them!

Click to expand...

Mine were in a jar shaped like a tomatoe and you just literally stuck the little sticks into the ground around the stem. I had my tomatoe plants in some old milk cans from the family dairy. They did really good and all I did was water them. I'm sure those should work pretty good.

So far so good on the spikes! ..not really much to add, they look like they're working fine ?!

Bought some calcium because I noticed a few tomates with blossom-end rot, not sure how to use this any input would help, thanks!

Never used calcium nitrate, specifically.
Hot stuff, looks like.

Miyagismokes said:

Never used calcium nitrate, specifically.
Hot stuff, looks like.

Click to expand...

Yeah kind of does, not sure it was my best choice? I think I can use it outdoors if nothing else but in the reviews a few people mention they were using it in Hydroponics? ..so I'll just keep an eye on it I guess?

Cal-nit probably wasn't the best choice, but it'll work for a calcium infusion. Mix it at a rate of 1.5 grams per gallon of water. While you're at it, add half that amount of Epsom salt to give a dose of magnesium as well.

Edit: got my numbers wrong. Cal-nit @ 2-2.5 g/gal, Epsom at 1-1.2 g/gal. I'd go on the low end first, you can always move up, but it's hard to take away ferts.

socaljoe said:

Cal-nit probably wasn't the best choice, but it'll work for a calcium infusion. Mix it at a rate of 1.5 grams per gallon of water. While you're at it, add half that amount of Epsom salt to give a dose of magnesium as well.

Edit: got my numbers wrong. Cal-nit @ 2-2.5 g/gal, Epsom at 1-1.2 g/gal. I'd go on the low end first, you can always move up, but it's hard to take away ferts.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, yes my thinking was that I was also going to mix this in the soil next spring, which I still think will work and I do have some Epsom salts to mix in

I used to be a hydro guy last century and if I have to I'll figure out my n-p-k numbers, but eh... now I'm older, lazier and a soil grower too now so I might just keep this stuff for outside use on the veggies lol..

This same company sells a general-purpose tomato product ( 4-18-38 )and the reviews suggest using this in conjunction with it, I might buy their tomato product and just keep it for outdoor use, and stick with Calimagic inside

* edit: Actually I'll buy Jacks. Peters was the first product I used to grow weed back in the last century when there wasn't so much of a choice available, I like Jack's products!

Indacouch said:

Mine were in a jar shaped like a tomatoe and you just literally stuck the little sticks into the ground around the stem. I had my tomatoe plants in some old milk cans from the family dairy. They did really good and all I did was water them. I'm sure those should work pretty good.

Click to expand...

I saw a little tomato shaped container of spikes at a Lowe's earlier this summer, this might be it? Good to hear they did well! These spikes seem to be doing fine right now, I've only added some calcium/magnesium yesterday cuz I noticed some blossom-end rot, but that was already there before the spikes, so far no problem with spikes at all..!

If I can grow successfully by simply inserting Spike's two or three times a season, and not have to mix up and feed Miracle Grow or Peters once or twice every week I'm sold.

I'm going to have to try spikes on a cannabis plant, I have a nice Romberry I think would enjoy it!

Beachwalker said:

View attachment 4171313

I saw a little tomato shaped container of spikes at a Lowe's earlier this summer, this might be it? Good to hear they did well! These spikes seem to be doing fine right now, I've only added some calcium/magnesium yesterday cuz I noticed some blossom-end rot, but that was already there before the spikes, so far no problem with spikes at all..!

If I can grow successfully by simply inserting Spike's two or three times a season, and not have to mix up and feed Miracle Grow or Peters once or twice every week I'm sold.

I'm going to have to try spikes on a cannabis plant, I have a nice Romberry I think would enjoy it!

Click to expand...

That's exactly what I have. Exactly.

Indacouch said:

That's exactly what I have. Exactly.

Click to expand...

..saw that exact same tomato shaped product today at Lowe's its sitting there dusty like nobody's ever touch them, and they work great!? I don't get it but I know I'm sold, my tomatoes are doing fantastic! I can barely stop cutting the basal, it looks like a hedge!

I'm going to give the Tomato shaped spikes a try when I run out of these Jobes, thanks again for the recommendation

Next set of Romberry I run I'm going to try to grow one with spikes, maybe start a journal about it?

Beachwalker said:

So far so good on the spikes! ..not really much to add, they look like they're working fine ?!

Bought some calcium because I noticed a few tomates with blossom-end rot, not sure how to use this any input would help, thanks!
View attachment 4170830

Click to expand...

I use Gypsum. I found 40 pound bags at a mom and pop feed and seed store for 10 bucks. Also a great source of sulfur.

Fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen helps avoid this malady. Work the fertilizer into the soil before setting out your tomato plants. Calcium sulfate, better known as gypsum, can be used to treat blossom end rot. Applygypsum at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet of soil area.
Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes | Wood County Master Gardeners
https://txmg.org/woodcounty/seasonal-gardening-tips/blossom-end-rot-in-tomatoes/

Beachwalker said:

. . . . . . . . .I'm going to have to try spikes on a cannabis plant, I have a nice Romberry I think would enjoy it!

Click to expand...

Ganja Girl makes her own spikes. She creates a hole then pours happy frog bulb food in the holes.

I've seen the bigger tree spikes. I bet they would work.

Blossom end rot is easily treated with a handful of GARDEN LIME, watered in

too larry said:

Ganja Girl makes her own spikes. She creates a hole then pours happy frog bulb food in the holes.

I've seen the bigger tree spikes. I bet they would work.

Click to expand...

That's great to know because I'm going to try one inside on my next run! They are doing great in my tomato garden!

Poontanger said:

Blossom end rot is easily treated with a handful of GARDEN LIME, watered in

Click to expand...

Thanks, I've been using my Cali magic type product but I'll grab a bag next time I'm at Lowe's

yes Beachwalker,but make sure its garden lime , there is a difference , just sprinkle a handful around the plant & water in

blossom end rot is usually caused from to much water & nutes, there is really no need to water as often as most people do,& if you r having trouble with fruit not setting, just don't water until there close to wilting, then give em a good drink, & watch the fruit set, it scares the plant into thinking its dying, so it has to produce tomatoes , so it can produce seed for future generations, that's natures way

Poontanger said:

yes Beachwalker,but make sure its garden lime , there is a difference , just sprinkle a handful around the plant & water in

blossom end rot is usually caused from to much water & nutes, there is really no need to water as often as most people do,& if you r having trouble with fruit not setting, just don't water until there close to wilting, then give em a good drink, & watch the fruit set, it scares the plant into thinking its dying, so it has to produce tomatoes , so it can produce seed for future generations, that's natures way

Click to expand...

Yes I'm starting to agree that blossom end rot has a lot more to do with over-watering than lack of calcium, I think certain strains are more susceptible to it as well

As an experiment I'm going to cut my daily watering back to every other day, however we're in a rainy stretch right now so that's going to have to wait a while

but just like the jobes spike experiments I am curious to see what happens when Ireduce water (however I will continue to add calcium weekly)

As far as the job's spikes go I see no difference in plant health or growth than I did with weekly or even bi-weekly waterings of Miracle Grow, I'm sold on Spike so far

Every day Beachwalker, NO NO NO, your tomatoes just do not need that much water, that's the problem wih 98% of growers , , water & over fertilizing, thinking your doing the plant a favour, the plant cant absorb that much attention, & do what you want it to do , ie produce tommies

do an experiment treat 1 plant the way I suggest, ie no more daily water & no more fert, calcium , now & then yep , because that will correct some of the excess N in the soil

I live in the driest state in the driest continent of the world , & we have consistant 35-42C summers , day in day out, twice a week if there lucky, but when I do water its a good one , often they might only get watered once a week , but I do have a good mulch