To reap a good harvest of tomatoes, it is important to follow the rules of plant care. It is necessary to irrigate the bushes in a timely manner, ensure comfortable temperature conditions, and also know what to feed the tomatoes after planting in the ground. Below we will discuss the types of fertilizers and the rules for their use.
Several types of fertilizers are used to feed crops.
Mineral
These are inorganic fertilizers that promote rapid plant growth and group formation of ovaries. Mineral fertilizers can be purchased at any specialized store.
There are two groups of mineral fertilizers:
Simple
Such supplements include the following elements:
- Nitrogen. Helps to form new shoots. These fertilizers are used at the bush growth stage, as well as after planting in the soil. Nitrogen fertilizing during plant growth is not recommended or used with caution, since due to an excess of nitrogen, the formation of shoots occurs and the development of the fruits themselves slows down.
- Phosphorus. They promote the formation and development of bush roots, which is especially important after planting crops in the ground.
- Potassium. They help the roots to fully form, increase the plant’s defenses to resist diseases, and also have a positive effect on the taste properties of tomatoes.
These fertilizers saturate the tomatoes with useful substances, which allow the gardener to reap a rich harvest.
Complex
Such fertilizers contain several types of elements at once. Thanks to such fertilizers, the plant receives all the necessary beneficial elements.
Organic
These are products of animal and plant origin. They contain a whole range of useful substances, which is why such fertilizers are popular among gardeners.
Manure
This product is usually used in the spring when digging up the garden. Proportions – 6 kg of mullein per 1 m2 of land. In addition, fertilizer is also used after planting crops.
Add 10 liters of water to 2.5 kg of product and leave for 1.5 weeks. This concentrated solution is diluted with water in proportions of 1:10. The product is used to irrigate the roots. One bush requires a liter of solution.
Ash
This is a universal product that not only saturates the plant with useful components, but also prevents the roots from freezing when the soil gets cold. To make this fertilizer, take:
- ash – 0.5 kg;
- water – 10 l.
The product is poured with water, the product is stirred and left for several hours to infuse. The prepared solution is used to feed the plant.
Yeast
To prepare this dressing you will need:
- dry yeast - 1 package;
- warm water – 3 l;
- sugar – 10 large spoons.
Sugar is mixed with yeast and warm water is added. The solution is placed in a warm place for 6 hours to infuse. The product is used to feed tomatoes in diluted form at the rate of 3 parts of concentrate to 7 parts of water.
Feeding methods
Root feeding
This is a traditional type of feeding, which is known to both experienced gardeners and novice gardeners. The essence of the procedure is to apply fertilizers to the ground, to the place where the roots of the bush are located. This will allow the plant to absorb useful elements for good growth and fruit set.
When performing root feeding, it is important to use fertilizers so that the composition does not get on the plant in order to avoid burning out the bush. Before carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to loosen the soil so that the plant absorbs useful elements faster and the soil retains moisture longer.
Foliar feeding
The essence of foliar feeding is spraying the bushes with special compounds. This method of fertilizing plants has the following advantages:
- low fertilizer consumption, since all useful substances are sprayed onto the bush;
- tomatoes receive more vitamins and minerals, since some of them go into the soil during root feeding;
- bushes quickly absorb useful elements, so this method of fertilization is suitable for providing emergency assistance to a wilting plant.
- use only clean water for preparing the product, since the liquid from the tap contains chlorine, which leaves traces on the plant;
- use a diluted solution to irrigate the bushes so as not to burn the stem and leaves.
A specialist will tell you about fertilizing tomatoes in the video below.
Fertilizer scheme
There is a certain scheme for feeding tomatoes. It is recommended to adhere to these rules in order to saturate the plant with the necessary useful components and avoid burning out the bush due to an excess of fertilizers.
First manipulation
The time of application of fertilizer after planting crops depends on the type of manipulation. Foliar feeding is carried out after a week and a half. To do this, it is recommended to use a product made from the following products:
- alcohol solution of iodine – 10 drops;
- dissolved whey – 1 l;
- water – 9 l.
All products are mixed and the resulting product is used to irrigate the bushes.
Root feeding is carried out after 3 weeks. To do this, use a product prepared from the following elements:
- “Ideal” in liquid form - 1 large spoon;
- nitrophoska – 1 large spoon;
- water – 10 l.
The specified components are diluted in water. The resulting solution is used to irrigate the bushes at the rate of half a liter of product per bush.
Second procedure
- top dressing "Signor tomato" - 1 large spoon;
- water – 10 l.
“Signor Tomato” is diluted in water and the roots are irrigated with this solution at the rate of 1 liter of product per bush. For foliar treatment, it is recommended to dilute the resulting product with water in proportions of 1:10.
Third manipulation
The third feeding is carried out after the formation of the third flower cluster. To fertilize the bushes, use the same composition as for the first feeding.
Fourth procedure
This manipulation is carried out 20-21 days after the third application of fertilizers. To carry out the manipulation, take a product prepared from the following components:
- superphosphate – 1 large spoon;
- water – 10 l.
The fertilizer is diluted in water, and the resulting composition is used for root irrigation. Calculation: 1 liter of product per bush.
If you follow the rules of feeding and provide the plant with comfortable conditions, the gardener will enjoy a rich harvest of tomatoes in the fall.
Tomatoes are a plant that decorates almost any garden plot. These are one of the most delicious and healthy vegetables, which are planted both for seasonal consumption and for preservation for the winter. In the middle zone and southern regions of Russia, tomatoes can be grown in open ground. For example, in the Rostov, Voronezh, Tambov regions there will be no problems, there is enough heat for the full growing season of these plants. But in the Pskov and Leningrad regions (and, especially, to the north), growing tomatoes without shelter is a rather risky undertaking. But even here you can get good harvests in open ground if you comply with certain conditions:
- Early planting of seedlings. Proper application of fertilizers for tomatoes at all stages of growth and development. Use of agrotechnical methods to accelerate ovary and ripening
Tomato seedlings
Obtaining, selection and disinfection of seeds
Seeds for seedlings can be bought at the store. You need to choose well-proven, zoned varieties that have genetic characteristics that are consistently passed on from generation to generation. For example, the following varieties are suitable for growing tomatoes in open ground in the middle zone:
- “Verlioka”, “Katya”, “Arctic”, “Native”, “Nevsky”, “Yamal”, “Far North”, “Apples in the Snow”. They are also recommended for greenhouse cultivation in the northern regions of the country.
For the southern regions there is more choice. Here you can plant nightshades with a long growing season and a larger fruit mass of the final product. This:
- “Fifty”, “Taman”, “Salad Pink”, “High-Peel”, “Shiva”, etc. .
Another way to obtain seeds is to get them from your garden. For this, strong, ripe tomatoes are selected (it is better to let them ripen on the bush, without ripening) and kept on the windowsill until they become soft (rotting should not be allowed).
The prepared tomato is cut in half, the seeds are squeezed into a jar and fermented. To do this, they should be left in the jar for 2-4 days. High-quality seeds will separate from the pulp and settle to the bottom.
Selection of planting material
Before planting, you should sort the seeds by placing them in a glass of water for 10 minutes and stirring with a wooden stick. Seed material suitable for planting will sink to the bottom, and lightweight specimens will remain on the surface. Some sources advise warming up tomato seeds before planting in order for friendly shoots to appear. The benefit of this procedure is questionable, because heating the seeds at high temperatures can deplete the supply of moisture they contain.
How to “treat” tomato seeds?
Previously, for this purpose, a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 0.5 cup of water) was most often used, in which the seeds were kept for 20 minutes, and then thoroughly washed with water. But now the drug KMnO? has practically disappeared from sale, and gardeners use other methods to disinfect seeds:
- For example, aloe juice, into which tomato seeds are placed for one day, and then left to dry without washing.
“Treatment” is necessary, because even the best fertilizers for tomatoes will not help to get a good harvest from diseased plants, and after such treatment, adult bushes are practically not affected by anything.
Soak
The most popular among amateur gardeners are the following: preparations for stimulating seed germination: “Epin”, “Zircon” and “Guamat”. They are good not only because they are growth catalysts for growing tomatoes, feeding their seeds with useful microelements, but they are also environmentally friendly fertilizers of organic origin. The soaking temperature in these preparations should not be lower than 15°, otherwise the effect of the elements on the seeds will be incomplete .
It is best to use a solution with t = 20-22 °C. But it is strictly forbidden to soak tomato seeds in an ash solution.. This useful fertilizer will be useful in the next stages of plant growth and development.
Now it will have a depressing effect due to the presence of mineral salts in it. Potassium fertilizers for tomatoes are not used at this stage. for the same reason. Tomato seeds need, on average, 18 hours to swell. After this, they are taken out of the water so that they do not suffocate, since during germination they begin to need oxygen.
Germination of seeds
This procedure is simple and quite fast. It is best to place the seed material in well-ironed gauze, which can be moistened with water or a diluted growth stimulant (Epin, for example). They germinate within 1-2 days, the most important thing is not to miss this moment, otherwise roots will grow that will dig into the tissue and get stuck there.
Growing seedlings
It is necessary to attend to this issue in central Russia at the beginning of March. In the northern regions, at this time, seedlings are planted for subsequent transplantation into greenhouses. In the southern regions it is planted in April, sometimes even in May.
But here there is no fundamental need for it; you can plant nightshade seeds directly into the ground.
Soil preparation
First you need to prepare the soil for tomato seedlings. There are many recipes for this mixture. Here is one of the most popular: For 1 part of garden or turf soil (land on which nettles grew in summer is ideal), take 1.5 parts of humus, 1 peat, and 0.5 river sand.
To ensure calcium balance, add 1 cup of crushed eggshells. Note that mineral fertilizers are not needed at this stage. They will be needed later, when it is necessary to feed adult plants for ovaries and fruiting.
Soil treatment
The resulting soil mixture must be steamed. This is done in different ways, from heating the bucket over a fire to the oven.
Disinfection and destruction of fungi and putrefactive bacteria, as well as aphid larvae and the cessation of weed activity are achieved using this procedure. Another way to clean soil mixture for growing tomatoes from pests is spill it with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. You will have to water in any case after the soil is placed in containers for seedlings, as water helps it settle and compact.
Landing
After germination, the seeds are placed in the prepared soil to a depth of 0.5-0.7 cm, root down (if in doubt, place the seed on its flat side, the sprout and root will find where to move on their own). Before the first shoots appear, pots with seedlings are placed in a warm place with a temperature of at least 25°C.
Some gardeners cover the pots with plastic bags to enhance the thermal effect. This can also be done, but you should not forget to periodically ventilate the plantings.
Seedling care
To ensure adequate nutrition You can water young plants with ash extract. This is done no more than twice during the entire period of “home” growth. One more A way to feed young plants is a yeast solution.
You can prepare it as follows: 5 grams of bread yeast are diluted in 5 liters of water and left for one day. Then the seedlings are fed with this suspension, but not more than once during the entire growth period.
The resulting mixture cannot be stored for more than 2 days. You can also use fast-acting yeast as a fertilizer for tomatoes. A mixture of them is made like this: One packet of yeast and two tablespoons of sugar are poured into a glass of warm water, stirred until completely dissolved. Leave for 2 hours, and the resulting working solution is added when watering at the rate of 0.5 liters per 10 liters of water.
“Moving” seedlings to the garden
Tomato bushes ready for planting should have a first cluster with ovaries and a second, flowering cluster. They should not be planted directly into the garden bed. You must first harden the plants; this is one of the main conditions for growing tomatoes in open ground.
It is advisable to start on a cloudy day by placing the pots with plants outside for 15-20 minutes, increasing your time outdoors every day. There is another way (if you came to the dacha for one day with the goal of planting seedlings in open ground) - cover the plants with plastic bottles or plastic buckets. To do this, take a bottle with a volume of 5 liters or more and cut off the bottom. It is installed above the tomato bush in such a way that there is a gap at one edge between its lower cut and the soil for air circulation.
Diagram: example of arrangement of tomato bushes in a garden bed
Caring for tomatoes in open ground
Into the ground before planting seedlings, it is necessary to apply organic fertilizers. For one square meter, the following consumption rate is recommended per 1 square meter: wood ash - 0.5 l, compost or humus - 1 bucket, urea -1 tsp. After the plants have taken root well, fertilizing should be carried out.
For this purpose, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for tomatoes are used. It is better not to feed nightshade plants with nitrogen at the first stage.
Its excess leads to rapid growth of the vegetative mass, to the detriment of the formation of ovaries. Liquid fertilizer from ash can be very useful for development at this stage. It will nourish the plant with those elements that are necessary for the growth of the bush and the formation of flowers and ovaries.
At the stage of flower formation, it is also worth feeding nightshades with ready-made fertilizers, such as “Sudarushka-tomato” - a universal complex without chlorine. It is used to prevent fungal diseases and increase productivity. The method of application is as follows - 1 spoon (teaspoon), dissolved in 10 liters of water. 0.5 liters are poured under each bush. In open ground for tomatoes sometimes a typical “greenhouse problem” appears - tomatoes bloom, but do not set. But the root causes of this phenomenon are different than those of plants in open ground:
- Early planting of seedlings.
Tomatoes are a rather demanding vegetable crop. This plant actively takes nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other minerals from the soil.
During seed germination, phosphorus is necessary to enhance the growth of plant roots, it promotes earlier flowering, ripening of tomatoes, increases yield, sugar content and dry matter in fruits. Potassium is necessary for normal fruiting, and nitrogen in ammonia form is necessary for rapid fruit ripening.
During budding, flowering and fruit formation, plants need nitrogen and potassium nutrition. If there is a lack of nitrogen or potassium, then plant growth is weakened, and this leads to a decrease in fruits and a decrease in yield. Tomatoes have high nutritional, taste and dietary qualities. Excess nitrogen negatively affects the growth of tomatoes.
It delays fruiting, and there is a high probability of plant diseases. Thus, in order to get a good harvest of tomatoes, you need to create all the necessary conditions. To do this, plant tomatoes in soil that has been prepared in advance and fed with mineral organic matter. Soil enriched with organic materials and biofertilizers is the key to a rich tomato harvest.
Recently, summer residents have been trying to abandon chemical and artificial fertilizers, giving preference to natural fertilizing. What to fertilize tomatoes with, everyone chooses for themselves, since there are many options.
Fertilizer methods for tomatoes
Yeast is one of the best plant growth stimulants. How to feed tomatoes? The most common methods of feeding are: bird droppings, ash, yeast and others. Let's take a closer look at each of them. Yeast.
They are the best plant growth stimulator. Recipe for preparing yeast fertilizer: 20 grams of yeast are diluted in 10 liters of water, left for 24 hours, and the resulting solution is used to fertilize the plants. "Rostmoment" is a ready-made fertilizer that is produced on the basis of yeast. It is also suitable for planting tomatoes.
This product is the best biostimulator for plant growth and further development. Using this fertilizer, you can be confident in its quality. "Rostmoment" is suitable for fertilizing tomatoes that grow in pots. Ash is an excellent source of potassium and phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, zinc and other trace elements.
Ash is added to each hole before planting seedlings. To do this, take 3 tablespoons of ash and mix it with the soil.
To enrich the soil, 3 cups of ash per 1 square meter is required. Fertilizing the soil when planting tomatoes plays a key role in the growth of fruits. Chicken manure is a fairly valuable fertilizer. Its chemical composition is ahead of manure, and the nutrients are contained in a fairly light form.
Fertilizing tomatoes with chicken manure has a prolonged effect, even after two or three years after applying the fertilizer, the soil remains nourished and has a positive effect on the plants. Feeding from bird droppings is quite easy to prepare.
The concentration of the solution is prepared depending on the stage at which the tomatoes grow. You can prepare the following composition: add 100 g of fresh bird droppings to 10 liters of water, leave for 24 hours and water the plants. Fertilizing with manure and bedding is applied during soil cultivation, in a ratio of 6 kg of fertilizer per 1 sq. m. Chicken manure is not a universal fertilizer, so it is necessary, in addition to it, to add other fertilizers to the soil, such as ammonium nitrate, superphosphate. For a good result, it is not necessary to use expensive fertilizers, the main thing is not to exceed the dosage and apply them to the soil on time. Nitrophoska and other complex fertilizers are applied to tomato seedlings at a rate of 0.5 teaspoon per 1 liter of water. Planting tomatoes begins with the use of superphosphate, 1 tablespoon per hole. 5 days after planting, you can water the tomatoes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Stages of growing tomatoes in the garden
- in the fall, when digging the soil, add 4 kg per 1 square m of humus or compost; in the spring, it is necessary to fill the soil with mineral fertilizers: 80 g per 1 square m of superphosphate and 20 g per 1 square m of potassium chloride; after planting the seedlings, the first fertilizing is planned in 10-15 days , and the second - already at the beginning of fruit formation; so that the fruits set faster, use a 0.5% solution of superphosphate or a solution of boric acid. The solution that has settled is drained and the tomatoes are sprayed with it.
Thus, fertilizing the soil when planting tomatoes plays a key role in the growth of future fruits. Today, there are a large number of different fertilizers that can improve the quality of fruits; the main thing is to follow the exact dosage instructions and time of application to the soil. With the help of fertilizing, you can grow an excellent crop of tomatoes on soil that is not particularly fertile. We list the most important fertilizers for this crop:
- potassium; phosphorus; nitrogen.
Phosphorus plays a great role in the formation of the root system and fruit set. If plants do not receive this substance, then tomatoes do not absorb nitrogen and other essential nutrients poorly.
Symptoms of phosphorus starvation in tomatoes are the appearance of red-violet spots on the underside of the leaves, as well as curling of the leaves along the main vein; fruit ripening also slows down. When thinking about how to feed tomatoes in a greenhouse, you should remember the high consumption of potassium by this crop. This mineral promotes the formation of stems, as well as the absorption and processing of carbon dioxide.
In case of potassium deficiency, the lower leaves accumulate ammonia nitrogen, as a result of which they first wither and then die. In the photo you see how the result of potassium starvation of tomatoes appears on the leaves: Let's take a closer look at what and how to feed tomatoes in a greenhouse.
When and what kind of feeding is carried out
The very first fertilizing can be done during the process of planting tomato seedlings in the greenhouse. Compost or humus is placed in pre-prepared holes and ash is added.
Compost, like humus, contains many minerals, and the ash contains a high content of various micro- and macroelements, which are so necessary for tomatoes for normal development, growth, flowering, setting and formation of fruits. The question is about what to feed tomatoes after planting in a greenhouse , causes “hot” discussions among gardeners. Part of the “gardening” community is of the opinion that the question of what to feed tomatoes in a greenhouse immediately after planting is not worth it at all. Such gardeners believe that the first feeding of greenhouse tomatoes should be carried out no earlier than two weeks after transplanting the plants to a permanent place. Other gardeners are of the opinion that for seedlings “injured” by transplanting, it is better to feed the tomatoes in the greenhouse earlier, preferably immediately after transplanting, all the better.
For the first fertilizing, these gardeners recommend using organic fertilizers, or so-called “green tea”. This fertilizer is easy to prepare with your own hands. To prepare it, take a variety of herbs (various weeds, such as nettle, plantain and others), to which add a bucket of liquid mullein and a glass of wood ash.
For infusion, take 4-5 kg of finely chopped grass per 50 liters of water, add mullein and ash, mix and leave for several days to infuse. Then the volume of the solution is adjusted to 100 liters. Approximately 2 liters of prepared infusion is poured under each tomato bush.
Important: mineral fertilizing carried out by many gardeners at this time has a one-sided effect on plants. Some of them stimulate the active growth of green mass, others enhance flowering. If there are no organic fertilizers, it is better to fertilize the tomatoes with any complex mineral fertilizer. So, if you think that the soil in your greenhouse is well fertilized, then you don’t have to fertilize it after replanting the tomato seedlings. Then, the approximate feeding plan will be like this:
- The first feeding will be carried out approximately in 15-20 days after transplanting plants. For it, mineral fertilizers are used, diluting them in 10 liters of water:
- 25 g nitrogen; 15 g potassium.
For each plant, use 1 liter of the prepared solution.
- The next feeding is carried out at a time when the tomatoes begin to bloom en masse (see Forming a tomato bush in a greenhouse - how to do it correctly), since feeding tomatoes in a greenhouse is necessary for normal fruit set in the future. 1 tbsp is diluted in 10 liters of water. a spoonful of potassium sulfate, 0.5 liters of bird droppings and the same amount of liquid mullein. Each plant should receive 1-1.5 liters of the prepared solution.
If there are few or no organic fertilizers, then you can fertilize by dissolving 1 tbsp. spoon of nitrophoska in 1 bucket of water. For each plant, 1 liter of working solution is used. During flowering of tomatoes, in order to prevent blossom end rot of tomatoes, it is necessary to spray the plants with an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate. To prepare it 1 tbsp. a spoonful of fertilizer is diluted in 10 liters of water.
- During the formation of ovaries, it is necessary to fertilize the tomatoes with a solution of 2 liters of wood ash and 10 g of boric acid, diluted in 10 liters of hot water. The prepared solution must be infused for 24 hours so that all elements are completely dissolved. This mixture contains a large number of micro- and macroelements that will help the harvest to form more quickly. Water each plant with 1 liter of the prepared working solution. The last root feeding is carried out during mass and active fruiting in order to accelerate ripening and improve taste. For this root feeding, dissolve 2 tbsp in 10 liters of water. spoons of superphosphate and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of liquid sodium humate.
In any case, there are no clear instructions about at what time, how often and with what fertilizers to fertilize greenhouse tomatoes. Each gardener, knowing what vegetable crops were grown in the previous season and what fertilizers were used, follows an approximate feeding schedule, “adjusting” to the characteristics of the plants, the vagaries of the weather and relying on their experience.
Foliar feeding
In addition to the usual root feeding of tomatoes, it is also useful to use foliar feeding - spraying the stems and leaves of tomatoes. The peculiarity of foliar feeding is that they are able to bring to the plant the substances it needs, which are lacking in the soil.
This is due to the fact that the leaves, unlike the roots, absorb only the elements that are missing for the plant. If the tomatoes lack some specific elements, how to feed the tomatoes in the greenhouse is decided by applying foliar feeding of the missing elements. Spraying plants with a solution containing deficient substances very quickly gives positive results that appear literally within a few hours.
If you apply the same elements through root feeding, the result can be seen only after a week or two. During flowering, thinking about how to feed tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can perform foliar feeding with a solution of boric acid and wood ash extract Tip: to prepare an extract from wood ash, take two glasses of ash and pour 2-3 liters of hot water.
Leave for a couple of days, after which the precipitate is filtered off. The resulting solution is brought to a volume of 10 liters with water, after which the plants are sprayed.
How to compensate for the deficiency of nutrients
Tomatoes very clearly signal with their appearance exactly what elements they lack (see more: Diseases of tomatoes in a greenhouse: their varieties and how to deal with them). External signs of mineral deficiency
- with a lack of phosphorus, the stem, lower surface of the leaves and the veins on them turn purple. If you spray the plants with a weakly concentrated solution of superphosphate, then within a day the purple color disappears. Calcium deficiency leads to leaf blades curling inward and tomato fruits becoming infected with blossom end rot. In this case, spraying the plants with a solution of calcium nitrate will help. If the plants do not have enough nitrogen, the plant turns light green or yellowish, lags in growth and becomes very thin. Spraying with “herbal tea” or a very weak urea solution will help cope with nitrogen deficiency.
It may seem that fertilizing greenhouse tomatoes is too troublesome and unnecessary. It is enough to simply add fertilizer to the soil during spring and autumn digging, and then plant the tomato in the greenhouse.
Indeed, if the soil is not depleted and correct crop rotation is practiced, a harvest can be obtained. But if you carefully look after the plants and quickly respond to their needs, constantly taking care of them, the tomato harvest in the greenhouse can be obtained much more abundantly and of better quality. After watching the video, which tells in detail about the different types of fertilizing of tomatoes, you will be convinced that you yourself can easily cope with this task.
Growing tomatoes requires attention and care of the plants. Tomatoes react especially sensitively to transplantation into a greenhouse; in addition to a new place, they have to get used to the surrounding temperature. Often, after planting in a greenhouse, bushes look lifeless and lethargic. To help tomatoes quickly perk up and start growing, they use folk remedies for feeding and nutritional supplements. All fertilizers are applied at a certain period in the tomato’s life, since the need for vitamins varies throughout the entire growing season.
Procedure for using fertilizers
With the transplantation of tomatoes, the bush intensively begins to produce new shoots and green leaves. The root system also grows. The main additive for tomatoes during this period is ammonium nitrate or nitrophoska. If there is a lack of nitrogen, the leaves may become pigmented or yellow and dry out prematurely. If the bush looks dull, then it definitely needs to be fed with nitrogen fertilizer. Dilute saltpeter or nitrophoska (a teaspoon of fertilizer per 10 liters of water) and water the bushes once every 10 days. You can repeat the treatment 2-3 times. Nitrogen is well absorbed only in the first phase of tomato growth, before budding. Fertilizers are used from the beginning of May to the end of the month. The first complementary feeding is done 2 weeks after planting.
When the tomato bushes have already grown taller and begun to bloom, potassium supplements in combination with phosphorus come to the rescue. Both components have a positive effect on the formation of inflorescences and make the future harvest tasty. Dry application of fertilizers is allowed, but it is better to dilute with water. Potassium sulfate (10 grams) is dissolved in a bucket of water. The same amount of superphosphate is added to it and the tomatoes are watered in the morning from June to July. Supplements should be used no more than once every 10 days.
Important!
If the leaves on the tomatoes curl and their tips turn black, this is a sure sign of potassium deficiency. An additive is used to replenish the metal deficiency.
Folk remedies
Substances beneficial for tomatoes are contained not only in powder fertilizers, but also in other components. Ash is of greatest value to gardeners. It contains a huge amount of mineral elements and other useful compounds:
- Potassium.
- Calcium.
- Sodium.
- Magnesium.
- Manganese.
- Iron.
- Phosphorus.
Tomatoes need all these substances for intensive growth. Ash can be used as root and foliar feeding. It is often added to the soil during planting. Fertilizer should be applied no earlier than early summer. Ash can be used to water tomatoes. To do this, a glass of ash is diluted in a bucket of water and the crop is watered at least once every 7-10 days for a month. The powder can be applied directly to the leaves and stem. It is crushed and powdered with your hand or a rag on the tomato shoots. Ash not only replenishes the lack of minerals, but also protects tomatoes from rot, midges and aphids.
Mullein and chicken are considered proven additives. Before using fertilizers, they are diluted with water and infused for at least 3-5 days. Cow manure is less concentrated than chicken manure. It is diluted in a ratio of 1:10. has a stronger effect and is diluted in a ratio of 1:20. Both additives are used from the beginning of summer until the end; they affect the taste and increase the juiciness of tomato pulp.
The use of yeast to stimulate the growth of seedlings has already become commonplace. Yeast helps improve the development of roots and leaves, accelerates the formation of fruits and makes them larger. To prepare a watering solution, take yeast in a package and dilute it in a liter of water. Then, to make the dough rise, add a tablespoon of sugar. When the mixture has stood for 2-3 hours, water the tomatoes under the bush with it. Yeast can be fed to tomatoes when they are in the flowering phase and the formation of tomato ovaries. Yeast feeding is carried out no more than three times during the entire period of growing tomatoes. Yeast can be replaced with bread crusts or crackers. They are soaked in water, then left for 3-4 days, the solution is filtered through cheesecloth and watered over the tomato bushes.
Nettle and any freshly cut grass are very useful for young seedlings. They have a rich composition of microelements that help tomatoes ripen faster. Watering and irrigation with such an additive, prepared entirely from natural ingredients, can be carried out regularly, starting in late spring. In nettles and grass, the juice found inside the plants is especially valued. To extract it, fill a bucket of nettles or herbs with the same volume of water and let it brew for a week. You can make the solution more nutritious and add a teaspoon of nitrophoska or boric acid per 10 liters. The mixture is applied to the leaves of the seedlings, but before noon, so that by the evening the moisture has time to disappear.
Humus and compost also affect the ripening of tomatoes. The components are often added when forming a planting ridge, and then used as mulch for the further cultivation of tomatoes. Mulch is laid in an even thin layer after each watering. Before the next watering, the layer is replaced with a fresh one.
Preventive treatment of tomato bushes with a weak solution of iodine or potassium permanganate prevents infection, kills harmful microorganisms and helps the tomato maintain high resistance to pests. Iodine makes up for its deficiency in the stem, and its content in the fruits themselves is beneficial for health. You need to dilute iodine no more than 2-3 drops per liter of water. The solution should have no distinct color and be slightly tinted. Irrigate the leaves and stem of the plant with the solution 2-3 times a month. Irrigation can be carried out in May and June. You should not use iodine during the flowering period.
Potassium permanganate is similar in properties to iodine, but is of great value for tomatoes. Since the additive contains potassium, which is necessary for abundant flowering and good fruiting, permanganate can be used as an independent fertilizer. You only need to dilute a few crystals of the powder per liter of water until a pink color is achieved, then the solution is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed evenly over the entire piece, including the leaves. Permanganate can be watered at the roots of tomatoes.
Other types of fertilizers
If there is not enough time, and the tomatoes need feeding, then complex fertilizers will help. They have a balanced composition, which is characterized by versatility of use. Such drugs include Fertika.
The fertilizer is based on potassium, nitrogen, humate, and phosphorus. The drug is suitable for weekly watering, is perfectly soluble in the aquatic environment and even neutralizes the harmful effects of pesticides. Can be used dry. The additive should be diluted in strict accordance with the instructions.
Attention!
Treatment of tomatoes against insects and diseases can be carried out simultaneously with fertilizing.
One of the most popular additives used by most summer residents is the complex additive Agricola. Agricola for tomatoes does not contain harmful toxic substances such as nitrates and chlorine. It can be used from the beginning of transplantation. All components in the powder are in the correct dosages. The treatment is repeated after 2 weeks for 2 months.
Summer residents often use their secrets and recipes for fertilizing, which give excellent results. As a rule, most recipes include a whole mixture of the fertilizers described above. The cocktail turns out to be very nutritious and has an intense effect. These recipes are especially suitable for tomatoes that have weakened and look sick.
- Recipe 1. Mix diluted chicken manure (25 grams per half liter of liquid) with 20 grams of superphosphate, add 5 grams of potassium sulfate. Dilute the entire mixture in a bucket filled to the top with water. Water the crop 2 times a month with this composition; watering has a particularly positive effect in the first months after planting in the greenhouse.
- Recipe 2. Take 20 grams of wood ash, add to it 2 teaspoons of superphosphate and 5-7 crystals of potassium permanganate. All components are dissolved in an aqueous medium. Watering is carried out 2-3 times a month in June-July.
- Recipe 3. 20 grams of potassium humate are dissolved with any complex fertilizer that does not include humate. The additive can be used to irrigate plants, but only in the first half of the day.
The use of fertilizers certainly has a positive effect on crop growth and allows us to eliminate most problems during the growing process, such as drying and yellowing of leaves, small unsweetened fruits, and late ripening. All supplements are used no more than once every 10 days. There should be a break of at least 2-3 weeks between different fertilizers. It is necessary to observe the correct dilution of substances, regularly loosen the soil and water the soil. Timely care of the crop will undoubtedly ensure its good growth and contribute to a bountiful harvest.
If the tomato bushes look healthy, then most likely they have enough of all the essential substances. If their appearance deviates from the norm, it can be assumed that they are missing something. What exactly? How to determine?
Phosphorus deficiency
This element is necessary for tomatoes for normal development of the root system and stability in a changing climate. The acquisition of a purple trunk and leaves will tell you about its deficiency.
Phosphorus fertilizers:
superphosphate, phosphate rock, potassium monophosphate.
A lack of phosphorus on tomatoes after planting in a greenhouse is manifested by a purple tint to the tops Nitrogen deficiency
Nitrogen is involved in regulating tomato growth and fruit formation. Its lack immediately leads to the growth of the plant stopping. Yellowing lower leaves and lightened upper leaves are another visible sign of nitrogen deficiency. However, an excess of this substance leads to too active development of tops and poor quality of fruits.
Nitrogen fertilizers:
urea, saltpeter, manure, compost.
A lack of nitrogen will affect tomatoes by lightening the foliage. Potassium deficiency
This element affects the development of fruits, as well as the stability of the crop in unfavorable conditions and when pests become active. The deficiency of this element is expressed by variegation, as well as a bluish tint of the leaves and their folding downwards.
Potash fertilizers:
potassium salt, potassium sulfate, ash, potassium sulfate.
If the tomatoes in the greenhouse look like this, they are most likely lacking potassium. Other abnormalities in the development of tomatoes may indicate that they are lacking calcium, magnesium, zinc or another element. Since it is almost impossible to accurately determine this, it is worth watering the tomatoes in the greenhouse with a complex product with a multi-component composition.
To get a bountiful harvest of ground tomatoes, you need to know what to feed the tomatoes after planting in the ground, because feeding is provided by:
- strong root system;
- strengthening immunity to diseases;
- formation of ovaries;
- improvement of soil structure;
- protection from weeds and pests.
Proper feeding of tomatoes after planting in the ground according to the classical scheme has an effect both in the greenhouse and in the open ground.
Classic scheme for feeding ground tomatoes
Fertilizing needs to be done correctly. It is necessary to know the timing of how to fertilize tomatoes and the dosage of organic substances to prevent oversaturation.
Feeding tomatoes after planting consists of six stages:
The first stage is feeding the seedlings. Before planting in open ground or a greenhouse, you will have to feed tomato seedlings five times:
How to feed tomatoes
- for a faster growth rate of small leaves - for 40 pieces of seedling pots, mix two types of fertilizers “Nitrophoska” / “Agricola 3” or “Agricola” / “Forward”, ½ tsp in 1 liter of water;
- if only the stems are stretched, and growth of the top is not observed, it is necessary to fertilize the young growth with superphosphate, preparing a solution of 1 tbsp. for 3 l. water;
- watering with “Nitrophoska” for active growth and development of immunity a week after the second feeding - 1 tbsp. dissolve in 10 liters of water and pour at the rate of ½ cup per pot;
- To strengthen the root system of young tomatoes, fertilizing is carried out after 10 days - in 10 liters. Dissolve 1 spoon of potassium sulfate in water and water the seedlings generously;
- Carry out foliar feeding after 11 days with the same solution as in the fourth stage, just do not water the seedlings, but spray them.
Home agronomists, based on their practice, advise feeding young tomato plants with yeast so that the young plants have thick stems, because such seedlings will grow faster in open ground and the growing season will begin faster. Recipe for yeast balm for seedlings: one package of yeast + sugar + warm water. Make a dough, dissolve in water (10 l.). Water each sprout using ½ liter. yeast balm.
Note! Both cucumber and pepper will be happy with yeast feeding. Seedlings of these crops also require active feeding.
The second stage is preparing the soil before planting seedlings. The goal is to improve the soil structure by enriching it with manganese and potassium. Manganese promotes soil disinfection and, subsequently, improves the development of the root system of tomato bushes. Potassium is needed for:
- better development of leaves and shoots;
- speedy rooting of tomato seedlings after planting;
- ensuring invulnerability to diseases;
- improving the taste of tomatoes;
- acceleration of maturation;
- help in withstanding low temperatures.
To enrich the soil with potassium, use potassium humate one week before planting. Prepare solution: 500 ml. potassium humate per 10 l. water and cultivate the soil in the beds.
Rules for watering holes before planting seedlings: prepare a solution of manganese: 3 g per 10 liters. hot water and pour the hot solution over the wells after 20 minutes. plant tomato seedlings in the ground.
Plant seedlings in open ground when the soil is heated to 15°C.
You should know! The timing of planting tomatoes in the ground depends on the variety: early varieties are planted in the third ten days of May, and late varieties - in the first ten days of June.
The third stage is the first feeding after planting tomato seedlings in the ground. The goal is to help seedlings take root faster, increase green mass, and also to build immunity to various diseases and pests. Fertilizing can be done in two ways - foliar 7 days after planting and/or 3 weeks later by the root method.
The foliar method is spraying young bushes through a spray bottle with a solution prepared from whey (1 liter), iodine (10 drops) and water (9 liters).
Whey is a storehouse of vitamins and microelements, proteins and lactose; it actively suppresses fungi and bacteria, protects against late blight, which is active in damp weather. The serum forms a thin film on the surface of the leaves and pathogens cannot break through it.
Iodine, with its antimicrobial effect, contributes to the resistance of seedlings to diseases.
Each bush is fertilized using the root method according to the following recipes:
- superphosphate 20 g + a glass of ash + a glass of compost;
- 15 ml. feeding "Signor Tomato";
- dry yeast 30 g + sugar 40 g + liquid droppings 1 l. + ash 200 ml. = 12 l. water. The result is a concentrated solution that needs to be diluted - 1 liter. for 9 l. water. Apply ½ liter for each bush. feeding;
- urea solution - 10 l. water 25 g - 700 ml for each bush.
- “Nitroammofoski” solution - 10 liters. 20 g - ½ liter per bush.
- “Nitrophoska” 20 g + liquid fertilizer “Ideal” 1 tbsp. + water 10 l. - ½ liter per bush.
Important to remember! All ingredients must be completely dissolved in water.
The fourth stage is feeding at the beginning of flowering. The goal is to enrich plants with nutrients, including phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, boron, iron and sulfur. This stage is one of the main ones, since fertilizing during flowering will guarantee a bountiful harvest and excellent taste of tomatoes.
How to fertilize tomatoes after planting, when tomatoes begin to bloom? It is best to carry out root feeding using complex fertilizers, such as: “Kemira Lux”, “Universal”, “Signor Tomato”, “Effecton”, “Solution”. You can prepare a complex fertilizer yourself: dry droppings (25 g) + water (500 ml), mix until completely dissolved + superphosphate (1 tsp) + potassium sulfate (1 tsp). The resulting concentrate is diluted in a ratio of 1:10. Apply complex fertilizers in ½ liter increments. under a bush
A herbal infusion is a good help. In a 200 liter barrel. infuse for 10 days: any herbs and nettles (5 buckets), mullein (10 l.), fresh yeast (1 kg.), wood ash (1 kg.) and whey (3 l.). Fill the ingredients to the top with water. Use 1 liter of infusion during flowering. on the bush.
Serum as a means for tomato ovary
Important things to consider:
- all necessary microelements and nutrients must be present in the fertilizing during flowering;
- Do not use fertilizers containing chlorine and its components;
- It is necessary to carefully read the composition of complex fertilizers.
The fifth stage of feeding is carried out during the formation of fruit ovaries. The goal is to provide tomatoes with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen to restore the balance of nutrients that promote further ripening of the fruit. It is best to fertilize when the flowers appear on the third cluster.
Feeding recipes:
- bird (chicken) droppings (10 kg.) + water (5 l.). Leave for three days. Dilute the resulting concentrate in a ratio of 1:10 with water. Bird droppings are a source of nitrogen.
- sodium humate (1 tbsp) + nitrophoska (1 tbsp) + water (10 l).
These fertilizers are used for root feeding. For 1 bush you need 0.8-1 liters. feeding.
For spraying use:
- boric acid - dissolve ½ packet in 5 liters. warm water;
- nettle infusion - infuse nettle for 10 days.
- superphosphate (2 tbsp) + hot water (1 l), leave for 12 hours, bring to 10 l with water.
It is important to remember: tomato bushes should be sprayed in the evening, provided that there is no rain.
The sixth stage is feeding during fruiting. The goal is to replenish phosphorus and potassium reserves, increase the taste characteristics of fruits and increase yield, as well as to protect against powdery mildew.
For powdery mildew, use a solution of iodine and ash: dilute 1 kg. ash in 7 l. boiling water, leave for 24 hours, add 3 liters. water, 1 bottle of iodine (10 ml.) and 10 g of boric acid. Use 1 liter. solution per bush.
For complex feeding, choose one of the following recipes:
- slurry of manure or droppings (1 l.) + 1 tbsp. one of the complex fertilizers (“Azofoska”, “Ideal”, “Solution”) + copper sulfate (1 g). Apply 1.5 liters at the root of the bush;
- superphosphate (1 tbsp) + water (10 l.) - 1 l. on a bush;
- sodium humate (10 ml.) + superphosphate (30 g.) + water (10 l.) - 1 l. on the bush.
For spraying, use a boric solution at the rate of 1 g of boric acid per 1 liter. water. The boron solution will make the fruits sweeter.
It is important to know! Before adding any fertilizer or fertilizing to the soil, you must first water the seedlings thoroughly. Without preliminary watering, fertilizing will cause burns and death of plants.
The given classic scheme for fertilizing tomatoes answers the questions of novice gardeners, how and with what, in what sequence to fertilize ground tomatoes, as well as achieve high growth rates after planting, and get a bountiful harvest.
Signs of nutritional deficiency
When planting tomatoes in the ground and throughout the entire cultivation period, it is necessary to inspect the bushes to identify a lack of nutrients and diseases.
| Lack of substances(-) | Description of appearance | Feeding |
|---|---|---|
| (-) nitrogen | *lower leaves turn yellow; *small new leaves; *color of green mass is yellow-green | ammonium nitrate (10 g) + ash (2 tbsp) + water (5 l). This amount is calculated per 1 sq.m. root watering. |
| (-) potassium | *yellow border on the lower leaves of the bush; *dying off of the lower leaves; *curling of young leaves; *stagnation of bush growth; *uneven coloring of fruits | folk remedy without chemicals: for better absorption of nitrogen and providing tomatoes with potassium, take banana peels (3 pcs.) and pour boiled warm water (3 liters). Let it brew for 3 days. |
| (+) phosphorus | *bluish-green tint of leaves; *leaves curling inward; *purple stem; *bush does not grow in height; *slow fruiting; *fruit color with a bronze tint | superphosphate - mineral fertilizer |
| (-) zinc | *yellow specks on leaves; *new leaves are yellow and curled; *delay in flowering | foliar feeding with a solution of zinc sulfate |
| (-) magnesium | *folding of the lower leaves outward; *leaf dying. | foliar feeding with magnesium nitrate solution |
| (-) calcium | *yellow scorch marks on new leaves; *top of the bush dies; *spots of rot on the fruits; *growth of the bush slows down | dissolve 15 g. "Brexil calcium" 10 l. water and apply root application 2 times every 14 days |
| (-) sulfur | *bluish-red veins on the upper leaves; *stem becomes thin | foliar feeding with colloidal sulfur |
| (-) boron | *leaves at the top of the bush are very light; *curvature of the top of the bush downwards; *brown veins appear on the leaves; *ovaries are poorly formed; *brown spots on the fruits | spray with boric acid solution |
| (-) iron | *leaves turn yellow at the base; *leaves at the top are yellow-white; *growth of the bush slows down | dissolve in 10 l. water “Iron Chelate” (5 g) and add 1.5-2 liters. under 1 bush 2 times every 14 days |
For sick tomatoes and to protect against diseases, it is better to use foliar feeding, and for healthy tomatoes, root feeding is recommended.
- Fertilize in clear weather early in the morning or evening.
- When applying fertilizers as a root dressing, make sure that the products do not get on the leaves - this causes burns and death of the bush.
- Spraying can be done in any weather, but best in the evening.
- The volume of fertilizing depends on the size of the bush and the period of application (planting in the ground, flowering, fruit set and fruiting).
- In stage-by-stage feeding, try to alternate the use of organic and mineral substances.
- Do not spray the green mass of tomato bushes with ordinary water - there is no benefit; on the contrary, you can provoke fungal diseases and late blight.
- Strictly observe the dosages of mineral and organic fertilizers when preparing fertilizers yourself. Oversaturation with organic matter leads to vigorous development of green mass and poor fruit set. Excessive amounts of mineral fertilizers will lead to dehydration of the soil and the plant itself.
- For fertilizing, it is better to use natural ingredients without chemicals.
- Stop all types of fertilizing 2 weeks before harvesting.
The use of minerals in fertilizing vegetable and garden crops should be limited, as nitrates accumulate, especially for the cultivation of tomatoes and peppers.
Folk recipe for feeding tomatoes
Bread infusion stimulates the growth of tomato seedlings, develops the root system, therefore it is used in root irrigation.
Recipe: place black bread crackers into 2/3 of the bucket volume, add water, apply pressure so that the bread sours well and does not float. Place the bucket with the starter in a warm place for 1 week. The resulting starter is diluted for watering in a ratio of 1:3 with water.
Feed the bushes every 10 days, from the moment of flowering to the beginning of fruiting.
It is important to remember: if the tomatoes lack calcium, you can add straw ash to the bread liqueur.
Bread tincture helps to obtain a high yield of not only tomatoes, but also cabbage, eggplant, and peppers.
