The choice of fertilizer when planting tomatoes
When growing tomatoes, gardeners face many problems, because caring for this crop takes a lot of time and effort. Consider which fertilizers are most suitable for planting tomatoes.
The choice of fertilizer when planting tomatoes
Top dressing of the soil
The crop is planted in the spring, but the soil is fed in the fall: in six months the land is enriched with all useful vitamins and substances, it becomes fertile, as a result of the seedlings it is easier to take root and gain strength for further growth.
Top dressing of the soil is carried out in two ways, they are introduced:
- special mineral;
- organic.
Minerals
Despite the composition of the soil, it is necessary to make phosphorus and potassium fertilizers: they are useful for different types of soils. Potash fertilizers contain chlorine that is harmful to tomatoes, but if it was introduced in the fall, until spring it will leave with groundwater in the lower balls of the earth.
Organic
When the soil is very depleted, organic feeding is suitable, which is used as manure, mullein, chicken droppings, compost, etc. Sometimes peat is used. For 1 sq. m give 2-3 kg of organic matter. If the soil is too acidic, add lime.
Mixed fertilizers
If the farm has a rotted manure heap, superphosphate is added to it. It turns out a very valuable fertilizer containing all the substances necessary and useful for the soil. Fresh manure can only be used in the fall. Wood ash is added to the compost heap. In clay soil - peat and sawdust.
When to deposit
It is most correct to make these dressings before digging up the earth. First, top dressing is scattered over the area allocated for tomatoes, then they are dug somewhere to a depth of 20 cm or to the height of a shovel bayonet. It is not worth leveling the surface.
After performing such actions, even the most barren land becomes saturated with all useful elements. The soil becomes light and loose - the same as tomatoes love.
Preparing a hole for disembarkation
The soil prepared in the fall is treated the day before planting with a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate: this will prevent the disease of the plant in the future.
If it was not possible to fertilize the soil in the fall, fertilizing is applied when planting tomato seedlings.
Onion peel
It is placed under the roots of the seedlings. Sometimes the husk is combined with manure and humus. Apply both dry and liquid (make tinctures). A handful of onion peels are enough for a positive result. With it, the seedlings grow faster, are not exposed to diseases, and acquire immunity to cold.
Eggshell
Eggshell is a source of calcium
The shell is washed well, the film is removed in the middle, dried and crushed. A handful of this product is brought to the bottom of each well, because it is an invaluable source of calcium and magnesium.
Ash
Ash contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals.It is used as a fertilizer for tomatoes when planted both dry and liquid (solutions are prepared). Sometimes it is mixed with humus or compost. Dry ash is mixed with soil so as not to spoil the young roots. A handful of ash is added under each bush. The solution is used in a proportion of 250-300 g per 5 liters of water. They are watered and sprayed with bushes.
Yeast solution
To prepare such a top dressing, take 10 g of yeast and dilute in 10 liters of warm water, allow to settle for a day. The mixture is poured into 1 glass in each well. Thanks to such feeding, the seedlings take root faster in a new place.
Mineral fertilizers
Today there are a lot of chemical preparations specially created taking into account all the needs of tomatoes. For them, recommendations for use are prescribed, where the exact dosages are indicated. There are also fast-acting supplements such as superphosphate, saltpeter, urea. They are universal: suitable for all plants.
Superphosphate is used most often. It contains nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, phosphorus. This tool helps to reduce the acidity of the soil. Magnesium aids in the rapid development of tomatoes.
Some gardeners do not advise using mineral fertilizers at this stage, so as not to damage the roots of the plant. When planting in greenhouse conditions or in an open area, tomato seedlings have enough natural fertilizers, especially if the soil is prepared in the fall.
Top dressing during growth
In order for the tomato fruits to have a good taste and their harvest to satisfy the gardener, he must feed the bushes on time.
The first feeding after planting tomatoes in a permanent place is carried out after 2 weeks. Also, such fertilizers are applied throughout the entire growth of the bushes, during the period of flowering and ripening of fruits.
Minerals
During the growth period, tomatoes are fertilized with mineral dressings. These include drugs Ammofosk, Solution, Kemira Universal-2, Nitroammofosk, Superphos, etc. Ammonium nitrate is also used. Chemicals are dissolved in water, the granules are scattered over the soil. Such actions are carried out every two weeks.
Organic
Tomatoes are fed with various kinds of solutions, infusions. For their preparation, take mullein, compost, ash, chicken droppings, superphosphate, nitrophosphate, potassium sulfate. Usually, three ingredients are used to prepare top dressing. You can also use crushed eggshells, urea.
Ash
On the tenth day after planting, ash is sprinkled around the tomatoes, and the bushes are watered with droppings dissolved in water with the addition of ash: 500 g of ash and 250 g of droppings per 10 liters of liquid.
They are also watered with a solution of potassium permanganate with the addition of ash. The manganese solution does not require proportions, the finished mixture should be light pink in color. Ash is added in a ratio of 500 g per 10 l of liquid.
Onion peel
During growth, tomatoes are also fertilized with onion skins. 300 g of husk is poured with boiling water and insisted for 10 hours. For 20 liters of water, there should be 4 liters of infusion. It is enough to spray the bushes 2 times: this will help prevent fungal diseases, because the husk contains essential substances that fight pests. Also, this vitamin supplement contributes to the good development of the plant, growth, ripening of fruits.
It is important to know
When applying top dressing, it is important to observe the dosage and time of fertilization, otherwise the tomatoes will be damaged. Tomatoes do not like oily soils, and they become just like that due to oversaturation with organic fertilizers, therefore:
- mullein can be used no more than three times;
- urea is used strictly for spraying, the bushes are not watered with it.
Conclusion
A gardener gets a good harvest of tomatoes only if he feeds correctly, and therefore what fertilizers to apply when planting tomatoes is almost the first thing a plant grower must learn in order to grow strong and healthy fruits.