Top dressing tomatoes in the ground after planting
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When we grow tomatoes, then, of course, first of all we want to get the most out of our efforts. Often we think that as soon as we plant something in the ground, and immediately everything will take over, grow and give a magnificent harvest. However, this is rarely the case, at least for the cultivation of tomatoes it definitely does not apply. This culture requires a lot of attention. Fertilizers need to be applied, their lack leads to disturbances in the development of plants, diseases, but it is important not to overdo it with fertilizers, because in this way you can completely lose the crop. Top dressing tomatoes in the ground - further in the article.
Top dressing tomatoes in the ground: the role in the life of tomatoes
Many novice gardeners ask a rather natural question, but how were certain crops grown earlier? After all, all these wonderful bottles with complex fertilizers, all kinds of insecticides and fungicides were not always freely available ... But somehow people were engaged in agricultural activities! In fact, it's all about accumulated knowledge and experience. Yes, before there were not so many opportunities and choices as now. Then they used the means that they had, and grew in ways that were passed down from generation to generation. It’s just that in the past, the cultivation of certain crops was many, many times more difficult than it is now.
Just imagine, all tomatoes, without exception, that are grown by summer residents and farmers, are created by breeders. In natural nature, this culture does not grow, and in the absence of human efforts, tomatoes will not be able to live. For only one year, the plant needs to grow from the state of the seed, form flowers, ovaries and bear fruit.
Plus, every gardener, of course, wants to get a good and bountiful harvest, and not a few fruits from a bush. As a rule, this is about five to ten kilograms per plant in the conditions of central Russia. A smaller crop is usually yielded by low-growing varieties of tomatoes, but tall crops that are grown in a trellis method or in greenhouse conditions, on the contrary, give a larger crop.
In order for tomatoes to bloom properly and fruits to ripen, plants need the necessary substances. Without phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and other necessary elements, the normal development of the plant simply will not get, since tomatoes are unlikely to get such an amount of nutrition from the soil itself. If you use fertilizers and fertilizers in a timely and competent manner, regularly improve the composition of the land, then the probability of getting a decent result becomes much higher.
- Nitrogen plays an important role in the normal development of plants. He takes part in all periods of tomato growth. Nitrogen is needed so that photosynthesis takes place at the correct level, and the green part of the tomatoes grows more actively. If there is a shortage of this substance, then there is a risk of not getting a decent harvest. But too much nitrogen can harm your crop, as it can lead to the accumulation of large amounts of nitrates in your fruits.
- An important role is played by such a substance as phosphorus. Its presence is mandatory for tomatoes to bloom normally. And also phosphorus is important in the process of fruit formation. If the plant lacks phosphorus, then the ovaries and flowers begin to fall off.Phosphorus helps the plant to form tomatoes at an accelerated rate, tomatoes are large and rich, beautiful color. If your plants do not experience "phosphorus starvation", then the risk of contracting this or that disease becomes lower.
- The root system of your tomatoes depends almost entirely on the availability of potassium. This is a very important chemical element, because with a weak root system, the plant will simply not be able to receive water and the necessary nutrients. If there is a lack of potassium, then the tomatoes become vulnerable to diseases and pests, the bushes become frail, and the tomatoes themselves are small in size.
- The rest of the macro- and microelements also play an important role for tomatoes, however, they are not life-forming, such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. The fact is that tomatoes are largely perennials, however, summer residents almost always prefer to plant tomatoes as an annual crop. In this short time, the possible shortage of other nutrients simply does not have time to become so strong as to endanger the life of the plant. But this does not mean that it is worth losing sight of it. If your plants receive the proper amount of trace elements, then tomatoes will hurt less often, and the fruits themselves will be of better quality. If there are absolutely not enough microelements, then most likely the bushes will begin to hurt often, and the tomatoes will begin to crack and lose their qualities. A very common attack that summer residents complain about is late blight. By and large, this problem arises due to the fact that plants do not have enough copper. To solve the problem with late blight, they use products that contain copper. That is, it turns out that in this way the shortage of copper is compensated.
After you have planted your tomatoes in an open area, you must make sure to apply a sufficient amount of dressing. This will help the nitrate build up in your tomatoes less. Also, this measure will contribute to improving the quality of your fruits. If you overdo it with fertilizers for your tomatoes, there will be a large accumulation of nitrate substances in the fruits, and the taste itself will leave much to be desired.
Top dressing tomatoes in the ground: we apply fertilizers correctly
Tomatoes are big fans of phosphate fertilizers. Thanks to this, they can bear fruit over a long period. In the southern regions of the country, the first tomatoes can be obtained as early as the fifteenth of June. The last collection is carried out (if the plants do not suffer from late blight) before the onset of a cold temperature. It is worth remembering that flowers, tomatoes themselves, and ovaries are located on the same plant. Therefore, the plant needs a lot of strength and nutrients, in particular a large amount of phosphorus.
Even before planting your seedlings in an open area, you need to feed the seedlings two to three times. After the pick has already occurred, you need to wait ten days. After that, you can start the first feeding of your tomatoes. Fertilizers should be specially formulated for seedlings. Concentration doesn't have to be strong! After a week has passed after the first feeding, a second application of nutrients can be carried out. You can use the same fertilizer as the first time, or you can use Azophoska (one teaspoon per ten liters of water). At the same time, tomatoes need nitrogen. If the development of plants occurs as usual, then before planting in the ground, you will no longer have to feed the tomatoes.
Top dressing of tomatoes in the ground: what to feed after transplanting?
When you plant your tomatoes in the ground, pour some wood ash into the planting holes, and do not forget to add superphosphate (one tablespoon at a time). After about a couple of weeks, your young bushes should take root and begin to grow actively.At this time, you need to help them and apply fertilizers: 10 grams of phosphorus + ten grams of nitrogen + twenty grams of potassium per ten liters of water. The consumption of such a solution is half a liter per plant.
When calculating the proportions of your feedings, it makes no sense to calculate every milligram. It is most convenient to use a measuring cup or spoon. A simple teahouse is also suitable (it usually holds five grams per seed).
Two weeks after the first top dressing in the soil, you need to re-fertilize your tomatoes. To do this, use the following scheme: 25 grams of nitrogen + 40 grams of phosphorus + 15 grams of potassium + 10 grams of magnesium. This amount is enough for ten liters of water. Water your tomatoes at the rate of half a liter of top dressing per plant.
Summer is the ripening period of the tomato. At this time, every two weeks, you need to feed the tomato in the ground with the help of natural ingredients. Such ecological feeding can be, for example, ash infusion. This fertilizer will give your bushes the necessary amount of the necessary substances: calcium, phosphorus, potassium. Directly these elements are required during the ripening of tomatoes. The ash infusion contains a small amount of nitrogen, but a lot of it is no longer required. Since we need the plant to go not to build up the green mass, but to form tasty fruits. How to prepare an infusion of ash?
Take five liters of boiling water and pour one and a half liters of wood ash. Such a mixture should cool completely, and after that you need to add water to a volume of ten liters. Pour one bottle of iodine there, as well as boric acid (ten grams). Such a solution must be insisted for one day. One liter of this solution is dissolved in one bucket of water. Consumption is based on one liter per plant.
Such an infusion contributes not only to the nutrition of tomatoes, but in addition it is also an excellent prophylactic agent against late blight.
Let's say a little about the foliar feeding of your tomato. Their effect can be observed even after one day, since the effect on the plant, due to the introduction of substances through the leaves, becomes very rapid. Such top dressing of tomatoes in the ground is carried out every ten to fifteen days. If there is a need for that, then you can combine this procedure with treatment against harmful insects and diseases.
An important note, products that contain oxidized metals (for example, containing copper, drugs) are not compatible with any other substances. In principle, the same root dressing can be used for convenience. To the above recipes, you can add the following ingredients: zircon or epin (one ampoule). These substances are good immunity stimulants. Are safe for humans. If we draw a parallel with a person, then these drugs are something like a vitamin complex for a person. In the same composition, you can add some humus-based agent (for example, humate).
At the moment, organic products are very popular among summer residents, in principle, you can really do without the introduction of chemicals. In particular, this applies to the period when the plant bears fruit. Do not use fresh manure for feeding tomatoes! But the infusion of fermented infusion will benefit tomatoes. It is not difficult to prepare it:
First you need to fill the manure with water (one bucket of water for one bucket of manure). Next, you need to insist the solution for one week. Such a solution, of course, must be diluted additionally in water. One liter of infusion goes to one bucket of water. Consumption of such a preparation: one liter of diluted fertilizer per plant.
It is not necessary to use manure for these purposes; an herbal infusion is also good for this. Choose a fairly large container, completely occupy it with the help of weeds, weeds.Next, you need to close and insist for eight to ten days. After that, you need to dilute with water in a ratio of one to five and fertilize your tomatoes.
We recommend that you remove the container where fermentation will take place away from the living quarters, since the aroma exuded is unlikely to greatly please you.
If you want a universal fertilizer, then do the following: put in a two-hundred-liter container a couple of liters of wood ash and four to five buckets of green nettles. Pour water and leave for a couple of weeks. One liter of infusion is enough for one plant.
If you do not have such a large container, then simply reduce the number of components in a directly proportional way.
And finally, let's say a little about what basic rules should be followed when feeding a tomato in the ground.
- Too much feeding, as well as a lack of such, has a bad effect on the plant. But if you choose the least of two evils, then underfeeding will be less dangerous.
- When you have planted your seedlings in an open area, be sure to wait for a stable temperature of at least fifteen degrees. Since if the temperature is below this indicator, do not allow the absorption of nutrients.
- Carry out root dressing in the evening.
- For foliar feeding, choose early morning hours. The weather should be dry and without wind. All procedures must be completed before ten o'clock in the morning.
- If the situation is not critical, then refuse to use pesticides in your garden when tomatoes are blooming or bearing fruit. It is better to use environmentally friendly folk remedies.
- Combine root dressing with watering, and foliar fertilization with the fight against harmful insects and diseases.
- A good result helps to achieve the use of dressings, which are produced specifically for tomatoes.
How to determine the lack of certain elements
Sometimes, even with proper adherence to agricultural technology, we see that something is wrong with the plants. It seems that pests are not annoying and diseases are not detected, however, the appearance of the plant does not look healthy. And all this, in turn, cannot but affect the volume of your harvest. An insufficient amount of necessary substances may be the cause of certain problems. We will tell you how to understand what is missing, and what to do in a given situation.
- With an acute shortage of nitrogen, the leaves of the plant have a strange appearance. They can become dull and grayish in color. For the same reason, foliage can be very crushed and become light tones. To make up for the lack of nitrogen, use a weed infusion or any other nitrogen-containing fertilizer.
- If you see that the leaves on the lower side are purple in color, and the leaf blades themselves are directed upward, then you need to pay attention to phosphorus. In this situation, fertilization of tomatoes with superphosphate extract gives a good result. To do this, you need to pour one glass of top dressing with boiling water and insist for twelve hours. After that, you need to add water up to ten liters. Half a liter of fertilizer will be enough for one tomato plant.
- If your tomato bushes lack potassium, then the appearance of the leaf plates will alert you. With potassium starvation, tomato leaves begin to dry, and also become twisted, directed upward. To solve this problem, gardeners are actively using potash nitrate. Another fertilizer that contains potassium is also suitable. Just do not use chlorine-containing products.
- Suppose your tomatoes lack magnesium. In this case, the leaves of the plant acquire a light greenish color, or become dark green marbled.
The introduction of dolomite flour under each plant will help to cope with such a situation. At the same time, the soil must be moist.
- The absence or lack of copper in your plants is almost guaranteed to lead to the appearance of late blight. Usually this problem is solved by the introduction of copper-containing preparations.
- How to understand what is happening with tomatoes if none of these symptoms are appropriate? With a hotel group, we will take out an insufficient number of other elements. It is not difficult to identify this problem. And again, the problem is given by the state of the tomato leaves. They acquire a mosaic color, yellow with a greenish tint. To get rid of this problem, experienced farmers recommend using a chelate complex. They need to process your plants. If no improvement is observed after five to seven days, then, unfortunately, it will not be possible to save the plant. Affected tomatoes must be uprooted and burned. Since the cause of this problem was not an insufficient amount of trace elements, but a dangerous disease called "tobacco mosaic".