Top dressing of tomato seedlings
Content:
Of course, tomatoes are an integral part of any home garden. Today there are a huge number of different varieties of tomatoes that are a pleasure to take care of. But the gardener faces one main task: how and in what way the feeding of tomato seedlings planted in open ground should take place.
General scheme for feeding tomato seedlings
The stage of growing seedlings as a whole is one of the most critical, and during this period, feeding is done several times. For the first time, fertilization is when the very first true decorated leaves appear on the sprouts. Then fertilization must be applied 14 days after the pick has occurred. The last feeding is necessary about a week and a half before the gardener planned to plant seedlings in open ground. During this time, she will have time to adapt and take root a little, and fertilizers and feeding will help him in these processes.
Additional feeding of seedlings should be carried out if the seedlings show clear signs of lack of growth, or if they show that the root or stem systems are lacking in nutrients and minerals. Also, tomatoes should be fertilized during the entire growing period. Experienced gardeners recommend doing this at least four times during the entire growing period, and it is best to use the following universal scheme:
- the first feeding is carried out 10-14 days after the picked off and grown bushes are planted in open ground;
- the second feeding is carried out after another 10-14 days, when the second inflorescence blooms;
- the third time it is recommended to carry out top dressing during the most massive flowering of tomatoes;
- it is also recommended to fertilize the crop during the period of active fruiting. Practice shows that at this time, the fruits and the plants themselves need nutrients. But it is worth remembering that feeding should be completed one and a half weeks before harvesting, then no substances will be preserved in the fruits, they will be safe for use by the gardener himself and his family members.
Such a scheme is usually general, relative, and, of course, feeding is best organized and implemented in accordance with the requirements of the tomato variety, as well as the characteristics of the soil. The plant may also require any additional measures in the care and feeding with minerals. Usually, already by the outward appearance of the plant, one can understand what substances it lacks, and in this case additional fertilizing is prescribed:
- nitrogen preparations and complexes, if there is an active fall of the lower leaves of seedlings;
- phosphoric mixtures, if the leaves gradually darken, they appear purple streaksthat speak of any dysfunctions of the plant and its need for help;
- potash fertilizers are necessary if the gardener noticed a yellow-green or orange border on the leaves;
- magnesium supplements are very necessary for the plant if the seedlings themselves are unstable, fragile;
- calcium is necessary when stem growth is reduced, and also if the gardener noticed that the foliage began to fall off for no apparent reason.
It is also important to take into account the peculiarities of the soil structure, the crop variety and the state of the seedlings themselves at the time of their growth, picking and further planting in open ground in the feeding and its schedule, intensity.If the plant belongs to the category of problematic, then it is necessary to apply the necessary complex of fertilizers once every 10-14 days. With an improvement in the state of feeding, it is required two, or even three times less often. Top dressing can also be of different types - root, foliar. Their schedules also vary according to different aspects and making them according to the instructions.
Fertilizing tomato and pepper seedlings with fertilizers
One of the simplest feeding methods is to purchase ready-made mixtures and complexes, as well as to use them in accordance with the instructions on the packages. We will list some of the most popular fertilizers available from gardening stores:
- Tomato Sudarushka - this complex is suitable for both root and foliar feeding;
- babies are a solution with which you can feed seedlings, as well as a culture that was planted in a grown form. The baby basically helps the root system to develop more actively, and also generally increases the immunity and stress resistance of the plant. It is also suitable for soaking seeds just before planting. So they accelerate in germination, which plays an important role;
- Signor Tomato Bio Vita - the composition of this product includes organic substances, as well as minerals. Using this tool, the gardener can speed up the formation of ovaries, the amount of yield will increase accordingly. In addition, Signor Tomato can have a positive effect on the palatability of the fruit.
Also among the funds should be allocated urea. This top dressing can be used if the seedlings have already formed several full-fledged leaves, and the plant has already begun to gradually adapt to the surrounding conditions, and this is very important. Nitrofoska is a special complex composition that includes various components of mineral origin. Nitrophoska in the form of a liquid is applied approximately once every two weeks. This is a very economical remedy, as only 1 tablespoon dissolved in water is enough to feed about thirty bushes of seedlings.
Another mineral composition - diammofoska - is used at the stage of digging the soil for planting seedlings. Fertilizer is best applied to the soil, as well as root top dressing, when watering already grown plants. Humate is a universal remedy in which it is recommended to soak seeds. They can also water small bushes of seedlings, and already an adult culture. The solution is a universal and complex fertilizer that accelerates the growth of seedlings. It is also an economical fertilizer that is suitable for a gardener who prefers to purchase fertilizers at low prices. Another remedy that we will discuss in this part of the article is heteroauxin. The drug is designed to actively stimulate growth, and also promotes the formation of a larger number of ovaries.
Folk remedies for feeding tomatoes
In addition to the fertilizers that the gardener purchases in specialized stores, he can also use some folk remedies to feed tomato seedlings. Among the popular recipes, we will highlight several of the most popular and common ones.
At the very initial stage of growing seedlings, the gardener is recommended to use dry yeast. The contents of one sachet will be enough for processing and feeding several dozen growing bushes. The use of a composition that includes yeast allows the culture to develop more actively and successfully. The second remedy is eggshells, which are best heated in the oven, then chopped up and covered with water. this solution should be infused during the day, and then strain and water the seedlings.Banana peel can be poured with water, and the resulting composition is quite enough to feed a couple of dozen bushes. Top dressing can be done when the plant has already acquired four real leaves.
If the gardener noticed that the seedlings are growing slowly and poorly, then it can be watered with honey-based water. To do this, it is recommended to dissolve one tablespoon of honey in a liter of water. But it's also worth keeping in mind that honey can attract other pests and insects, so you should be extremely careful with this. Sugar can be sprinkled on the ground, which is located around the bushes. It is also ideal for making a solution for further watering. It is recommended to make sweet feeding no more than once a month, so as not to attract insects.
Black bread - it should be poured with water, left warm to infuse for four days. Then the agent is filtered, and the resulting liquid is also diluted in accordance with the required proportions. For feeding, it usually takes about half a liter of this solution for one bush. Thus, there are a huge number of ways to feed plants with more popular and affordable methods, and in their effectiveness they are in no way inferior to the effectiveness of professional complexes that are sold in specialized stores for gardeners and gardeners.
Top dressing of tomato seedlings at home
Organic matter is also a set of components that have a rather positive effect on plants, their properties, growth processes, and leaf removal. Organic matter is attractive, as a rule, because it has a natural origin, which is completely safe, and very beneficial for the soil and the plant itself. In addition, unlike other substances or components, complexes, organic matter can be used at all stages of crop cultivation, and seedlings are no exception. Before the seedlings are planted in open ground, organic components are introduced into the prepared holes. For this, compost and humus are most often used. Just one handful is enough for one hole, so that it contains all the many useful substances. A pinch of ash will also be effective, since it also has its own characteristics and properties.
If the gardener does not have the presence of humus or compost, and he did not have ash, then green tea is perfect. Plant raw materials must be poured with water and infused for some time. It is necessary to use the infusion immediately after the seedlings have been planted. In order to enhance the effect, it is still recommended to use a small amount of ash and mullein.
Peat is used as an organic fertilizer for tomatoes. In fact, it is peat that acts as a universal remedy, it can regulate the moisture level of any type of soil, and this is extremely important, because tomatoes are the very crop that is quite picky when we talk about the moisture content of soils and holes. By itself, peat in its pure form does not contain a large amount of nutrients, therefore it is best to use it in combination with other organic substances and compounds.
Poultry manure is also a common and effective organic fertilizer. It can be used during mass flowering as droppings affect ovary formation. Potassium sulfate can be mixed with droppings, and mullein is used instead of poultry droppings, which is also mixed with additional components.
Ash is one of the most affordable and popular fertilizers used to process tomato seedlings. Getting it is quite simple - just burn branches or straw, firewood or coal.Ash contains many incredibly active and useful components, is rich in potassium and phosphorus, which have an effect on ovaries, growth, as well as on the development and stability of the root system. During the formation of the first ovaries, it is best to use wood ash as a top dressing. It is diluted in settled water in a ratio of 1: 5. Often, boric acid is also added to the solution to increase efficiency. However, it should be remembered that ash is rich in components that can reduce the effectiveness of any other fertilizers, so it should not be used simultaneously with lime, mullein and poultry droppings, and you should not mix phosphate rock with ash. Ash also provokes the formation of crusts directly on the soil, so it is best to apply it not from the surface, but to embed it in a depth of about 10-15 centimeters.
Top dressing of tomato seedlings can also be done with the help of some pharmacy products. For example, among such funds are iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, manganese and metronizadol. In certain proportions, these substances are mixed with water or organic matter, have a beneficial effect on the growth of the plant, also on its internal state, the development of the root system. It is best to follow the instructions and individual recommendations for using these products, but they are still very popular, in demand, inexpensive and, most importantly, available.
It is also worth remembering that feeding tomato seedlings is not always necessary. For example, on sunny days, early in the morning or in the evening, it is generally recommended to carry out all the plant feeding procedures. If spraying is carried out at another time, the leaves can get dangerous burns, and this will have an extremely negative effect on their condition and appearance.
It is best not to feed the tomatoes for about 14 days after they have been picked. This break is very important for the plant, because after the deepest stress it needs to restore its own root system. Also, you need to wait about two weeks after transplanting seedlings in open ground. At this time, the plant adapts to new conditions, needs rest, therefore, components that will only force events can harm the plant's immunity and stress resistance.
Feeding tomato seedlings too often will not be beneficial either: it is better to draw up an individual schedule and follow the standard scheme. However, light feeding every week is fine to keep the plant in good shape. Thus, feeding tomato seedlings is one of the most important processes that affects the cultivation of tomatoes. With the help of fertilizers and fertilizers of various origins, it is possible to provide the plant with all the most important nutrients and substances. Top dressing accelerates the growth processes, the formation of the first fruits, ovaries, and also generally increases the yield and can positively affect the taste of the plant. If you choose the right means and feed mixtures and materials, then this also reduces the risks of developing a variety of diseases.