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In an effort to get a good harvest of tomatoes, farmers use various fertilizers already in the early stages of growing crops. So, ash is an alternative to chemicals, biological products, the usual organic matter. In fact, it is a waste product of the combustion process, but at the same time it contains a lot of useful trace elements that can serve as a valuable plant food. For seedlings of tomatoes, ash is used as a natural growth activator and rooting agent. The benefits of ash and how to use it will be discussed in the proposed article.
Ash composition
Farmers have been using ash as a fertilizer for a long time. It contains such important microelements for plants as potassium, phosphorus and calcium. These substances are especially needed by young plants, such as seedlings of vegetables and, in particular, tomatoes. Each of the above substances has an irreplaceable benefit for tomato seedlings.
potassium
Potassium is vital for all types of plants. It is involved in photosynthesis and is part of the cell sap. The maximum amount of potassium is found in young shoots and leaves. So, tomato seedlings need a much larger amount of this substance than already adult, fruiting tomatoes.
Potassium is directly involved in the process of water supply of plant tissues. So, with its help, even a small amount of moisture from the soil will fall into the highest leaves of tomatoes. The suction power of the roots is also increased by potassium, which allows the tomatoes to take root in the best possible way and absorb nutrients from the soil as efficiently as possible. Tomato seedlings saturated with potassium are very resistant to lack of moisture and its excess. Also, the saturation with this microelement makes tomatoes resistant to low and high temperatures.
Despite the fact that tomatoes need potassium in large quantities, signs of its deficiency can be observed quite rarely. However, in some cases, tomatoes clearly “signal” a lack of potassium. Such a deficiency is manifested by a slow growth of seedlings, the formation of small leaves, the surface of which is strongly tuberculate. At the same time, on the old leaves of the seedlings, one can observe a yellow border, which resembles the consequences of a burn. Over time, the leaves of potassium-deficient tomatoes turn yellow and curl up. Attempts to align the sheet plate end with its break. Subsequently, such an imbalance of substances leads to wilting and falling of the ovaries.
It is worth noting that excess potassium also negatively affects tomato seedlings. A sign of excessive content of this trace element are pale, mosaic spots on the leaves of tomatoes. Leaves affected in this way soon fall off.
Phosphorus
Each plant contains 0,2% phosphorus. This trace element is part of DNA, RNA and other organic compounds. The substance allows tomatoes to absorb and convert solar energy, accelerating the vital processes of the culture. Phosphorus is directly involved in photosynthesis, regulates the processes of metabolism, respiration, rooting. Tomatoes lacking phosphorus have a low yield. Seeds collected from such tomatoes will not be similar.
The main sign of a lack of phosphorus in tomato seedlings is the changed color of the leaf plate: its veins acquire a dark purple color. On the lower part of such a sheet, one can observe point crimson blotches.
An excess of phosphorus in itself will not harm tomato seedlings, however, it will lead to zinc deficiency and chlorosis. At the same time, small pale spots will appear on the leaves of the tomato, which will first be pointwise, and then cover the entire plant as a whole.
Calcium
Calcium is another essential micronutrient for plant life. It regulates the moisture balance in tomato cells and promotes better absorption of nutrients from the soil. Thanks to calcium, tomatoes quickly take root, activating the growth of the green mass of tomatoes. In addition to these functions, calcium plays an important role in protecting tomatoes from various diseases. So, tomatoes that receive a sufficient amount of this trace element are reliably protected from certain ailments caused by harmful bacteria and fungi.
When growing seedlings of tomatoes, a lack of calcium manifests itself in the form of a dry top. Light yellow spots appear on young leaves, which over time can cover the entire leaf plate, leading to its fall. Old tomato leaves with a lack of calcium, on the contrary, acquire a dark green color.
The lack of all the above trace elements can be compensated by adding ash to the soil. However, it is worth remembering that the content of a particular substance depends directly on what material was used for combustion. So, the waste products of combustion of various types of wood, straw and peat can have various benefits for tomato seedlings.
Substances in Ash
Ash is easy to get for every owner. Many have blast furnaces, someone likes to relax on a barbecue or just enjoy the fire. In all these cases, the result of combustion will be the resulting ash. It can be safely used to fertilize tomato seedlings. By planning feeding in advance, you can choose the most suitable material for burning, which will help solve the existing problem in growing seedlings or simply become a complex fertilizer for young tomatoes.
- If tomato seedlings are deficient in potassium, then it is worth using sunflower stalks or buckwheat straw to obtain ash. Such ash will contain about 30% potassium, 4% phosphorus and 20% calcium.
- With a lack of phosphorus, it is recommended to feed the tomatoes with birch or pine wood ash, rye or wheat straw. Such a fertilizer will contain 6% phosphorus.
- The record holders for calcium content are birch and pine wood ash. They contain about 40% of this trace element, as well as 6% phosphorus and 12% potassium.
- A complex fertilizer with an optimal content of substances is ash obtained by burning spruce firewood and rye straw.
- The statement about the harmfulness of the ash left from the burning of walnut wood is erroneous. It does not contain harmful, toxic substances and can be used to fertilize tomatoes.
In addition to potassium, calcium and phosphorus, ash contains substances such as magnesium and sodium. All trace elements are in an accessible form and are easily absorbed by tomatoes. However, it is worth remembering that the nitrogen necessary for plants is not present in the composition of the ash, since it is destroyed under the influence of high temperatures during the combustion process. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be added to the soil for seedlings additionally.
Feeding methods
Ash is a complex alkaline fertilizer that can be used in various ways to feed tomato seedlings. Ash fertilizers can be applied at various stages of growing tomatoes, from preparing seeds for sowing and ending with harvesting.
Seed soaking
When processing tomato seeds before sowing, it is recommended to use an ash solution, since it is able to disinfect planting material and is a growth activator for future seedlings. Processing of tomato seeds is carried out by soaking. To do this, prepare a solution in the proportion of 1 teaspoon of ash per 1 liter of water. It is worth noting that the water for soaking the seeds should be thawed or settled. Before use, the ash solution should be insisted for a day. Soak tomato seeds before planting for 5-6 hours.
Adding to the soil
Ash can be added to the soil for sowing seeds for seedlings. It will reduce soil acidity, activate plant growth and fertilize future tomato sprouts. Add ash to the soil at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of soil. Soil containing ash will be an excellent substrate for tomatoes, however, it is always worth remembering the “do no harm” principle, based on which, the amount of ash in the soil for seedlings should not be increased above the recommended rate.
Ash fertilizer
Tomato seedlings especially need potassium, calcium and phosphorus in the early stages of the growing season. So, the first feeding of tomato seedlings should be carried out at the age of 1 week. To do this, you can use an ash solution. For its preparation, 1 tablespoons of ash are added to 2 liter of water. After mixing thoroughly, the solution should be insisted for a day and filtered. Seedlings should be watered with an ash solution carefully under the root. Secondary feeding of tomato seedlings with an ash solution should be carried out after 2 weeks.
Spraying
Ash can be used not only for root dressing, but also for spraying. For spraying, you can use an ash solution prepared according to the above recipe, or a decoction. To prepare a decoction, 300 g of ash (3 cups) must be carefully sift and pour water. It is recommended to boil the solution over low heat for 20-25 minutes. After preparation, the broth is re-filtered and diluted in 10 liters of water, after which it is used for spraying. Such a measure will not only allow you to fertilize tomato seedlings, but also protect it from all kinds of pests.
Ash at transplant
In the process of picking tomato seedlings, it is also recommended to use ash. It is added dry, 2 tablespoons to each well. Before planting, the ashes are thoroughly mixed with the soil, and the hole itself is watered. Thus, at the stage of transplanting tomatoes, high-quality, natural fertilizer will be applied directly under the root of the plant.
Powdering
Dusting ash can be used to protect tomatoes from pests at various stages of the growing season. Adult tomatoes growing on ridges and in greenhouses should be dusted with dry ash once every 1-1,5 months. The ash applied to the surface of the leaves repels snails, slugs, prevents the development of gray rot on fruits, has a detrimental effect on the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle, and prevents the development of the black leg and keel disease.
Dusting is carried out in the early morning in the presence of dew, which will allow ash particles to linger on tomato leaves. Also, ash can be poured to the trunk of plants. When dusting, the farmer should take care of the protection of the respiratory and vision organs.
Ash is a versatile, environmentally friendly fertilizer that can not only make plants healthy and strong, increase tomato yields, but also protect plants from diseases and pests. Ash can be used in various ways, choosing the best option for yourself. You can learn more about how to use ash from the video:
Ash storage
You can use ash to feed tomatoes throughout the entire growing season. It is not necessary to regularly burn wood or straw for this, it can be prepared once for the whole season. At the same time, special attention should be paid to the method of its storage, since the ash is hygroscopic and, with the accumulation of moisture, loses its useful qualities. So, a container for storing ash can be a hermetically tied, fabric or paper bag. Fertilizer should be stored in a dry, warm place. Having prepared the ash once, you can stock up on fertilizer for the whole season.
Conclusion
Ashes are most often used by farmers to fertilize tomatoes and protect them from pests. Its advantage is accessibility, economy, environmental friendliness, complexity. In some cases, gardeners argue that the ashes should not be used to feed tomato seedlings until three true leaves appear. This opinion is erroneous when using ash in the form of a solution in compliance with the proportions of its preparation.