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Peppers and tomatoes belong to the nightshade family. Therefore, some stages of seedling care are the same for them. Grow it in advance so that it is timely
get a harvest. Seedlings grow in containers with a limited amount of land. Nutrients run out at a certain point, seedlings of peppers and tomatoes need to be fed. What is seedling nutrition? This is an additional introduction of nutrients into the soil. Use dry or liquid top dressing. Each type of plant requires a certain set of nutritional components, but there are also universal ones.
Most often, these are ready-made mineral mixtures or natural organic matter, which summer residents have on their plots.
There are proven recipes for each type of fertilizer, so it is recommended not to violate the dosage. Otherwise, you can bring plants more harm than good.
What top dressing of tomato and pepper seedlings is the most effective? Those that allow plants to develop normally and do not negatively affect the process. Therefore, the choice remains with summer residents, and the proposal comes from professionals.
Growing these two crops is not fundamentally different. They are thermophilic, respond well to the nutritional value of the soil and top dressing, and do not differ in drought resistance. But there are nuances in the growth of seedlings.
A little about peppers.
- To get an early harvest, peppers are grown only in a greenhouse or under cover. At the same time, the nutritional value of the soil is closely monitored. It is fertilized with a full set of mineral components, organic matter. Pepper seeds also germinate much longer than tomatoes. Preparation for sowing is carried out carefully, the seeds require special measures.
- Another difference from tomatoes is that they try to grow pepper seedlings without picking. The roots of the plant are located close to the soil surface, they are weak and easily injured. Peppers require frequent and abundant watering, especially during the flowering period. Otherwise, the flowers just fall off.
- Pepper seedlings are quite fragile and require care when caring for them.
- Do not grow sweet and bitter varieties side by side. The culture is pollinated and a mixture of varieties and taste is obtained.
- Pepper seedlings, like tomatoes, do not like elevated temperatures, especially in a greenhouse. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out regular ventilation (without drafts).
Now let’s move on to supplements. First, consider what nuances you need to consider.
Basic rules for feeding seedlings of peppers and tomatoes
When sowing seeds, summer residents prepare a nutrient mixture that provides plants with the necessary substances. However, when young seedlings are actively growing, they require many useful components. During this period, feeding is carried out.
What should be considered when feeding seedlings of peppers and tomatoes?
Basic rules:
- Knowing of limits. Nutrient deficiency or excess is equally undesirable. The condition of young seedlings immediately changes. Frequent top dressing or the introduction of large doses will harm no less than poor nutrition.
- type of nutritional composition. For seedlings of tomatoes and peppers, choose a liquid fertilizer. But if you only have dry mixes, do not forget to dissolve them in water. The root system of young seedlings alone is not able to absorb the dry components introduced into the soil. They will have access to them at the time of watering, and this is not enough and will take a lot of time. Therefore, tomatoes and peppers will experience malnutrition.
- Procedure time. It is better to feed seedlings of tomatoes and peppers after good watering. The best time is in the morning, when there is no danger of a drop in temperature. During the day, the air will still warm up, and this will prevent the development of fungus in the soil.
- solution concentration. Follow the instructions exactly when applying mineral ready-made fertilizers or organics. If you purchased a composition for adult tomatoes and peppers, then halve the concentration.
- Do not forget to regularly (and carefully!) loosen the topsoil. In this case, feeding seedlings will be more productive.
For gardeners, instructional videos with detailed explanations of each stage are very useful. Let’s move on to a more detailed review of nutritional procedures.
We feed the seedlings of young tomatoes
Tomatoes are among the demanding crops in terms of nutrition. This lasts throughout the entire period of plant development. Strong powerful seedlings are obtained with timely and competent application of nutrient mixtures.
After landing on a permanent place of residence, it is guaranteed to give a good harvest. How many times to feed tomato seedlings? Three times is optimal.
The first time 10 days after the pick. The roots have time to take root in the new soil and absorb nutrients from it. At this stage, it is good to feed the tomatoes with nitrogen and phosphorus. Apply the finished preparation “Nitrofos”. For top dressing, dilute one tablespoon of fertilizer in one liter of plain water. The second option is an organic infusion. Bird droppings or mullein will do. This dressing takes time to prepare. The component is diluted in water (2:1) and infused. As soon as the fermentation is over and the mixture settles, the fertilizer is ready for use. It is bred in the ratio for litter 1:12, and for mullein 1:7 and watered tomato seedlings. From the piggy bank of folk wisdom, top dressing with infusion of wood ash works well. For her, it will be enough to dilute one spoonful of dry ash in two liters of hot water, cool and feed the tomato seedlings.
The second time seedlings are fed after 14 days. Now, when choosing a fertilizer, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the seedlings. If the seedlings are stretched out, do not feed with nitrogen. Of the ready-made mixtures, it is preferable to use Signor Tomato, Effekton, Uniflor Growth. Tomato seedlings will take in as many nutrients as they need. Healthy and strong seedlings will be enough to re-feed with Nitrofos.
The third time you will need to have time to feed the tomatoes a week before planting in a permanent place of residence. Again, you can take ready-made mineral compounds, organic infusion.
How to feed pepper seedlings
For small peppers, top dressing in liquid form remains ideal. Start nutrition from an early stage of development.
What is the best food to feed
mineral mixtures. Organics for seedlings of peppers is not suitable. This should be remembered so as not to harm sensitive pepper seedlings. Fertilizers such as “Krepysh”, “Effect”, “Ideal” work great.
The first time pepper is shed in the phase of two leaves. To do this, take a mixture of ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium sulfate (0,5 g + 3 g + 1 g). Dilute in one liter of water and water the pepper seedlings.
The second feeding of pepper is carried out with the same composition, but in a double dose of components. Do it 14 days after the first feeding.
The third can be done a week before transplanting pepper seedlings to a permanent place. Now it is good to prepare an infusion of wood ash. Enough 15 grams of ash per 1 liter of water. Or use the previous composition, but with an increase in the dose of potassium up to 8 g.
We use a piggy bank of people’s advice
Folk wisdom offers a whole list of means for feeding seedlings of tomatoes and peppers. The main components necessary for crops are phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Feeding seedlings with iodine has gained particular popularity.
It is carried out in two ways:
- root application (suitable for tomatoes and peppers);
- foliar (only for tomatoes).
Root top dressing with iodine is carried out by watering seedlings. The feeding solution is prepared from 1 drop of iodine and 3 liters of water. In some cases, a single feeding of seedlings with iodine is sufficient.
Foliar top dressing with iodine is done by spraying the seedlings on the leaf. This method not only nourishes tomato seedlings, but also helps fight the formidable late blight and downy mildew. Therefore, this type of top dressing is continued even after planting tomatoes in a greenhouse or under the open sky. In this case, 3 drops of the substance are diluted in a bucket of water and 1 liter of the composition is spent on each plant.
Feeding tomatoes and peppers with iodine increases the ability of plants to resist diseases and set larger fruits.
Extraordinary compositions for feeding seedlings:
Coffee lovers grow good peppers by adding to the soil coffee grounds.
It nourishes the roots and loosens the soil, improving their oxygen supply.
Banana peel – a worthy supplier of potassium for seedlings of pepper and, especially, tomatoes. Enough peel of 3 bananas for infusion in a three-liter jar of water. The infusion is prepared for three days and the seedlings are watered. Potassium contributes to the good absorption of nitrogen by plants
egg shell. Especially good for feeding seedlings of pepper and tomatoes after picking. It is placed as a drain in a dive container or pre-collected to prepare an infusion. It will take half a bucket of eggshells filled with water to feed the seedlings in three days. At the time of infusion, an unpleasant smell of hydrogen sulfide appears, but it stimulates the plants well.
Many gardeners use onion skins, yeast, potato peels.
Useful tips for summer residents on seedling nutrition
What else needs to be considered when fertilizing pepper and tomato seedlings? Plant condition. They themselves will tell you the time and composition for the next feeding. Sometimes the recommended terms have to be violated in order to help the plants. The deficiency of each element is manifested by certain signals:
- Nitrogen – lightening of the leaves. Apply nitrogen fertilizers.
- Gland – the appearance of light veins. May appear from excessive illumination of seedlings. Copper sulfate will help.
- Magnesium – withering leaves. The source of the element is ash.
- Phosphorus – changing the color of the leaves to purple. You need superphosphate.
If the plants grow strong, healthy, with dark leaves and stems, then some gardeners are in no hurry to carry out regular feeding. This is especially true when growing seedlings of peppers and tomatoes in good nutrient soil.
Try to closely monitor the seedlings in order to take action in time. And it is better to get information in advance on the proper cultivation of healthy seedlings of tomatoes and peppers.
Useful video for summer residents:
