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The full development of tomatoes is largely ensured by top dressing. Organic fertilizers are considered the safest and most effective. They are of vegetable, animal, domestic or industrial origin.
Organic top dressing of tomatoes is a mandatory step in plant care. To increase yields, it is recommended to alternate several types of fertilizers. Organics are completely absorbed by the root system and the ground part of plants, strengthens the immunity of tomatoes and stimulates their growth.
Benefits of Organic Fertilizers
For the full development of tomatoes, an influx of nutrients is required. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are especially important for plants.
Nitrogen allows the formation of green mass of tomatoes, while phosphorus is responsible for the development of the root system. Potassium improves plant immunity and improves the taste of fruits.
Organic tomato nutrition has the following advantages:
- safe for humans and the environment;
- improves soil composition;
- activates the activity of beneficial microorganisms;
- includes available and inexpensive substances.
Organic fertilizers are applied in natural form (compost, bone meal) or diluted with water to obtain a solution (mullein, “herbal tea”). Certain products are used for spraying tomatoes (wood ash).
Stages of feeding tomatoes
Organic fertilizers for tomatoes can be used at any stage of their growth. Substances are applied to the soil before planting, used for irrigation and leaf processing.
Tomatoes need top dressing at the following stages of development:
- after landing at a permanent place;
- before flowering;
- during the formation of the ovary;
- during fruiting.
Between procedures, 7-10 days should pass to avoid oversaturation of plants with microelements. The last feeding of tomatoes is carried out two weeks before harvest.
Organic fertilizers for tomatoes
Organics have a beneficial effect on the soil and plants. Fertilizers based on it saturate tomatoes with useful substances, stimulate their growth and fruit development.
Manure application
Manure is the most common fertilizer in garden plots. This is a natural source of useful elements for tomatoes – nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon.
For the garden, rotted manure containing a minimum amount of ammonia is used. Also, it does not contain harmful bacteria, since they die when the manure components decompose.
The solution is infused for 14 days, after which it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 2. Tomatoes are watered under the root after planting in the ground, during flowering and fruiting.
An effective fertilizer for tomatoes is bird droppings. It is applied to the soil before planting in the amount of 3 kg per square meter.
During the growing season of tomatoes, you can use an infusion of chicken manure. For 1 sq. m requires up to 5 liters of liquid fertilizer for tomatoes.
If tomatoes receive an excess of nitrogen, they direct vitality to the formation of the stem and foliage. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the dosage of substances containing this element.
Peat for tomatoes
Peat is formed in wetlands and is used to create a nutrient medium for tomatoes. The composition of peat includes carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. This combination of components contributes to the creation of a porous structure of this fertilizer.
Peat is an essential component of the soil mix for tomato seedlings. Additionally, dolomite flour or chalk is added to it to reduce acidity. Before planting, you need to sift the peat to eliminate large fibers.
In the greenhouse, peat absorbs excess moisture and, if necessary, gives it to the tomatoes. This substance also neutralizes the activity of harmful microbes.
The land is enriched with peat in the first year, then its condition is assessed. When a white coating appears, peat top dressing is stopped for up to 5 years.
Extracts containing a whole range of useful substances are obtained from peat. Peat oxidate is especially useful for tomatoes. This substance activates plant metabolism, improves seed germination, strengthens the immune system and increases the yield of plantings.
Feeding with compost
For the garden, the most accessible organic fertilizer is compost, obtained from plant residues. Weeds and household waste need to go through several stages to become a top dressing for tomatoes.
First, the plant material is left for a while so that it warms up and is enriched with useful elements. Microorganisms appear in the compost, which contribute to the decomposition of plants. They need access to oxygen, so the pile is stirred periodically.
Compost includes food waste, the remains of any vegetables and fruits, ashes, shredded paper. Between the layers of plants, it is recommended to make a layer of straw, sawdust or manure.
Compost is used for soil mulching. Additionally, mowed grass or sawdust is added to it. So, the structure and air permeability of the soil improves, the loss of moisture in the greenhouse decreases.
“Herbal tea”
The so-called herbal tea can become a source of nitrogen for tomatoes. It is obtained by infusion of various herbs.
An effective remedy is an infusion of nettle. To prepare it, the container is 2/3 filled with fresh chopped grass, after which water is poured. In this state, the product is left for 2 weeks.
The addition of mullein and wood ash will help increase the effectiveness of the infusion. The product must be used within 2 weeks after preparation.
Herbal infusion is made from weeds, which are crushed and poured with water. Dolomite flour can be added to the final mixture (up to 100 kg is required per 1,5 liters of solution). Instead of weeds, straw or hay is often used.
Sapropel fertilizer
Sapropel is mined from the bottom of fresh water reservoirs, where organic remains of algae and aquatic fauna accumulate. This substance acts as a natural filter and purifies water from various impurities.
The composition of the sapropel fertilizer includes bacteria that act even in the absence of oxygen and a high degree of pollution.
The substance is applied as a ready-made fertilizer or combined with mineral sub-crusts. Fertilizer can be purchased in packaged form. If the sludge is extracted independently, then it must be thoroughly dried and sieved.
The fertilizer retains its properties for up to 12 years. As a result, soil quality improves, tomato yields increase, moisture is better retained and harmful microorganisms in the soil are eliminated.
Sapropel is suitable for all types of soil. Grade A fertilizer is universal, grade B is used for acidic soils, and grade C is used for neutral and alkaline soils.
Humic preparations
Humates are mixtures consisting of salts of various acids and trace elements. This natural fertilizer is formed due to organic deposits. To feed tomatoes, water-soluble humates are chosen, which are supplied in the form of granules or liquid suspension.
Other types of fertilizers are applied to the soil 3-5 days after the use of humates. If the land is fertile, and the tomatoes develop without deviations, then this fertilizer can be discarded. Humates are especially effective as an emergency top dressing.
Humates have the following effect on the soil where tomatoes grow:
- improve air penetration;
- contribute to the development of beneficial microflora;
- inhibit harmful microbes;
- increase the ability of plants to transport useful components;
- neutralize toxins and heavy metal ions.
For watering tomatoes, a solution with a concentration of 0,05% is prepared. For 1 square meter of soil, 2 liters of fertilizer are required. Processing is carried out after planting the plants and is repeated every 2 weeks. Another option is to spray tomato inflorescences with a similar solution.
Green Fertilizers
One of the most affordable types of organic dressings are green fertilizers for tomatoes or green manure.
This includes a group of plants that are planted at the site where you plan to grow tomatoes. Siderates must go through the full growing season, after which they are buried in the ground.
For each type of crop, certain green manure crops are selected. When growing tomatoes, the following green fertilizers are used:
- white mustard – helps to avoid soil erosion, the spread of weeds;
- phacelia – eliminates the acidity of the soil, prevents fungal infections;
- Shrovetide radish – saturates the upper layers of the soil with useful substances;
- lupine – saturates the earth with nitrogen, repels pests;
- vetch – accumulates nitrogen, increases the yield of tomatoes by 40%;
- alfalfa – reduces the acidity of the earth, accumulates nutrients.
Green manures saturate the soil with nitrogen and draw useful elements to the surface. Plants are harvested before they outgrow. Otherwise, the process of their decay will be too long.
Wood Ash
Wood ash serves as a source of potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium for plants. These trace elements have a positive effect on the development of tomatoes, help against various diseases and pests.
Ash is applied to the soil two weeks before planting tomatoes. For each well, 1 cup of this substance is needed. Fertilizer is used after the soil warms up to 15 ° C.
Subsequently, the ash can be used throughout the entire growing season of tomatoes. It is introduced into the surface layer of the earth, after which it is closed up by loosening.
To obtain a solution, 2 cups of wood ash per 10 liters of water are required. The product is infused for three days, then the sediment is filtered, and the liquid is used for irrigation.
Top dressing with ashes is necessary when tomatoes lack calcium. This is expressed in a change in the color of the leaves to a lighter one, twisting of the foliage, abscission of inflorescences, the appearance of dark spots on the fruits.
Bone flour
Bone meal is formed from ground animal bones and contains a large amount of animal fat, phosphorus, calcium and other trace elements. This substance is required by tomatoes during the formation of the ovary after the use of components containing nitrogen.
Due to bone meal, the taste of the fruit improves, and the substance itself decomposes within 8 months. An alternative to this top dressing is fishmeal, which has a lower cost. It contains more nitrogen and phosphorus, so it is used throughout the entire growing season of tomatoes.
Tomatoes require up to 2 tbsp. l. bone meal for each bush. Instead, you can put raw fish before planting (roach or crucian will do).
Conclusion
Organics serve as the main source of nutrients for tomatoes. Fertilizing is required for plants at each stage of development. The advantages of organic fertilizers include their safety, environmental friendliness, the presence of a full range of minerals, amino acids and other useful substances.
