Potash fertilizers for tomatoes 

Potassium, along with nitrogen and phosphorus, is vital for tomatoes. It is part of the cell sap of plants, promotes accelerated growth and rooting of young tomatoes. In the process of growing crops, gardeners repeatedly resort to the use of various potash fertilizers. These can be complex mixtures purchased ready-made, or obtained by combining various substances. Feeds containing only potassium can be used to compensate for the lack of this trace element. Potash fertilizers for tomatoes can be used in the form of root and foliar dressings, while the result of applying this trace element will not take long.

Potassium value for tomatoes

Tomatoes have a constant need for potassium. In large quantities, plants consume the trace element during the formation of 3-4 leaves. At this time, seedlings should be fed with potash fertilizers. The second mandatory stage of feeding should allow the plants to take root better in the new conditions. Fertilizers are applied in this case a week before the intended landing. Subsequently, potassium is necessary for plants from the moment the ovaries are formed until the end of fruiting.

Sufficient amount of potassium in the soil:

• allows better development of the leaves and shoots of the plant;
• promotes the speedy rooting of tomatoes after transplantation;
• increases the proportion of dry matter in fruits;
• improves the taste of vegetables. Without potassium, tomatoes ripen sour with insufficient sugar content;
• contributes to the timely ripening of vegetables;
• makes tomatoes invulnerable to various fungal and bacterial diseases;
• allows plants to withstand low temperatures and weather disasters.

Thus, without potassium, it is impossible to grow tomatoes. This mineral can be introduced into the soil regularly at intervals of 10-15 days. An excess of potassium in tomatoes can be observed very rarely, but every gardener should know the symptoms of potassium deficiency in order to take timely measures to prevent the development of the problem, if necessary.

Micronutrient Deficiency

Potassium deficiency in tomatoes can be diagnosed based on changes in leaves and fruits. The main symptoms of this trace element deficiency are:

• The appearance of a dry border on the leaves. Its color is light at first, but over time it acquires a brown tint. It is worth noting that drying starts from the tip of the leaf plate and gradually spreads along the entire perimeter of the leaf.
• Tomato ovaries are formed in insufficient quantities.
• Vegetables ripen unevenly.
• On the fruits, you can see immature spots at the stalk.

According to such characteristic signs, a caring owner should detect the problem as early as possible and take all necessary measures to eliminate it, namely, spray or pour potash fertilizers under the plant root.

Potash fertilizers

Tomatoes have a negative attitude to chlorine, therefore, the choice of fertilizers for the crop must be approached with special care. So, for feeding tomatoes with potassium, you can choose one of the following fertilizers:

Potassium monophosphate

This fertilizer is two-component, contains 33% potassium and 50% phosphorus. Such a potassium-phosphorus fertilizer for tomatoes is great for top dressing after transplantation or at the time of formation and ripening of fruits. The advantage of potassium monophosphate is that the fertilizer for tomatoes is highly soluble in water, so it can be used for root and foliar feeding of tomatoes.

For spraying tomatoes, potassium monophosphate is diluted with water to obtain a concentration of 1-2%. You can water the tomatoes under the root with a solution of the same concentration. Fertilizer consumption assumes the use of 10 liters of solution for 4 plants or 1 m². It is recommended to use top dressing based on potassium monophosphate no more than 2 times during the entire growing season.

Potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate can be found under a different name – potassium nitrate. The fertilizer contains 3 components at once: nitrogen (14%), potassium (46%) and phosphorus (7%). Such a complex composition allows you to feed tomatoes not only with potassium, but also with nitrogen to activate growth. Use fertilizer rationally during the formation of ovaries.

The fertilizer is highly soluble in water. It is used for foliar and root feeding of tomatoes. For spraying prepare a solution with a concentration of 0,5 to 4%. Such a break, allowed by the manufacturer, allows the gardener, depending on the composition of the soil and the condition of the plant, to independently choose the rate of application of minerals. By the way, experienced gardeners recommend adding 10 g of the substance to a bucket of water. This is quite enough to saturate the tomatoes with the necessary substances by spraying.

For watering tomatoes under the root, potassium nitrate in the amount of 10-20 g is added to a bucket of water. This volume of liquid should be enough to water plants at 1m² soil.

Calimagnesia

Kalimagnesia combines potassium and magnesium sulfate. It is worth noting that magnesium is also necessary for the life of tomatoes. On sandy soils, plants may lack this trace element, which can be compensated with potassium magnesia.

A symptom of magnesium deficiency is leaf discoloration. The veins of the leaves remain green, but parts of the leaf blades between the veins turn yellow, then acquire a reddish or purple hue. Magnesium deficiency manifests itself starting from the lower leaves.

Thus, potassium magnesia is rational to use with a lack of potassium or magnesium. Potassium magnesia should not be used regularly as the main top dressing for tomatoes.

All of the listed potash fertilizers can be bought at a specialized agricultural store. Their use must strictly comply with the instructions given so that the increased concentration of substances does not harm the tomatoes. To feed tomatoes, you should not use the same fertilizer throughout the entire growing period, it is much better to use different top dressings depending on the stage of growing tomatoes.

On sale you can find another potash fertilizer: potassium chloride. It should not be used for feeding tomatoes, since the substance contains harmful chlorine.

Ash as a food source

Wood ash is an affordable, environmentally friendly fertilizer that is always on hand. You can get it by burning solid wood, branches, sawdust, straw. If there is a stove in the house or bath, then there are no problems with harvesting ash at all.

The composition of the ash includes a whole complex of microelements necessary for tomatoes. Their concentration largely depends on what was the source of raw materials:

• The largest amount of potassium is found in the combustion products of straw (30%). Coniferous ash contains no more than 5% of this mineral, valuable birch species make it possible to obtain ash containing 13% potassium.
• Calcium occupies a large part in the composition of wood ash. For example, when burning pine or birch firewood, there are about 40% calcium in the ash;
• Ash of any origin contains no more than 6% phosphorus.

In addition to the main trace elements, wood ash contains important substances such as magnesium and manganese. The use of ash for feeding tomatoes allows you to saturate the plants with all the necessary minerals, except for nitrogen, so wood ash is used as an independent top dressing or in combination with nitrogen fertilizers, organic matter.

Ash in dry form can be buried in the ground during autumn, spring digging. Also, in a small amount, it can be sprinkled on the trunk circle of a tomato, followed by loosening and watering the soil. On the basis of ash, liquid root and foliar top dressings are prepared:

• For watering under the root of the ashes, an infusion is prepared. The substance is added to a bucket of water in a volume of 1-2 glasses. After mixing, the resulting mixture is infused for a day and used for watering 500 ml under each bush;
• Spray tomatoes with ash broth. To do this, 300 g of wood ash is boiled for 20 minutes. After cooking, the broth is cooled and filtered. Before use, the decoction is diluted in 10 liters of water. A little, 30-40 ml, of liquid soap is added to the resulting mixture. Use a leaf spray to feed and protect against late blight, slugs and other diseases, pests.

Thus, ash is a natural, affordable fertilizer with a high content of potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Using ash is quite simple, while the effect of its use is always positive. You can use ash top dressing on the leaf or under the root regularly 1 time in 3-4 weeks.

You can find out some other details about the use of ash as a fertilizer in the video:

Cement dust

Surprisingly, cement dust can also be a good potash fertilizer for tomatoes, since it does not contain chlorine at all, while the concentration of potassium in the substance reaches 30%. On the basis of cement dust, a solution is prepared for watering plants under the root. The substance is highly soluble in water, remarkably absorbed by tomatoes.

Complex fertilizers with potassium

To feed tomatoes with potassium, you can use not only potash fertilizers, but also complex ones, which, in addition to this trace element, will contain additional ones necessary for the growth and development of plants. Such fertilizers can be bought in specialized stores or prepared independently.

Ready complexes

Arriving at any agricultural store, you can find a lot of fertilizers with a completely different price tag. All of them contain the same complex of basic substances: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, in various concentrations. Among the most affordable, but at the same time no less effective complex fertilizers, we should highlight:

Potassium sulphate

Potassium sulphate is a three-component fertilizer with a high content of potassium and sulfur. It is also called potassium sulfate. The concentrations of substances in the fertilizer are 50% potassium, 46% sulfur and 4% acidic phosphorus (7% neutral phosphorus). Potassium sulphate is used on alkaline soils. With increased acidity of the soil, it can not be used.

Potassium sulphate is used for watering plants under the root. In this case, the concentration of the substance should be no more than 0,1% (1 g of the substance per 10 liters of water). This low concentration will slightly increase the acidity without harming the plants.

It should be used only on alkaline soils, when there are signs of a lack of potassium. Potassium sulphate also allows you to fight late blight on tomatoes.

potassium humate

This unique fertilizer contains all the necessary mineral trace elements and a host of other substances that contribute to the accelerated growth and development of tomatoes. So, at least 80% of the substance is humic acids. They improve the chemical composition and physical properties of the soil, increase crop yields.

Potassium humate can be used at various stages of growing tomatoes:

• To soak the seeds, prepare a solution by adding 20 ml of the substance to a glass of water. Soaking during the day activates the growth of planting material and disinfects the surface of the grains;
• Watering tomatoes under the root for the entire growing season can be done three times. To do this, dilute 50 ml of the substance in a bucket of water.
• For foliar top dressing, use a solution of the same concentration as for watering under the root.
• Watering the soil with potassium humate in the process of digging allows you to restore its fertility. For these purposes, the fertilizer is diluted in a ratio of 500 ml per 10 liters of water.

Potassium humate is a natural fertilizer that can be used to feed tomatoes in various ways repeatedly throughout the growing period.

Ammofosca

This complex, granular fertilizer contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in approximately equal proportions – 15% each.

You can feed tomatoes with this complex, three-component fertilizer at various stages of the growing season. As a rule, ammophoska is used three times: it is added to the wells when planting seedlings, the plants are watered with a solution during the flowering period and during the period of active fruiting. Ammophoska solution is prepared by dissolving 10 tablespoons of the substance in a bucket of water.

Nitrofosca

The fertilizer also contains 3 main components, while the amount of nitrogen in the mixture reaches 52%. Potassium and phosphorus in this fertilizer are in equal proportions, approximately 24% each.

It is recommended to use fertilizer for feeding tomato seedlings, as well as when observing slow plant growth. The granules of the substance are highly soluble in water, so it is recommended to prepare a solution for feeding tomatoes: 1 spoon per 10 liters of water.

In addition to the above, well-known fertilizers, you can find complex substances that are also mixtures of 3 components, for example, “Universal”, “Kemira Lux”, “Ava” and others. They must be used strictly in accordance with the instructions.

DIY universal mixes

You can prepare a universal fertilizer for feeding tomatoes containing potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus on your own by mixing several one-component substances. Experienced farmers often use the following recipes:

• Add superphosphate (40g), as well as urea (15g) and potassium sulfate (15g) to a bucket of water. Superphosphate must be soaked in water a day before using the fertilizer. Immediately before use, add two other components to the solution.
• In 8 liters of water, add 80 g of ash and 20 g of ammonium nitrate. After dissolving the mixture, water the tomatoes under the root.

With self-preparation of complex fertilizers for feeding tomatoes, you can use organic substances:

• Dissolve 200 g of mullein or liquid chicken manure in a bucket of water. In the resulting mixture, add one teaspoon of potassium sulfate and superphosphate.
• Add 150 ml of mullein and a spoonful of nitrophoska to a bucket of water.

Conclusion

With regular use of complex fertilizers, tomatoes will not experience a deficiency of minerals, including potassium. However, in some cases, soil depletion, increased calcium, or some other factor causes symptoms that are characteristic of potassium starvation. In this case, it is necessary to feed the tomatoes with potash fertilizers, the list and method of use of which are given above in the article.