It is almost impossible to grow a decent crop of tomatoes without the use of fertilizing and fertilizers. Plants constantly need nutrients and as they grow, they deplete the soil. As a result, there comes a time when tomatoes begin to “starve”, showing a symptom of a lack of any microelement. Complex fertilizer for tomatoes will help prevent “starvation” and compensate for the deficiency of substances. You can see a lot of such fertilizers on store shelves. Most of them have a similar composition and can be used at a certain stage of cultivation.
Minerals for tomatoes
Mineral fertilizers are one substance or several substances mixed at certain concentrations. They can be divided into potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, complex.
Among all phosphorus fertilizers, simple and double superphosphate. This tomato fertilizer is a gray (white) powder or granules.Their peculiarity is that they are poorly soluble in water and before use it is recommended to infuse them in water for 24 hours to obtain an extract. Phosphorus fertilizers are used to create mineral mixtures as one of the ingredients or as an independent supplement when observing symptoms characteristic of phosphorus deficiency.
Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes are often used in the early stages of cultivation, when it is necessary to accelerate plant growth. Such fertilizers include nitrate (ammonium, potassium, sodium), urea, and ammonium sulfate. In addition to the main substance, these nitrogen fertilizers may contain some other minerals in small quantities.
Potassium a very important trace element that helps tomatoes develop the root system and supply nutrients from the root to the leaves and fruits. With enough potassium, the crop will have a good taste. Among potassium fertilizers for tomatoes, it is recommended to use potassium magnesia or potassium sulfate. Potassium chloride should not be used as a fertilizer, since tomatoes react negatively to chlorine.
In addition to the above fertilizers, you can find magnesium, calcium, sodium, boron and other preparations with one, main mineral.
Thus, knowing simple mineral fertilizers, it is quite easy to prepare fertilizers yourself, combining various substances. Using only one type of mineral you can compensate for the lack of the corresponding substance.
Feeding schedule using simple minerals
Mineral fertilizers can be used repeatedly throughout the growing of tomatoes. So, during soil preparation you can use urea.The substance is scattered over the surface of the soil before digging in an amount of 20 g/m2.
You can also use a mineral complex created by yourself to feed tomato seedlings. To prepare it, you need to dissolve ammonium nitrate (20 g) in a bucket of clean water. The resulting liquid should be watered or sprayed on the tomato seedlings.
Before planting in the ground, young plants need to be fertilized with potassium and phosphorus, which will allow them to take root better. To do this, add potassium sulfate and superphosphate (15-25 g of each substance) to a bucket of water.
After planting in the ground, tomatoes can be fertilized with a nutrient mixture: 35-40 g per 10 liters of water superphosphate (double), 20 g potassium sulfate and urea in the amount of 15g. This mineral complex saturates the tomatoes with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other minerals, as a result of which the plants develop harmoniously, form abundant ovaries and produce abundant fruit of good-tasting vegetables.
An alternative to such a complex can be a liquid fertilizer obtained by adding 80 g of simple superphosphate, 5-10 g of ammonium nitrate and 30 g of potassium sulfate to a bucket of water. The fertilizer can be used in greenhouses and on open ground many times, at intervals of several weeks. After feeding with this complex, tomatoes will have high viability and resistance to diseases and cold.
Foliar fertilizing tomatoes can be carried out using boric acid. A solution of this substance will fertilize the plants and protect them from pests. Dissolve acid for spraying at the rate of 10 g per 10 l.
By combining simple, one-component fertilizers, you can adjust the amount of minerals in the fertilizer depending on the fertility of the soil and the condition of the tomatoes. It should also be noted that the cost of such fertilizers will be lower than the cost of similar ready-made, complex mineral fertilizers.
Complex mineral fertilizers
For those farmers who do not want to combine minerals on their own, complex mineral fertilizers are offered. They contain all the necessary substances for the growth of tomatoes at a certain stage of the growing season. The advantage of complex fertilizers is their efficiency and ease of use.
Improving soil composition
You can use nutritious fertilizers for tomatoes even at the stage of soil preparation. To do this, add fertilizers to the substrate in which the seedlings will grow and to the hole at the place of permanent cultivation:
Master NPK-17.6.18
This complex mineral fertilizer for tomatoes contains a significant amount nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Fertilizer is great for saturating the soil with nutrients. Complex feeding makes plants stress-resistant, accelerates their growth, and promotes normal, harmonious development of roots. Fertilizer "Master" is applied to the soil at the rate of 100-150 g per 1 m2.
Crystallon
Under the name “Crystallon” you can find a whole range of water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to add “Crystallon special 18:18:18” in dry form to the soil for growing tomatoes. It contains potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in equal parts.In the future, fertilizers from the “Crystallon” series can also be used to feed tomatoes.
The following types of complex fertilizers can replace manure and ammonium nitrate, urea when digging soil. They should be added to the soil in the spring before planting. Also, fertilizers have shown high efficiency when added to the soil for growing tomato seedlings.
Growth activators for seeds
No less prepared seeds should be planted in prepared, fertile soil. To do this, I pickle them, harden them, and soak them in growth stimulants. For pickling, as a rule, planting material is soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or aloe juice; hardening is carried out using variable temperature technology.
You can speed up seed germination, increase the percentage of germination and make tomato shoots stronger with the help of growth stimulants. Of the most well-known drugs, they are often used:
Zircon
This growth stimulator is based on natural, plant-based hydroxycinnamic acids. Extracts from echinacea are used to produce fertilizer. The drug is sold in 1 ml ampoules, as well as in plastic bottles up to 20 liters.
To soak tomato seeds, you need to prepare a solution by adding 1 drop of the substance to 300 ml of water. The duration of treatment of planting material with the resulting substance should be 2-4 hours. Soaking is recommended immediately before sowing grains in the ground.
Gumat
You can find “Potassium-Sodium Humate” on sale. This substance is used to treat tomato seeds before sowing. The growth activator can be in powder or liquid form.The "Humate" solution is prepared by adding 0.5 g of fertilizer per liter of water. The duration of seed soaking is 12-14 hours.
Epin
A biological product that stimulates early seed germination and makes young tomatoes resistant to low temperatures, transplants, lack of sunlight, drought and excess humidity.
"Epin" is used for soaking seeds. To do this, prepare a solution: 2 drops of the substance per 100 ml of water. Soak tomato grains for 6-8 hours. Based on observations, farmers claim that treating tomato seeds with Epin increases vegetable yields by 10-15%. The drug can also be used to spray the leaves of tomato seedlings.
Thus, all of the growth stimulants listed above make it possible to increase the germination rate of tomato seeds, make the plants viable and healthy, and make them resistant to diseases, pests, and weather adversities. Tomato seed treatment growth stimulants can significantly increase the yield of vegetables.
More information about the use of growth stimulants can be found in the video:
Fertilizers for seedlings
Tomato seedlings are extremely demanding on the composition of the soil and the presence of various minerals in it. Young plants need to be fed several times from the moment the first leaves appear before planting in the ground.At this time, tomatoes are fertilized with mineral complexes with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus:
Nitroammofoska
This fertilizer is the most common and affordable. It is used to feed various vegetable crops at various stages of cultivation.
“Nitroammofoska” is available in several grades, which differ in the concentration of the main minerals: grade A contains potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus in equal proportions (16%), grade B contains more nitrogen (22%) and an equal amount of potassium and phosphorus (11%) .
Tomato seedlings should be fed with Nitroammophos grade A. To do this, add a matchbox of fertilizer to a bucket of water and mix. After dissolution, the mixture is used to water the seedlings at the root.
Sturdy
“Krepysh” is a complex mineral fertilizer specially designed for feeding seedlings. It contains 17% nitrogen, 22% potassium and 8% phosphorus. It contains absolutely no chlorine. You can use fertilizer while preparing the nutrient substrate by adding granules to the soil. It is also effective to use fertilizer for watering tomato seedlings at the root. You can prepare the fertilizer by adding 2 small spoons of the substance to a bucket of water. When using the Krepysh fertilizer in liquid form, add 100 ml of fertilizer to a bucket of water.
Feeding accelerates growth tomato seedlings, makes it more viable, resistant to various stresses and weather troubles. You can water tomatoes with fertilizer when the first leaf appears. Tomato fertilizer should be used regularly once a week. After planting in the soil, tomatoes can also be fed with this mineral complex once every 2 weeks.
In addition to the above fertilizers, the preparations Kemira Combi, Agricolla and some others can be used for tomato seedlings. These complex fertilizers for tomatoes are the most affordable and effective. Their use will allow plants to receive the necessary amount of nitrogen for accelerated harmonious growth of green mass, as well as potassium and phosphorus, which will allow young plants to grow a developed root system.
Minerals for regular feeding
After planting the seedlings, a particularly important period begins when tomatoes need a lot of micronutrients for abundant flowering and fruit formation. Potassium and phosphorus are especially important for them, but nitrogen should be added in small quantities. So, after planting tomato seedlings in the ground, you can use the following, the best complex fertilizers:
Kemira Lux
This name hides one of the best fertilizers for tomatoes. It contains more than 20% phosphorus, 27% potassium and 16% nitrogen. It also contains iron, boron, copper, zinc and other minerals.
You should use Kemira Lux for watering tomatoes after dissolving 20 g (one tablespoon) of the substance in a bucket of water. It is recommended to water tomatoes with fertilizer once a week.
Mortar
The mineral complex is presented in two brands: A and B. More often, “Solution A” is used to feed tomatoes. It contains 10% nitrogen, 5% soluble phosphorus and 20% potassium, as well as a complex of some additional minerals.
You can use “Solution” for feeding tomatoes at the root and for spraying. To feed the root, 10-25 g of the substance is dissolved in a bucket of water. For spraying, the fertilizer rate is 25 g per 10 liters. You can fertilize tomatoes with “Solution” regularly, once a week.
"BioMaster Red Giant"
Mineral complex fertilizer can be used to feed tomatoes from the moment they are planted in the ground until the end of fruiting. It contains 12% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 16% potassium, as well as other minerals in small quantities.
Regular use of the Red Giant fertilizer significantly increases productivity and makes tomatoes more adaptable to bad weather conditions, high humidity, and drought. Plants, under the influence of a balanced mineral complex, develop harmoniously and grow quickly.
Conclusion
Minerals allow tomatoes to evenly grow roots and green mass. Potassium and phosphorus are not contained in organic matter in the quantities required, so it is almost impossible to grow tomatoes without mineral fertilizers. For tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open areas of soil, you can select single-component substances that need to be mixed with each other or added to organic infusions. Mineral complexes are fully capable of satisfying the needs of tomatoes. Only the gardener himself decides which fertilizer to choose; we have provided a list of the most popular, affordable and effective mineral fertilizers.
