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Experienced gardeners, growing tomatoes on their plots, receive a rich harvest. They understand all the intricacies of plant care. But beginners have many problems related to proper watering and creating optimal conditions for planting. Beginning gardeners are no less concerned about what fertilizers can be used and at what time.
For full growth and fruiting, tomatoes require different fertilizers containing a certain set of microelements. At each stage of cultivation, the plants have different needs. Today we’ll talk about why you need to fertilize tomatoes. urea, about how to properly dilute and apply this fertilizer. Who doesn’t want to see a tomato harvest like the one in the photo in their garden!
What microelements do tomatoes need?
Most of all, tomatoes need phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
Each of them does its own “job”:
- phosphorus is responsible for the resistance of plants to unfavorable conditions and strengthens the immunity of tomatoes;
- potassium is necessary for the plant especially during the fruiting period, its presence improves the taste of the fruit and reduces rotting;
- the presence of nitrogen in the right amount promotes the growth and development of plants and is responsible for productivity.
The deficiency of a particular mineral can be recognized by the appearance of the plants. For example, a lack of nitrogen leads to yellowing and falling of the lower leaves.
There are several options for nitrogen-containing fertilizers, the percentage of nitrogen in them is different:
- in sodium or calcium nitrate about 17.5%;
- in ammonium, ammonia fertilizers approximately 21%;
- in urea and ammonium nitrate no less than 46%.
What is urea
Feeding tomatoes with fertilizers is a completely natural procedure. Plants need to be fertilized at all stages, from seeds to care. in the ground. Urea as a fertilizer, feeds tomatoes with nitrogen. This fertilizer also has another name - urea. Release form: white granules. Soil bacteria process nitrogen, converting it into ammonium carbonate, which partially evaporates. Before starting work, the soil must be moistened.
Advantages
- The granules are completely soluble in water.
- Soil and fruits do not accumulate nitrates if the fertilizer is applied in accordance with the recommendations.
Flaws
- During the preparation of the solution, due to the endothermic reaction, the temperature of the working solution decreases. Therefore, it is necessary to use warm water. Otherwise, the cold solution may cause stress to the tomatoes.
- In the case when the plant is in great need of nitrogen, more granules have to be added. To neutralize the possibility of burns, sodium sulfate must be added.
The role of urea in the development of tomatoes
Any fertilizer, including urea, participates in the growing season of tomatoes, strengthens the immune system, due to which the plants become strong and hardy. This fertilizer is especially important at the seedling stage, when plants need to build up green mass and a good root system.
With a lack of nitrogen, plants grow slower, their leaves may become deformed, yellowing and premature leaf fall may occur. And this negatively affects the formation of ovaries and fruits. Tomatoes are fed with urea at the seedling stage, but the fertilizer must be used carefully: it is better to underfeed than to overfeed the plants.
Breeding rules
We have already talked about the role of urea for feeding tomatoes. It remains to be seen how to properly breed it in order to achieve a positive effect of nitrogen on the development of plantings.
To dilute urea, you must first carefully study the recommendations.
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine the amount of fertilizer if you don't have a measuring spoon. We offer you a table that will help you accurately measure the most common fertilizers.
According to the recommendations, 25 grams of granulated urea per square of planting is sufficient for one square. They are bred in a 10-liter bucket. This solution is enough for 10 tomatoes. Water at the root.
Application
Since urea is a chemical, you need to know the rules for working with it:
Rules for applying fertilizers
- Dilute strictly according to the instructions.
- Watering should be done in the evening.
- Watch how the plants have changed.
Root feeding
According to the rules, urea can be used no more than five times for root feeding if the soil on the site is poor.
The first time when seedlings are grown. Add 1 gram of fertilizer to the planting boxes, then sow the seeds. This feeding accelerates the germination and growth of tomatoes at the initial stage.
The second feeding is carried out when planting tomatoes in a permanent place. Since urea is a fertilizer that oxidizes the soil, superphosphate, bird droppings, and wood ash are added as a neutralizer. This feeding should be done a week after planting the seedlings.
Third time urea, like fertilizer for tomatoes apply after another 3 weeks. This cannot be done before, otherwise the addition of nitrogen will lead to rapid growth of greenery. It is best to prepare a complex fertilizer: add 10 grams of urea to the mullein solution. You need to water after sunset to avoid accidentally burning the leaves.
The fourth feeding of tomatoes with urea should be carried out only when the inflorescences do not set and fall off. It would be ideal to dilute urea with microfertilizers for tomatoes.
The last time the plants are watered is at the roots, when the tomatoes begin to ripen. In 10 liters of water you need to dilute 2 or 3 grams of urea, potassium magnesium, potassium sulfate. After watering, the soil is sprinkled with wood ash.
Foliar feeding
Urea or carbamide is a nitrogen-containing fertilizer. Its use when growing tomatoes at different stages of plant development is really effective. Although you should not forget about caution. Even a weak solution, if it gets on young leaves, can cause a burn.
Urea can not only be added to the roots, but also foliar feeding. As you know, microelements are absorbed faster through leaves.
To a 10-liter bucket of water you need to add one large spoon of fertilizer.
Spraying tomatoes with urea has a good effect on the appearance of plants. They become greener and lush. But you should not be overzealous with urea at the fruiting stage, since at this time plants need phosphorus rather than nitrogen.
Use of urea in the garden:
Let's sum it up
As you can see, tomatoes need nitrogen. When it is deficient, the seedlings grow thin and become very elongated. The leaves are pale, the lower ones may turn yellow ahead of time. Overfeeding with urea causes rapid growth of green mass, and few ovaries are formed. Both deficiency and excess of nitrogen negatively affect the yield.
The conclusion suggests itself: you need to monitor the development of tomatoes during the period of growing seedlings and after planting in the ground. If the plants develop normally, then only mandatory fertilizing is carried out.
