Content
- 1 Is it possible to feed tomatoes with ammonia?
- 2 Advantages and disadvantages
- 3 Methods for treating tomatoes with ammonia
- 4 How to dilute ammonia to feed tomatoes
- 5 How to fertilize tomatoes with ammonia
- 6 Features of feeding tomatoes with ammonia in a greenhouse
- 7 How often can you spray tomatoes with ammonia?
- 8 Precautionary measures
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Reviews on the use of ammonia for tomatoes
The possibility of using an aqueous solution of ammonia as a fertilizer is due to the presence of nitrogen in a form easily absorbed by plants. Accordingly, watering tomatoes with ammonia is an alternative to fertilizing with minerals and adding humus. However, you need to remember that this is a fairly aggressive chemical, and it is used in strict accordance with the instructions, otherwise you can harm your own health and destroy the bushes.
Is it possible to feed tomatoes with ammonia?
Tomatoes are quite sensitive to nitrogen deficiency in the soil. With its deficiency, their growth and development slows down. Accordingly, it is easy to guess that you should not expect a large harvest of high-quality fruits from them.
Ammonia is an aqueous solution of ammonia.It contains nitrogen in a form easily absorbed by plants, which does not require preliminary processing by soil microflora.
The appearance of plants clearly signals nitrogen deficiency:
- thinned, hard to the touch, fragile stems;
- shrinking leaves that change color to pale green or yellowish;
- complete or almost complete absence of buds and flowers.
Watering tomatoes with ammonia solves the problem of nitrogen deficiency quickly and effectively
Advantages and disadvantages
Feeding tomatoes with nitrogen in the form of watering with ammonia has undoubted advantages:
- The substrate is quickly saturated with nitrogen.
- The gardener simultaneously fertilizes and disinfects the soil. Ammonia is a caustic, strong-smelling substance, so watering with ammonia is detrimental to many pathogens and pests.
- Since nitrogen is easily absorbed, the result of watering tomatoes with ammonia appears quickly. The process of growing green mass is sharply activated, it restores a healthy appearance.
- If you water tomatoes with ammonia correctly, the liquid is completely harmless to the tomatoes themselves, neighboring plants, soil microflora, and the environment in general.
- Availability. Ammonia can be easily purchased at any nearby pharmacy. An aqueous 10% ammonia solution, which can be immediately used for watering tomatoes, is sold in gardening stores. The price in both cases is low.
Of course, watering tomatoes with ammonia is not without certain disadvantages:
- If you increase the concentration of ammonia, the liquid can simply burn the roots of the plants.An overdose is especially dangerous for tomato seedlings.
- When watering with ammonia for several seasons in a row, the substrate gradually acidifies. Some varieties and hybrids of tomatoes are characterized by increased sensitivity to the pH of the substrate, so it is necessary to restore neutral values.
- Ammonia is a volatile chemical with fairly high toxicity. If safety precautions are not followed during the preparation of fertilizer and watering tomatoes, poisoning is very likely.
Ammonia is one of many substances used by gardeners for other purposes.
Methods for treating tomatoes with ammonia
A solution of ammonia can be used not only for watering, but also for spraying tomatoes. In most cases, root feeding is a planned procedure, and foliar feeding is an emergency remedy.
Watering at the root
When root feeding tomatoes with diluted ammonia, watering is carried out directly under the root. About an hour before the procedure, the bushes are watered generously with plain water to avoid burning the roots.
The approximate liquid consumption when watering is 0.5-1 liters per plant, depending on its age and size
Foliar feeding
Feeding tomatoes with diluted ammonia by spraying from a fine spray bottle is carried out when symptoms of nitrogen starvation are clearly expressed. Gardeners also practice this method if there are frequent and heavy rains in the spring and early summer. Plants absorb nitrogen from waterlogged soil much worse.
It is advisable to carry out the procedure in the morning.After evening spraying, moisture may remain on the leaves. When ammonia evaporates from it, it becomes a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora.
Tomato leaves are sprayed as evenly as possible, covering both the front and back sides.
How to dilute ammonia to feed tomatoes
The standard concentration of the irrigation solution is 10 ml per 10 liters of water at room temperature. The proportion for spraying tomatoes with ammonia is 25 ml per 10 liters. The preparation technology in both cases is the same - the required chemical in the required volume is simply poured into a container of water and stirred vigorously for 2-3 minutes.
It is advisable to determine the required volume of ammonia using a special measuring container
How to fertilize tomatoes with ammonia
In order for watering and spraying tomatoes with ammonia to give the maximum positive effect, you need to take into account the general rules for carrying out such fertilizing:
- In extreme heat, ammonia evaporates even faster than usual. Therefore, when the air temperature is above 28 ° C, it is better to postpone the procedure.
- Rain quickly washes diluted ammonia out of the soil, and the roots do not have time to absorb nitrogen. Tomatoes should not be watered in wet, rainy weather.
- If it starts to rain within 8-10 hours after watering or spraying tomatoes in the open ground with ammonia, you will have to repeat watering or spraying on the next dry day.
- The best day for watering tomatoes with a solution of ammonia is a dry, fairly warm, but not hot day.
In the phase of active growth
From the moment the seedlings are transplanted into a greenhouse or garden bed until mass bud formation, 2-3 root feedings are carried out with a solution of standard concentration (10 ml per 10 liters of water). If, due to the characteristics of the substrate, the plants clearly show symptoms of nitrogen deficiency, watering is supplemented with spraying. They are carried out 4-6 times with a break during flowering.
Active growth of green mass in tomatoes occurs in the second half of May and early June
During the flowering and fruiting period
During bud formation and flowering, any nitrogen fertilizing, including watering tomatoes with ammonia, is excluded. At the fruiting stage, plants need mainly phosphorus and potassium; without them, timely ripening of tasty tomatoes and abundant harvests is impossible.
Nitrogen at the stage of flowering and ovary formation is definitely harmful for tomatoes. The bushes continue to actively grow green mass. Their leaf blades are very large and rich in color. In such conditions, the fruits receive a minimum of nutrients, which leads to a decrease in overall yield and a deterioration in the taste of tomatoes.
At the fruiting stage, feeding tomatoes with ammonia is carried out only in two exceptional cases:
- When plants show signs of nitrogen deficiency. They are sprayed with the solution until positive dynamics appear.
- If there is a real risk that late-ripening tomatoes will not have time to ripen before the first frost. To speed up the process, 2-3 waterings are carried out with a solution of standard concentration.
Nitrogen in ammonia is contained in such a form that it is not deposited in fruits in the form of nitrates, and accordingly, they are safe for health
Disease and pest control
Ammonia is a caustic chemical that successfully destroys pathogenic microflora. The ability to repel pests is due to the presence of a pungent odor, which many insects cannot tolerate due to their very sensitive sense of smell.
The concentration of the solution to combat pathogenic fungi and harmful insects is 20-30 ml per 10 liters of water. The plants themselves are sprayed with it and at the same time the well-moistened soil is shed.
Ammonia corrodes the surface tissues of larvae and adults lacking durable chitinous shells
Features of feeding tomatoes with ammonia in a greenhouse
When using ammonia for watering and spraying tomatoes in a greenhouse, you need to take into account that evaporating ammonia can corrode polycarbonate and plastic film. Only glass does not suffer from it.Accordingly, if you regularly practice this method of fertilizing and pest control, there is a real risk that the structure will become unusable much earlier than expected.
After treating tomatoes with ammonia in the greenhouse, it is necessary to close all doors and windows for 8-10 hours. You cannot stay inside during this time. Work begins only after ventilation for at least an hour and a half.
Frames made of wood or metal that have not undergone anti-corrosion treatment also suffer damage from fumes.
How often can you spray tomatoes with ammonia?
For symptoms of nitrogen starvation, tomatoes are sprayed with diluted ammonia at intervals of 7-10 days. Stop when the condition of the plants begins to return to normal. In just one season, according to various sources, you can carry out from 3-4 to 6-7 foliar feedings.
Watering tomatoes with ammonia before the formation of buds and flowering is carried out a maximum of 2-3 times. Then - only in emergency situations, if the fruits do not have time to ripen (2-3 more times). The interval in the first case is 10-12 days, in the second – 5-7 days.
Precautionary measures
In high concentrations and/or with prolonged inhalation, ammonia contained in ammonia can cause serious poisoning in humans. It also easily enters the body through pores in the skin, even without direct contact. Therefore, precautions when watering and spraying tomatoes cannot be neglected, even if they seem like excessive reinsurance:
- From the moment you open the bottle with ammonia to prepare the solution and until the completion of the watering or spraying process, you should not remove thick rubber or latex gloves, glasses and a respirator that fit tightly to your face.
- The skin is also protected to the maximum by wearing thick clothing with long sleeves and trousers, and closed waterproof shoes. Hair is tucked under a scarf or hat.
- To mix ingredients, use only containers that are not intended for cooking, storing food or drinking water. At the end of the procedure, they should be thoroughly washed with soapy water.
- It is advisable to dilute ammonia with water outside. As a last resort - in a well-ventilated or ventilated area.
- While working, it is prohibited to eat, drink, or smoke. It is necessary to isolate children and pets in advance, completely eliminating the possibility of their contact with the chemical.
- After finishing watering or spraying tomatoes with ammonia, you need to take a shower as quickly as possible. All work clothes must be washed.
A respirator for working with ammonia is designed specifically for protection against fumes
The symptoms of ammonia poisoning are:
- severe coughing attacks;
- spasms and pain in the throat;
- feeling of shortness of breath, suffocation, or other breathing difficulties;
- redness and swelling of the mucous membranes;
- uncontrollable lacrimation, profuse nasal discharge;
- rash, skin irritation, severe itching;
- nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
In this case, you need to go to the hospital or call an ambulance as quickly as possible. Self-medication for ammonia vapor poisoning is strictly prohibited.
Conclusion
Watering tomatoes with ammonia allows you to provide them with nitrogen, which is vital for plants in the early stages of the active growing season. Also, a caustic chemical with a pungent odor effectively repels many pests that are sensitive to smell and destroys pathogenic microflora. But watering with ammonia will give the desired effect only if it is done at the right time, the solution is prepared correctly and the bushes are treated.
