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To get a good harvest, tomatoes need quality care. One of its stages is foliar feeding of tomatoes. Treatment is carried out at all stages of plant development. For this, minerals and natural remedies are used.
Feeding rules
Foliar feeding means no less for tomatoes than watering. To carry it out, special solutions are used that are sprayed onto the leaves and stems of plants.
To get the maximum effect from feeding, you need to follow a number of rules:
- the procedure is performed in the morning or evening, preferably in cloudy weather, when there is no direct sunlight;
- the spray solution is prepared according to the specified standards to avoid leaf burn;
- when processing plants in open ground, there must be no wind or rain;
- after spraying, the greenhouse is ventilated;
- chemical fertilizers are used in compliance with safety rules.
Benefits of foliar feeding
Foliar treatment is more effective than root feeding. If watering is carried out, it takes time for microelements to reach the leaves and inflorescences. After spraying, the beneficial substances fall on the leaves and stems, so they immediately begin to act.
Foliar feeding of tomatoes has a number of advantages:
- the above-ground part of plants develops;
- the resistance of tomatoes to diseases and adverse factors increases;
- the appearance of ovaries is stimulated, which increases productivity;
- low consumption of components compared to irrigation;
- the ability to use complex fertilizers (organic and mineral substances, folk remedies).
Time spending
Tomatoes need spraying throughout their entire development period. If the plant is in a depressed state and develops slowly, then additional treatment is allowed.
Foliar feeding of tomatoes is performed in the following stages:
- before planting plants to treat acidic soil;
- during the growing season;
- before the tomato begins to bloom;
- during education ovaries;
- during fruiting.
At each stage of development, plants require different substances. Seedlings need nitrogen contained in urea to produce shoots. Boric acid promotes the appearance of ovaries. Potassium fertilizers are responsible for the taste and appearance of fruits.
The best ways to feed
Foliar feeding is carried out using minerals. Based on them, an aqueous solution for spraying is prepared. Mineral fertilizing is one of the best processing methods, as it saturates tomatoes with essential microelements.
Urea solution
Urea consists of 46% nitrogen, which is involved in plant photosynthesis.With a lack of this element, their growth slows down, the leaves turn yellow, and the ovary slowly forms. Tomato processing urea promotes the formation of foliage, strengthens roots, and also increases the fruiting period.
Urea is supplied in the form of granules, highly soluble in warm water. The solution is quickly absorbed by plants and does not cause burns if the proportions are observed. The amount of nitrogen in tomatoes increases after just two days.
Foliar fertilizing with urea is carried out until the ovaries form. Otherwise, the plant will use the resulting substances not for fruiting, but for the formation of new shoots. During seedling growth, a 0.4% urea solution is sufficient.
Boric acid
Due to boric acid, the flowering process of tomatoes is activated and the shedding of the ovary is prevented. At high humidity, boric acid protects fruits from rotting. As a result, tomato yields increase.
Tomato processing is carried out in several stages:
- before flowering, when the buds have not yet opened;
- during active flowering;
- when the fruits begin to turn red.
Second feeding of tomatoes boric acid, carried out 10 days after the first spraying. Additional processing is allowed boronif the tomatoes have small pale leaves or bloom poorly.
To avoid shedding of inflorescences, take 1 g of the substance, which is dissolved in 1 liter of hot water. After cooling, the product can be used for spraying.
To protect tomatoes from late blight, take one teaspoon of boric acid per bucket of warm water. 1 liter of solution is consumed per 10 square meters. m of planting area.
Potassium monophosphate
Monophosphate potassium Available in the form of colorless crystals, highly soluble in water. The substance contains the optimal amount of potassium and phosphorus necessary for effective fruiting.
Potassium monophosphate has the following benefits:
- quickly absorbed by tomatoes and stimulates metabolic processes;
- compatible with other minerals;
- it is impossible to overfeed plants with it;
- does not have similar effects;
- used to prevent fungal infections of tomatoes.
Spraying with potassium monophosphate is carried out twice:
- before the formation of buds;
- during fruiting.
There should be at least 2 weeks between treatments. It is possible to carry out additional treatment with potassium monophosphate after heavy rains, when mineral components are washed out of the soil.
Calcium nitrate
The composition of calcium nitrate includes nitrogen and calcium. Due to calcium the absorption of nitrogen by tomatoes, necessary for the formation of green mass, improves.
With a lack of calcium, the root system suffers, and the resistance of tomatoes to temperature changes and diseases decreases.
Calcium nitrate was used for tomatoes as a spray. This includes preparing a solution consisting of 1 liter of water and 2 g of this substance. The first leaf treatment is carried out a week after the plants are moved into the ground. Then the procedure is repeated every 10 days until budding begins.
After spraying, the seedlings become resistant to blossom end rot. Fertilizer repels slugs, ticks and other pests.Tomatoes remain resistant to diseases even into adulthood.
Using superphosphate
Superphosphate contains phosphorus, which accelerates fruiting, improves the taste of tomatoes, and slows down the aging process of plants.
The deficiency of this element is characterized by the presence of dark green leaves and rusty spots on them in tomatoes. Such symptoms are observed after cold weather, when the absorption of phosphorus worsens. If the condition of the tomatoes does not improve when the temperature rises, then feed the tomatoes with superphosphate.
Dissolution superphosphate occurs only in hot water. The resulting solution in an amount of 150 ml must be diluted with 10 liters of water and used for spraying. To better absorb phosphorus, add 20 ml of a nitrogen-containing substance to the solution.
Phosphorus Required by tomatoes for fruit formation. That's why in the greenhouse Foliar feeding of tomatoes is carried out when inflorescences appear.
Feeding with epin
Epin is a phytohormone obtained chemically. The substance has a strengthening effect on tomatoes and improves their ability to withstand stressful situations (heat, frost, disease).
Epin has a mild effect because it is aimed at activating the powers of tomatoes. Its use increases productivity even on lands with low fertility.
The first treatment with Epin is carried out a day after planting the plants in a permanent place. The product helps seedlings take root and protects them from diseases.The following treatments are carried out when the buds form and the first cluster blooms.
Natural fertilizers
Folk remedies help saturate tomatoes with nutrients. Their advantage is complete safety and ease of use. The most effective nutrition for tomatoes is based on ash, whey, garlic and herbal infusions. Traditional methods allow you to feed tomatoes without chemicals and complex fertilizers.
Ash based solution
Woody ash serves as a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and other elements for tomatoes. Products from burning plastic, household and construction waste, and colored paper are not used for fertilizer.
For 10 liters of water, 100 g of ash is required. The solution is infused for 24 hours, then filtered and used for spraying.
Foliar feeding of tomatoes with ash repels aphids and other pests. After treatment, plant resistance to powdery mildew and other lesions increases.
Spraying with ash is carried out at the flowering stage of plants. It is allowed to combine ash and boric acid in one solution.
Milk serum
Serum from sour milk contains beneficial bacteria that can protect tomatoes from fungal diseases. After spraying, a film forms on the foliage, which serves as an obstacle to bacteria.
The instructions on how to make a spray solution are very simple. To do this, the whey is diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.
For prevention, tomatoes are processed every 10 days. If signs of late blight or other diseases appear, the procedure can be performed daily.
For foliar feeding, a solution of water (4 l), raw milk (1 l) and iodine (15 drops). Such a complex fertilizer will provide plants with protection from harmful microorganisms.
Garlic sprays
Garlic sprays are used to protect tomatoes from late blight. They are prepared using 100 g of garlic (leaves or bulbs), which are crushed and poured with a glass of water. The mixture is left for a day, after which it is filtered.
Garlic sprays are performed every 10 days. Instead of garlic, you can use other herbs (nettle, sow thistle, dandelion, alfalfa). This feeding is effective at the flowering stage of tomatoes, as it saturates them with nitrogen, potassium, and calcium.
Conclusion
Foliar treatment has a number of advantages, including the high efficiency of this method. Chemicals, minerals and folk remedies are used for processing. The purpose of the procedure is to saturate the tomatoes with nutrients and protect them from diseases and pests.
