Boric acid for tomatoes. Feasibility of use, when and how to feed

Almost every summer resident grows tomatoes; they are one of the most popular garden crops. Many people successfully grow them on a windowsill or balcony. To get a full-fledged juicy harvest, you need to follow not only basic recommendations, but also know certain tricks that will help you grow tomatoes that are tasty and in sufficient quantities.

Tomatoes are especially vulnerable during the period of flowering and the formation of ovaries, which, due to a lack of certain substances and violation of growing conditions, can suddenly begin to fall off. It is at this time that boric acid, a white powdery substance without taste and odor, which must be properly diluted, will help the gardener to stimulate the ovary of tomatoes. The sachet is inexpensive, they sell the product in any store for summer residents.

Boric acid for tomatoes

It has been scientifically proven that boric acid is as necessary for tomatoes as nitrogen or phosphorus. Often, vegetable growers, having grown excellent seedlings, are faced with falling buds, weak ovary growth, and all this is due to boron deficiency. The tomato also owes its taste and sweetness to the element boron.

To get an excellent tomato harvest you need to clearly know:

• when to feed;
• how exactly to carry out the treatment;
• what method to choose at a certain stage of the tomato growing season;
• how to prepare boron solution;
• how long to store the prepared drug.

Pure boric acid appears as odorless white crystals. You can buy this chemical at:

• medical or veterinary pharmacy;
• garden specialty store;
• hardware store.

Researchers have found that boron increases the viscosity of the cell cytoplasm and the water content in it. And this affects transpiration and turgor. Thus, the element helps the tomato survive drought and not lose its presentation during long-term storage.

What is boric acid

Boron is absorbed by plant cells only in the form of boric acid anion.

This connection:

• has weak acidic properties;
• dissolves well in hot water;
• has no smell;
• can be stored well in solutions;
• does not give sediment;
• low toxic for warm-blooded animals

Boric acid is used in medicine, agriculture, technology, and the food industry (not in all countries).

All properties of the element continue to be studied. However, it has long been proven that boron is very important for tomatoes.

How is boron beneficial for tomatoes?

Boric acid for tomatoes is necessary for the formation of complex compounds of sugar borates. The boron itself is inactive. Once in a certain place, it remains there practically unchanged. Cellular juices cannot “advance” the element to where it is needed, namely to young, growing cells, buds, and ovaries.

Carbohydrates, reacting with this element, have the property of being quickly absorbed by the cell wall and moving throughout the plant to the desired, rapidly growing parts of the tomato bush.

Attention! If we consider phosphorus, it moves through the vascular system from cell to cell. Bohr is motionless - where he “sits down” is good. It should be supplied to the tomato bush as it grows. Only a vegetable grower can help.

In the presence of the boron element, young cells actively grow and divide. But then comes the shortage. Growth slows down and division stops. Rapid aging and cell death occurs. What kind of tomato ovary can we talk about under such conditions? Of course, the tomato buds turn yellow and fall off. The resulting ovary slows down and then stops growth altogether. This deficiency is very clearly visible in grapes; there is massive “pea-spotting”. Those tomatoes that have already entered the stage of botanical ripeness also feel deficient. They lose theirs:

• elasticity;
• marketability;
• the taste stated in the description of the variety.

Heat, heat, dry winds, even short-term ones, do not have the best effect on tomatoes. Boron will help the plant overcome this period. Getting into the cell membrane, it makes it elastic, dense and does not allow the moisture that is already lacking to evaporate. The plant does not lose turgor, saves water and can wait out a long, dry period.

Vegetable growers observe how, in extreme heat, the buds fall off without opening. Or they open, but the flowers also fall off without waiting for pollination. To grow the next flower brush you need:

• time;
• nutrients;
• water;
• optimal temperature conditions.

Nature is not always favorable to the vegetable grower and gardener. Under unfavorable conditions, tomato bushes lose up to 40% of their yield. It's a lot. Boron can significantly reduce losses.

Signs of Deficiency

It is not always possible to determine exactly what a tomato plant lacks without laboratory tests.

It has been experimentally proven that boron starvation on tomatoes will manifest itself in the form of:

• withering and death of apical buds, growth points of the root and stem;
• chlorosis (yellowing) of young leaves;
• the leaves become thinner to the touch and smaller in size. The color of old leaves becomes more saturated, dark green. The contrast of young and old foliage is clearly visible;
• not opening the buds;
• yellowing and falling of buds;
• weak flowering;
• falling flowers;
• weak ovary growth;
• deformities of the ovaries and subsequently the entire fetus;
• crushing (peating) of tomato fruits.

Note! Experienced vegetable growers determine the boron content of soils by looking at other vegetables that are more sensitive to the element.

• beets respond to starvation by rotting the central part of the root crop (core rot);
• rutabaga often changes color to brown;
• turnips and cabbage are not marketable;
• The apical leaves of potatoes become lighter. In this case, the enlightenment that clearly appears at the base of the leaf is significant. The internodes are shortened and the tubers become smaller;
• The tops of flax dry out.

But cereal crops (wheat, rye) do not respond at all to boron deficiency.

The upper part of the stem dies or becomes bent; the internodes are shortened, making the bush seem

Signs of excess

Excessive boron content in the plant body can only be observed when large doses of boron fertilizers are incorrectly applied.

It was experimentally established that toxic doses of boron cause in a tomato bush:

• marginal necrosis of leaves, starting from the lower tiers;
• yellowing and wilting of leaf blades;
• dome-shaped leaves;
• a sharp decrease in yield.

If boron fertilizers are not used, then there cannot be an excess amount of it in tomatoes.

What effect can you expect after use?

Treating tomatoes with boric acid is an effective method for increasing yield. A special effect is visible when there is abnormal heat and tomato bushes shed buds after buds. It’s a pity to look at the first cysts when all that remains of them are small stalks that will never be stalks.

After treatment with the solution, the effect can be observed immediately. Treated buds do not fall off. They hold tight and bloom in bouquets of flowers. The emerging ovary is also well attached and quickly begins to grow.

After regular treatments, the increase in yield will be significantly noticeable. The taste of the fruit will improve, and transportability and shelf life will increase significantly.

What soils are boron deficient in?

While examining the soils, experts came up with the following figures:

The richest soils in the forest are gray soils and saline soils. They contain from 20 to 120 mg/kg.

Further like this:

• dark-colored swampy and soddy-podzolic soils of light granulometric composition contain 1-2 mg/kg;
• in soddy-podzolic soils, boron is 0.02-0.6 mg/kg,
• in forest-steppe - 0.3-0.9 mg/kg,
• chernozems - 0.5-1.8 and saline soils - 1.0-10 mg/kg of soil;

Average figures for arable soils in Russia are 5 kg of boron per hectare of area. And per 1 kg of soil there are 1-120 mg of the element.

Attention! It should be understood that all numbers are very relative. Only laboratory analysis of specific soils can give an accurate picture.

Even knowing the exact figure, it is not of great interest. The main thing is not how much of the element is retained in the soil, but how much it is absorbed by the plant, water-soluble.

The availability of boron for the plant greatly reduces liming. The fact is that the presence of lime significantly increases the stability of boron compounds and digestibility becomes much less.

Those vegetable growers whose tomatoes grow on sandy soils should also carefully consider boron fertilizing, since sands are very poor in the element.

What does boron contain?

The tomato plant does not need much boron. And small shares of it are contained in soils and fertilizers. Let's look at the table:

For gardeners, manure and lowland peat are valuable as a source of this element for ground nutrition, but for foliar feeding, stove ash obtained from deciduous trees.

Attention! The point is not how much boron, but whether it is available for absorption by the cells of the tomato plant.

The prepared solution, getting on the buds and flowers, is immediately absorbed by the tissues. Boron found in ash, peat, and manure must undergo certain chemical transformations and only then will it be available to plant cells. This takes time. To determine the period, you should conduct complex chemical and laboratory studies, or act at random.

When to fertilize

The microelement is added to the soil before planting seedlings or a solution is made. Seed material is dipped into it and sprouts and grown tomato bushes are sprayed. The dose of the solution depends on the stage of development at which the plant is located.

Soaking seed material with boron solution

A solution of boric acid acts as a growth stimulator and disinfectant for seeds. For soaking, prepare the following solution: half a gram of powder per 1 liter of warm water. Seeds should be in the liquid for 24 hours. Then the seeds are washed from the solution with running water, dried and planted.

Pre-planting soil treatment

Boron is applied to the ground before planting bushes. In a greenhouse or in open ground, the solution will help save tomato bushes from fungus and pests. Summer residents advise pre-treating the bed when the soil is sandy, acidified or wet. Information! Boron powder must not be added to the ground in dry form.

To treat the soil, boric acid is diluted at the rate of 10 grams per bucket of water. 1 liter of solution is enough for 1 m². The product is applied by direct watering.

As an option: when planting seedlings, pour 2 liters of a working solution of boric acid into each hole. It is prepared as follows: add 200 ml of concentrated solution to 1.8 liters of water (1 gram of powder is needed for 1 liter of water).

Applying boron solution under the root

Watering a boric acid solution under the root system is necessary when there is a clear lack of boron. Root feeding can only be done once per season. When it rains soon after application, fertilizing can be repeated.

For feeding, boron powder is used in the amount of 1 g per 1 liter of warm water. Apply 1 liter of solution to each adult bush. Water early in the morning or late evening. The effect of fertilizing can be seen after 2 weeks.

Spraying tomatoes with boric acid on leaves

The result of spraying on the leaves is noticeable after 1-4 days. Spraying is carried out as a preventive measure against fungal infections, as well as to compensate for the lack of boron. Foliar feeding is good because you can adjust the boron nutrition of tomatoes during the growing season. Timing and standards, as well as application technology, are key success factors. The consequences of being late or “overdosing” on boron are often very unpleasant.

The foliar feeding option is considered the most effective. The microelement is instantly absorbed through the pores, penetrating into the plant tissue.

During spraying, it is important to treat not only the upper part of the bush, but also the lower tier of leaves, and their inner side. Fertilizing is carried out only in dry weather, spraying the plants early in the morning or in the evening.

The solution is prepared as follows: 1 g of powder is dissolved in two liters of water. Gardeners recommend adding laundry soap to the water for better results and to prevent the solution from being washed off longer.

Against fungi, especially in rainy summers, the effect of boron is enhanced by iodine. Add a few drops of alcoholic iodine tincture to the prepared solution. This way the plant will be enriched with two microelements at once. For one adult bush, use 100 ml of solution.

Methods and scheme for fertilizing tomatoes with boric acid

Excess is as harmful as deficiency. Sometimes vegetable growers feed tomatoes with this solution thoughtlessly, without clear knowledge and understanding of the need for the process.

Soaking the seeds

Think about it. In production, 10 g per 100 kg of seeds are used for soaking seeds. I dissolve the dose in a liter of water, and treat a hundredweight of seeds by spraying from a spray bottle. Vegetable growers, in pursuit of productivity, often use this dose for 10 seeds. There is no need to do this.

To soak tomato seeds at home, it is better to use a solution of stove ash. It is poured into a glass of hot water at a dose of ½ teaspoon per 200 ml of liquid and after cooling, tomato seeds are dipped in there for 15-20 minutes. If you decide to use boric acid, then add very, very little of it per 100 g of water.

Soil pre-treatment

The soils contain enough boron for a successful start. Since a tiny amount of the element is needed, no matter what soil mixture the vegetable grower uses in relation to boron, it will be suitable.

Root feeding

Tomato does not need root feeding with boron fertilizers. During the period of initial growth, it is better to give preference to nitrogen, and then switch to phosphorus-potassium.

Spraying tomatoes with boric acid concentrate

Crystalline boric acid is dissolved in hot (80-90 ᵒC) water. Make the solution in two stages:

1. Add 10 g of boric acid to a liter of hot water and stir. Cool.
2. Next, take 9 liters of cold water and add 1 liter of prepared, cooled mother solution to it.

Attention! To prepare a working solution suitable for treating tomato bushes, you need 10 g of boric acid and 10 liters of water. The concentration will correspond to 0.1%.

There's no need to rush. The solution has the following properties:

• does not lose concentration (boron does not evaporate);
• Stores well for several weeks in a cool place, out of reach of children;
• has weak acid properties;
• does not irritate the skin;
• non-toxic for humans, animals and insects (toxicity group 4);

What do we have to do

We periodically inspect tomato bushes. As soon as we begin to notice the first buds, we can carry out the first spraying of tomatoes with a solution of boric acid.

The treatment is carried out on the tops, young shoots and buds until the leaf plates are completely wetted. This is how we process the first brushes.

This will be followed by a second treatment. A careful examination and determination of the moment of formation of the second brush will indicate the time for re-processing.

Those shoots and brushes that have already been processed do not need the element. It's there, we don't spray them. To re-feed, there is no longer any need to use a large spray bottle, since much less solution will be needed.

If a vegetable grower has doubts about the need for such treatments, you can leave several bushes without treatment and compare the yield and taste. Experienced gardeners have long noticed that bushes sprayed in a timely manner produce marketable fruit:

• tastier;
• sweeter
• heavier;
• 20-25% more than control;
• with excellent keeping quality and transportability.

If the deadlines are missed and the examination shows shedding of the ovary, there is nothing to worry about. In this case, the harvest of the first cluster will be lost. You should quickly prepare the solution and spray the plants.

Attention! Treatments are especially appropriate where the weather breaks temperature records.

What not to do

It is not recommended to carry out boron or any other mineral fertilizing if:

• tomato bushes are weakened;
• affected by late blight or other diseases;
• depleted by prolonged precipitation or very high temperatures without irrigation;
• the bushes are planted on poor soils without fertilizing or watering.

By stimulating the formation of ovaries and fruit growth, the vegetable grower must take care of the nutritional content of the soil. If there are no nutrients and the plant is weakened, it will not be able to produce a high yield and “nourish” everything that has started. Before fertilizing with microelements, it is necessary to improve watering and carry out organic fertilizing.

How to determine boron deficiency in tomatoes

Boron deficiency in the soil affects the condition of tomato bushes and, as a consequence, the quantity and quality of fruits. Plants grown on clay soils have the least need. In dry and hot climates, boron lasts longer in tomato parts. The lack of a substance is easy to notice by the condition of the plants:

1. Change in leaf color (chlorosis).
2. Yellowing of growth points.
3. Activation of growth and rapid death of side shoots.
4. The fragility of the stems increases.
5. The number of flower clusters is reduced.
6. Flowers are falling.
7. The formation and growth of fruits slows down.
8. Ugliness of tomatoes appears.

If you do not fertilize with boric acid in a timely manner, the harvest will be meager.

How often and when should you feed with boric acid?

As a rule, 3-4 treatments are carried out per season. The first is the main one, abundant and subsequent corrective ones.

Feeding can be done at intervals of 12-15 days. More clear and correct recommendations can be given only by analyzing the climatic and weather conditions of growth.

After disembarkation

Immediately after planting, tomatoes do not need to be fertilized with boron fertilizers. Several weeks after stress should pass without feeding. This will give you the opportunity to get used to new conditions, adapt and grow.

During flowering

After the appearance of the first brush, flowering begins, and the second brush begins to grow. It is recommended to do the treatment on the bud, but not on the flower.

In fact, there will be both buds and flowers on one plant. With timely processing, the flowers will already be processed, being buds, and the next processing is carried out on the next tomato brushes with buds.

Overdose

An overdose of boric acid during fertilizing is very dangerous and occurs when it is applied too frequently and indiscriminately .

It can also occur if the recommendations for preparing the working solution are neglected and the amount of substance in it is increased.

If you prepare a solution that is too thick and increase the content of boric acid in it, then when it is sprayed on the leaves, flowers, fruits and stems of the plant tissue, the plant tissue may get burned. It is characterized by the appearance of white, dry spots on the damaged parts.

In order to quickly restore the lost green mass, tomatoes are fed with organic or mineral nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

If you fertilize with boric acid too often, neglecting the recommended breaks between them, then an excess of boron may occur in the crop’s nutrition.

Excess microelement can be determined by deformation and change in color of the lower, and then upper, leaf plates. They become covered with dry spots and curl towards the middle of the leaf. The tops of the shoots are bent.

Boric acid against pests and diseases

When preparing an acid solution of 0.1% concentration, it should be understood that it does not have bactericidal, bacteriostatic or antifungal properties. It is too weak to kill the pathogen or pest. For this purpose, products with a concentration of at least 2% are needed.

Against garden ants

Spraying an anthill with solutions will not lead to the desired result. Need sweet bait. To do this we do this:

• put 1 tbsp in a bowl. spoon of flour. Add 10 g of boric acid and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sugar;
• add enough water to form balls;
• Use a spoon to form floury sweet balls;
• We place them in places where there are a lot of insects.

Attention! The product does not kill the insect. It regulates numbers through “sterilization.”

Such sweet balls can be placed in those places where the work of the mole cricket is visible. By taking them into the burrows with her, she will deprive herself of the opportunity to have offspring.

Against late blight

To combat the fungus that causes late blight, boric acid solutions are powerless. It may seem that the treated bushes were less affected than the untreated ones, but this is only an appearance.

There are excellent, effective drugs for the prevention and control of late blight. Using Quadris, Bordeaux mixture, and Revus, you can prevent fungus from growing in tomato beds.

How to prepare the solution

It is important to know the specifics of preparing the solution so that spraying does not lead to negative consequences.

Correct proportions and instructions

First, prepare the base. Dilute 1 tsp in a glass of hot water. powder without top. After making sure that the powder has completely dissolved, the base is diluted in 10 liters of warm water. The solution is ready for spraying when even small particles are not present in it. It should not be prepared for future use, as sediment may form over time.

Depending on the goals of the procedure, the proportions may be different. To prevent the ovaries from shedding, 1 g of boric acid is dissolved in 1 liter of hot water. After the solution has cooled, carefully spray it with a spray bottle.

To combat late blight, add 1 tsp to a bucket of warm water. powder _ For better results, a week before such treatment, it is recommended to spray the bushes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

After boron, you can treat the tomatoes with an iodine solution: a few drops per bucket of water are enough.

Features of processing tomatoes with boric acid

Is there a difference in how to treat tomatoes with boric acid in open ground and in a greenhouse? Of course have. A greenhouse is a protected soil and it is possible to create a controlled microclimate in it.

Greenhouse processing methods

To cultivate tomato plantings in a greenhouse, there is no need to choose calm weather or lack of rain. Nothing interferes with processing. As soon as the first ovary appears, processing can begin.

Methods of processing in open ground

To treat bushes in open ground, you should pay attention to the weather. She must be:

• windless;
• not rainy;
• not creating a dew point on the bushes.

For the first treatment, you can use a large sprayer. Especially if there are a lot of tomatoes and they are tall.

For the second and subsequent treatments, use a small sprayer and spray only on the buds and growing tip.

Boric “powdered” acid and its qualities for tomatoes

Boric acid or Lewis acid is an odorless, white powdery substance. In garden and vegetable plantings, the powder is used as an insecticidal solution, and also as a fertilizer when plants do not have enough boron.

Important! If boric acid is used without control, it is dangerous. For a child, 4 grams is enough, and for an adult, 15 grams are enough to receive a lethal dose.

Boron takes an active part in the growth of educational plant tissue. It acts as a stimulator for cell division in parts of tomatoes that are actively developing. These parts include growing points, lateral roots, young leaves, and reproductive organs.

The trace element helps to better absorb and use calcium in the metabolism process. Boron stabilizes nitrogen production and increases the amount of chlorophyll in leaves.

Microelement deficiency leads to plant inhibition. Tomato bushes with a lack of substance are much more often affected by fungal diseases and harmful insects.

After tomato seedlings are planted in open ground, they begin to lack boron. After all, 7-10 days after the seedlings adapt, their accelerated growth begins. Lateral roots grow, flower clusters are formed, new leaves appear on the side stems and the ovary is formed.

In order for the plant to take root and develop faster, it needs to be fertilized with boron. This microelement is needed not only at the beginning of development. Boron is required so that the ovary does not fall off, and a new one continues to form on the lateral and central branches.

As you know, all fruit crops, including tomatoes, are susceptible to late blight, spotting and powdery mildew. Spraying with a solution of boric acid will increase the resistance of seedlings to these fungal infections.

Proper treatment with boron will result in abundant and friendly flowering! And it will increase the sugar content of the fruit due to the supply of carbohydrates to the tomato tissue. Treated tomatoes ripen faster and are less susceptible to gray rot in rainy summers.

The microelement is required by tomatoes in small quantities. But, if boron does not enter the plant tissue, the consequences will be even outwardly noticeable. A lack of microelement will lead to the following changes:

• chlorosis will develop, which will first affect the old leaves and then the new ones;
• without boron, new shoots develop, but after 1-2 nodes they dry out and fall off;
• growth points begin to turn brown in the middle of the growing season, then turn black, and then die;
• the stems inside become empty, and the petioles are subject to the same fate;
• purple color on the leaves of seedlings is a lack of boron;
• the amount of ovary decreases, and if there is a severe lack of boron, it may completely crumble;
• The yield of the bush is reduced, the tomatoes are small, partially deformed.

Precautions during operation

The body of warm-blooded animals (humans, animals) does not need boron. Once an element gets into the tissue, it is removed from it very slowly. Therefore, when preparing and using solutions, you should strictly adhere to the rules of personal hygiene and occupational safety equipment. Using protective equipment (gloves, suits, gowns) you can protect serous and mucous membranes from contact with solutions.

While working, you must not eat, smoke or drink water.

After work, you should wash your entire body with soap, especially exposed areas.

Boric acid as an ovary stimulant for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers: recipe for use

Boric acid is widely in demand in the rural industry, and is excellent for both fertilizing and stimulating crop growth. This is an economical and very effective remedy. Many plants need additional nutrition, especially with the addition of boric acid, because... has great benefits for their development. This substance:

• Balances the process of synthesis of nitrogenous elements
• It increases the amount of chlorophyll in the plant body, therefore, when there is a deficiency of boron in the soil, dark brown spots form on the leaves and fruits, and because chlorophyll allows the plant to “breathe”; without oxygen, the leaves and stems begin to rot
• With a normal amount of boron in the soil, the yield increases, and the plants do not need additional feeding, because if there is a lack of nutrients in the soil, the fruits may not ripen and are more susceptible to diseases and external influences
• Thanks to boron fertilizing, the fruits are preserved for a very long time after harvesting.

Boric acid for good ovary
It is especially important to fertilize plants with high soil acidity. Also, it is worth remembering that boric acid has an important influence on the development of the plant itself, so it is necessary to spray and water it with a solution, this will allow:

• Improve the nutrition of the ovaries, so the first spraying should be carried out when the first flowers begin to appear
• Increase the circulation of juices in the plant, this affects growth and timely flowering
• Strengthen the stems and leaves, which will later allow the plant to resist pests and various diseases.

In one season, no more than 4 fertilizing and sprayings are carried out, because an excess of this substance can affect the rapid flowering, and the fruits can quickly ripen and disappear. You can prepare the product according to the recipe we introduced you to above.

Common mistakes

When using boric acid solutions for tomatoes, gardeners make a number of mistakes:

1. Using it for tomato ovaries requires a clear proportion and concentration not higher than 0.1%.
2. When preparing the solution, you need very hot water (80-90 ᵒC). In colder water, the crystals will not completely dissolve and the concentration will be lower.
3. When preparing a solution, you cannot determine the weight of the dry substance by eye; you should use a scale.
4. The solution is non-toxic and rapid poisoning will not occur. This provokes people not to use protective equipment. It’s better not to do this - the substance is poorly excreted from the body.

Signs of overdose

When treating flower brushes with boric acid, it is important to monitor the concentration of the working solution.

Increasing the optimal dosage, frequency of treatments and using the drug in active sun can negatively affect the yield of tomato bushes and have the opposite effect.

In this case, there will be no fruit at all, since there will be a chemical or sunburn of the delicate tissues of the leaves and flowers of the crop.

Flowers and ovaries exposed to one or another burn look dried out and fall off. In order not to harm your green pets, you must strictly follow the recommendations for preparing the solution and the rules for applying it.

The use of boric acid will help increase productivity and speed up the fruiting period of tomatoes. This product, used on tomatoes during the flowering period, will help to avoid mass falling of flowers and first ovaries, maintain or even increase the varietal yield of tomato bushes, and also promotes the sugar content and sweetness of the fruit.

Other feeding products

Along with boric acid solution, you can use other products containing boron:

• boron-magnesium fertilizer. The percentage of boron is 2.3, magnesium oxide is 15%. Produced from waste during the synthesis of boric acid. Not hygroscopic. Used for root and non-root feeding;
• borosuperphosphate. Contains boron -0.2% and phosphorus - 18-19%. Does not cake and does not attract moisture. Used before sowing;
• double boron superphosphate. Boron level - 0.4%, phosphorus - 40-42%. Analogue of simple boron superphosphate;
• borax. Boron content - 11%. Doesn't cake. Dissolves well in warm water. Used for foliar feeding.

The industry produces sufficient quantities of multicomponent fertilizers, which include boron: Mikrovit, Novalon, Braktiv, Microkat boron and many others. The market is full. It is enough to contact a gardening store and experts will tell you which preparation is most suitable for boron fertilizing.

No matter how knowledgeable the gardener is about the instructions for use and preparation of the solution, there are instructions for the specific preparation. You can't rely on your experience. Different manufacturers add only their own additives and innovations to fertilizers. To avoid overdose, you must follow the instructions.

Lack and excess of boron in tomatoes

Good to know: A new and effective way to grow tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse

When tomatoes are planted in nutritious soil, the lack of boron is not so noticeable. It is worth noting that the saturation of soil with boron depends on the type of soil. When it is clayey or loamy, there is practically no microelement deficiency observed. In other types of soils, the deficiency is clearly expressed. These are the soils:

• sandy;
• sandy loam;
• swampy ground;
• acidic soils.

Little trace element is found in carbonate alkaline and calcareous soils. When deciding whether to spray tomato beds with a solution of boric acid, take into account the type of soil. This will help eliminate the lack or excess of boron.

If a deficiency is harmful to the plant, then an excess amount of this microelement in the tissues of tomatoes is dangerous. Boric acid can cause significant harm to seedlings, even to the point of complete wilting. Harmful effects are associated exclusively with overdoses. It has long been noticed that tomatoes suffering from an excess of boron change their appearance:

1. The leaves acquire a glossy shine, the same as when there is an excess of nitrogen.
2. Brownish dry spots bordered by concentric circles begin to appear on the foliage. If you continue to water the plant and exclude other feedings, the entire leaf blade will be affected very quickly. The result of the defeat is the same - complete death.
3. The leaves are no longer flat and become curved in the middle.

In most cases, an excess of a microelement does not appear in one week. First, the old lower leaves or the top of the bush with young leaves are affected. But if the problem is not noticed and rehabilitation is not started, then the rest of the bush, including the stem, will wither. Necrosis passes from the lower tier to the middle one, and so the entire bush withers and crumbles. Productivity decreases as new ovaries are not formed.

In addition to the fact that the plant itself will have problems from an oversaturation of boron, troubles await both the owner of tomato plantings and those who eat vegetables oversaturated with boron.

The substance is poorly excreted from the body by the genitourinary system and accumulates in the human body, which is also not good. It is imperative to observe proportions when preparing a preparation from boric acid. An excess of boron will inhibit the growth of tomatoes and the formation of tomatoes. Having “overfed” the bushes, you need to urgently take measures to remove excess boron from your summer cottage.

A deficiency or excess of a microelement will not lead to the complete death of all tomato plantings. But, the rate of development of the bush will decrease, the harvest will be of low quality and there may be very little of it.

Tips and recommendations from experienced summer residents

Experienced gardeners have long noticed the effect of fertilizing tomatoes with boric acid.

The abnormal temperatures and records that nature gives us force gardeners to pay close attention to their crops. To avoid crop loss and ovary shedding, gardeners use boric acid even more intensively than they should.

Many summer residents sell surplus tomatoes on the market, and in this regard, this acid is also a helper. Processed tomatoes have:

• best presentation;
• high keeping quality;
• excellent transportability.

Preparing the solution and treating the bushes is not at all difficult. Experienced summer residents recommend spraying regularly and see the results for yourself.

Reviews

Gardeners who sprayed tomatoes with boric acid agree that the most important thing in this procedure is compliance with the proportions and processing technology.

Sergey, Rostov: “On the advice of friends, I started spraying tomatoes with boric acid during budding and at first I made a mistake: I made too much of the solution, and the treatment had the opposite effect: there were almost no ovaries. In the second season, on the contrary, I prepared too weak a solution; it simply did not give any effect, although there was a harvest. But in the end, he achieved his goal - he carried out the processing strictly according to the rules, three times. And the result exceeded all expectations - I have never had such a tomato harvest before.”

Irina, Belgorod: “I grow tomatoes on a loggia; we don’t have a dacha. I learned to reap the benefits. Only very small and few. I read about boric acid. I took a risk and don’t regret it. The bushes began to bloom much more abundantly, there were more ovaries, and the bush itself was much more viable. The harvest is literally pleasing to the eye.”

Timofey, Moscow: “I have been using boric acid for a long time and not only for tomatoes. Potatoes respond well to such spraying. I carry out the treatment only twice - during flowering and the appearance of ovaries. I saw how my neighbor’s tomatoes began to dry out after too intensive processing. Everything needs moderation. And the acid powder varies in quality; some are overdried and are less effective. However, before each season I try to buy new bags. It’s not expensive at all, and boric acid itself can be purchased without any problems.”

Secrets of proper fertilizer

Different garden crops react in their own way to boron deficiency. It is also important to observe the dosage when preparing the solution, since too high a concentration of boron can destroy the plant. It must be remembered that when signs of boron deficiency appear, fertilizing should be done by watering the garden, and as a preventive measure, the solution can only be sprayed using a spray bottle.

Fertilizing tomatoes

Signs of boron deficiency:

• growth points are suppressed;
• young stems are brittle;
• the appearance of brown spots on tomatoes.

For tomatoes, a solution for foliar feeding is prepared in the following proportions: 10 grams of boron are added to 10 liters of water. Tomatoes are fertilized during the ovary period and at the moment of formation of green fruits. Boron fertilizing will stimulate growth and also improve the taste of tomatoes.

To prepare the fertilizer you will need:

• boron – 0.5 g;
• superphosphate – 10 g;
• potassium chloride – 8 g;
• water – 10 l.

This solution is enough for about 200 bushes. Experienced gardeners advise fertilizing tomatoes from mid-June.

If tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, preventive treatment should be carried out once a month. To do this, you need to dilute 2 grams of boron in a bucket of water. If signs of boron deficiency and plant disease are detected, you need to use a more concentrated solution - 10 grams of boron per bucket of water.

Fertilizing cucumbers

Boron deficiency is characterized by the following symptoms:

• a yellow edge appears on the leaves;
• on already ripened fruits, longitudinal stripes of yellow color are formed;
• growth stops;
• the ovary dies.

For high-quality root feeding of cucumbers, it is recommended to use complex fertilizers (for example, Green Belt, Bor Mag, Kelkat bora). You need to spray the plants with a solution of 2 grams of manganese sulfate and 5 grams of boric acid. For cucumbers, it is necessary to irrigate in open ground every 2 weeks. This will prevent the death of the ovaries and increase productivity.

To increase the fruiting period, it is recommended to spray cucumbers with the following solution:

• boron;
• potassium chloride;
• superphosphate;
• magnesium sulfate.

Combine all components in equal proportions.

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Cabbage fertilizer

Boron deficiency in cabbage can be detected when a hollow head appears. In cauliflower, element deficiency is characterized by the following symptoms:

• inflorescences are transparent, glassy;
• the heads are deformed;
• bitter taste.

Feed the cabbage with a mixture of boric acid (1 g) and manganese sulfate (10 g), dissolved in 10 liters of water. Plant processing is carried out in three stages:

1. During the period of bud formation.
2. During the flowering period (when at least 5 leaves appear).
3. During the fruiting period.

Boron fertilizing will make the head of cabbage denser and will also increase productivity.

For cauliflower, you need to prepare a solution - 2.5 grams of boric acid and molybdenum per bucket of water. It is allowed to feed cabbage when at least 4 leaves have appeared. This fertilizer will speed up the process of maturation of the heads.

Beet fertilizer

In sugar beets, boron deficiency manifests itself as the appearance of gray rot inside the fruit and the formation of apical ulcers. Table beets develop an internal wormhole with a characteristic smell of rotting.

You can feed beets with boric acid only 2 weeks after applying the first fertilizer. Moreover, at least 5 sheets should be formed. The fertilizer is prepared by diluting boric acid (1 g) in a bucket of water. To strengthen the leaf plate, beets need to be sprayed with the following solution:

• boric acid (5 g);
• potassium chloride (15 g);
• urea (1 tbsp).

All elements are diluted in 10 liters of water.

Pepper Fertilizer

In pepper, boron deficiency is characterized by the following pathologies:

• leaves are too small and deformed;
• the growth of roots and shoots stops;
• flowers and ovaries fall off.

Peppers need to be fertilized 3 times during the growing season. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute 0.1 g of boric acid in a liter of water. Peppers can only be fertilized on damp soil.

When to use boric acid fertilizing (treatment time)

It is recommended to start fertilizing with boron at the sowing stage, or rather, when preparing planting material. Tomato and cucumber seeds must be kept in a nutrient solution for twenty-four hours.

In the future, three additional feedings will be required:

1. Before flowering begins, when buds form.
2. During the formation of the ovary and flower racemes.
3. At the stage of fruit ripening and coloring.

Attention! For vegetable plants with a short ripening period, two feedings may be sufficient, and if infection or parasites appear, additional feeding in the form of spraying is allowed. If necessary, preventive treatment is carried out at different stages of crop growth.

Important! Excessive application of boron will give a negative result. There should be an interval of at least ten to fifteen days between the application of fertilizers.