Stationary greenhouses are simply an indispensable help for summer residents who are engaged in vegetable growing. After all, they not only protect vegetable crops from unfavorable weather conditions, but also allow for an earlier harvest.
Tomatoes, which are a heat-loving crop, are often grown in greenhouses. However, this method in itself does not relieve the summer resident from the need to care for plants. Tomatoes definitely need fertilizing for normal development and growth. The procedure for applying fertilizers for this crop in a greenhouse has its own characteristics.
Rules for feeding tomatoes in a greenhouse
In a greenhouse, as well as in open ground, tomatoes need regular feeding. When applying fertilizers, it is necessary to maintain a balance between organic and mineral substances. If you overdo it with organic matter, the bushes will grow healthy and powerful, but problems will arise with the formation of ovaries.
If there is an excess of mineral fertilizers, the plants will not be able to absorb moisture normally and may die. Tomatoes need nutrients at every stage of growth. The bushes begin to be fed while the seedlings are growing. When transplanting plants into a greenhouse, the holes are filled with ash, humus and compost. This nutrient mixture is used for absolutely all varieties.
In the future, fertilizing should accompany each stage of tomato development, focusing on the appearance of the bushes. Greenhouse tomatoes become vulnerable to diseases precisely because of a lack of essential minerals. It is recommended to use both root and foliar fertilizers.
It is also necessary to take into account that tall, powerful varieties of tomatoes are usually grown in a greenhouse, which are in dire need of all macro- and microelements for normal growth and fruiting, so the soil is depleted very quickly.
Adequate nutrition will help plants resist fungal diseases and extend the fruiting period.
Benefits of using mullein
Despite the huge amount of mineral fertilizers on the market, ordinary organic manure is still in high demand as a fertilizer for tomatoes. It has several fundamentally important advantages.
- Mullein, which is essentially waste from livestock and poultry, has a very valuable composition and does not contain aggressive components or toxic substances.
- Basically, mullein consists of nitrogen, ordinary water and organic substances rich in micro- and macroelements. The organic matter in the fertilizer constantly decomposes, during which carbon dioxide is released, and its presence in the soil has a very positive effect on the health of tomatoes.
- Fertilizer helps to properly warm the soil, which also improves and accelerates the growth of tomatoes.
- Natural organic matter of animal origin is a slow-acting fertilizer; it continues to have a beneficial effect on tomatoes long after application to the soil. You can add the organic mixture to the ground in its pure form before planting tomatoes - the crop will be able to receive nutrients from the soil throughout the season.
Mullein is a very affordable fertilizer in agriculture. It enjoys particular respect among farmers who have large farms - in this case, in principle, there is no need to buy fertilizer, since it is supplied by cattle and other livestock.
Important! The use of mullein for feeding tomatoes allows you to reduce the acidity of the soil and improve its microflora, thereby preventing many diseases of tomatoes.
How often should you feed tomatoes?
The feeding schedule for tomatoes depends on the needs of the plant at each stage of cultivation. Young bushes need fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. During the formation of buds and fruits, potassium must constantly be supplied to tomatoes.
Chaotic application of fertilizing will cause an imbalance of microelements in the soil, so it is imperative to adhere to the fertilizing schedule.
Experts recommend applying fertilizers according to the following schedule:
- at the landing stage;
- In 2 weeks;
- during a period of active growth;
- during the formation of buds;
- in the flowering phase;
- during the period of ovary formation;
- at the fruiting stage.
The diagram is approximate; in practice, it is adjusted based on the condition of the plants, determined by their appearance. Sometimes it is necessary to carry out extraordinary fertilizing.
Due to the limited volume of soil in the greenhouse, tomatoes are additionally fertilized leaf by leaf. With the greenhouse method of growing tomatoes, the total number of fertilizing is increased to 10, alternating root and foliar fertilizing with each other.
At what time are fertilizing applied?
For root feeding, choose morning or evening. It is better if it is a dry, cloudy day, when there are no scorching rays and high humidity. The prepared solution is scooped up with a ladle and poured into the base of the stem of each bush, being careful not to get on the plants.
Foliar feeding of tomatoes is always carried out only in the morning. Usually the bushes are sprayed, trying to do it before 10 o'clock. By evening, the leaves must be completely dry, otherwise the development of fungal diseases can be provoked. The surface of tomato leaves is fleecy, so it takes quite a long time to dry.
The tomatoes must be watered first, otherwise the fertilizers may burn the roots, and in this case the nutrition will be absorbed smoothly and rationed.
It is better to time foliar feeding in conjunction with preventive treatments against diseases and pests, but you must remember that preparations containing metal oxides are not compatible with any other substances. This rule also applies to copper-containing products.
In the greenhouse in the spring, tomatoes are fertilized only at temperatures above 15°C, otherwise the plants simply will not be able to absorb nutrients.
Soil selection
The ground should be warm, heated and easily breathable.
Recommendations to follow when selecting soil:
- Fertility. The soil for tomatoes in a greenhouse must contain sufficient nutrients. In the future, their number is replenished with the help of fertilizers.
- Balance. All soil components must be in optimal proportions. An overestimated or underestimated concentration of a substance will negatively affect the fruit.
- Air and moisture permeability. Tomatoes love loose and porous soil. Also, it should not contain plant residues.
- No pests. The soil for tomatoes in a greenhouse should not contain pathogenic microbes, fungal spores, larvae and other pests. They will destroy the young shoots and the bush will not be able to continue its development and growth.
- Purity. The land in the greenhouse allocated for tomatoes must be cleared of heavy metals. If it contains industrial waste, the likelihood of obtaining a high-quality harvest is low.
The normal pH level for growing tomatoes is 6.5-7. It is important that the soil in the greenhouse prepared for tomatoes retains moisture well.
A prerequisite is the presence of vermicompost. This is an organic compound obtained after worms process organic components. The composition includes manure, straw, leaves, silage residues, hay, bird droppings.
Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):
In every city in the fishing store you can buy a box of red California worms in the spring. Their fertility and productivity in processing plant residues are many times higher than the productivity of ordinary earthworms. By adding California worms to your compost heap in the spring, you will get ready-made vermicompost by autumn.
How to feed tomatoes in a greenhouse
To feed tomatoes, you can use both industrial fertilizers and folk remedies. After all, once upon a time, vegetable gardens were successfully fertilized with independently prepared fertilizers, while obtaining good harvests. Today, gardeners have a wide variety of fertilizers at their disposal that can be used at all stages of the crop’s growing season.
After disembarkation
2 weeks after planting, the tomatoes are fed with a mineral mixture prepared per 5 liters of water:
- 20 g phosphorus;
- 12 g nitrogen;
- 8 g potassium.
Fertilizer consumption - 0.5 l per 1 bush. These can also be ready-made mixtures of microelements. You can use urea, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, humate, infusion of wood ash or manure for feeding at this stage. Experienced gardeners praise the fertilizer, popularly called “green tea.” It is prepared from 2.5 kg of chopped green grass, 2-3 liters of mullein and 100 g of ash.
See also: How to fertilize sweet peppers? Two fertilizers that will ensure the harvest
All components are placed in a 25-liter barrel, which is half filled with water and allowed to brew for 5 days. Before use, the composition is diluted in half with water and used for root feeding.
When preparing green fertilizer, it is better to place the container away from the house and cover it with a lid. During the fermentation process, the composition emits a strong and unpleasant odor.
2 weeks after fertilizing at this stage, the tomatoes are fertilized again to support their growth. From ready-made complexes, the “Master” fertilizer is used at this stage.
During flowering
During the flowering period, tomatoes have an increased need for potassium and phosphorus. Large amounts of these elements are present in wood ash. In addition, you can use complex mineral fertilizers.
You can prepare the following mixture per 5 liters of water:
- 1 glass of bird droppings;
- 1 cup mullein;
- 0.5 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate.
You can add 5 g of boric acid and 10-12 drops of iodine to the resulting solution. Boric acid attracts insects for pollination; the window in the greenhouse should be kept slightly open. Boron also prevents the premature fall of buds.
You can additionally feed the tomatoes with yeast. The fertilizer is prepared from 1 packet of dry yeast, 2 tbsp. l. sugar and 3 liters of warm water. When the mixture begins to ferment, the volume of liquid is adjusted to 10 liters. For each tomato bush, it is enough to apply 0.5 liters of this fertilizer. The drug “Ovary”, a solution of which is sprayed on tomatoes during flowering, has worked well.
Tomatoes do not like fresh manure. Before use, it must be fermented by diluting it in half with water and letting it brew for a week. Before use, the fertilizer is diluted in a ratio of 1:10.
During fruiting
Fertilizing applied during the fruiting period can significantly affect the taste of tomatoes and the consistency of the pulp, improving their performance.
You can prepare a nutrient mixture yourself, taking the components in the correct proportions, based on a volume of water equal to 5 liters:
- 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate;
- 0.5 tbsp. l. sodium humate;
- 10 g potassium sulfate.
Fertilizer is applied in an amount of 1 liter per bush. The dose can be increased in case of soil depletion, weakness of the plants themselves, or a small number of ovaries. To increase the number of fruits and improve their quality, you can use the red or brown Kristalon fertilizer.
The use of "Humate" for feeding tomatoes allows you to increase productivity by 60% compared to usual.
Extraordinary feeding
Sometimes tomatoes signal a deficiency of some element by characteristic changes in appearance.
By looking closely at the plants, you can understand what fertilizers they need:
- With a lack of nitrogen, growth slows or stops. The lower leaves begin to turn yellow, and the upper young leaves become faded in color. To correct the situation, tomatoes are fed with urea, using 25-30 g of the substance per 10 liters of water or a solution of ammonium nitrate prepared in the same proportion. However, it must be remembered that excess nitrogen fertilizers lead to the accumulation of nitrates in fruits.
- Phosphorus deficiency is manifested by the fact that the underside of the leaves acquires a bluish tint. A solution of superphosphate (30 g per 10 liters of water) will help fill the deficiency of the element. Yes, the preparation of the composition uses boiling water, the fertilizer should infuse for 10-12 hours. For young bushes, apply 0.5 liters of solution; for adult specimens, the dose of fertilizer is doubled. Tomatoes that receive enough phosphorus are less susceptible to diseases.
- Potassium deficiency manifests itself by curling of the upper leaves and the appearance of a brown border on them. In this case, the tomatoes are sprayed with potassium sulphide at the rate of 15 g of the substance per 10 liters of water. If there is a deficiency of potassium, the root system of tomatoes will be weak, and the fruits will not be large enough.
- Lack of iron is expressed by the appearance of chlorosis. The main tissue of the leaf blades turns pale, bright green veins stand out against its background. Iron chelate will help eliminate the deficiency of the element. A solution is prepared from 5 g of the drug per 5 liters of water.
- A lack of calcium is indicated by the fact that the shoots grow thin and overly elongated. Plants can be saturated with this element using calcium nitrate. Consumption - 30 g of the drug per 10 liters of water.
If you apply foliar fertilizing, the results will be noticeable faster. The concentration of fertilizers when sprayed on the leaf is halved.
Soil for seedlings
Land on which nothing has been grown for the last 3 years is perfect for seedlings. The only harmless plant is nettle. If there is no such land, you can use soil from the beds. The following crops are allowed to grow there previously:
- zucchini;
- carrot;
- cabbage;
- pumpkin.
It is important that these plants should not suffer from late blight. Otherwise, the soil must be neutralized or not used at all.
Thanks to its rich composition, forest soil can be used. The best solution is to make the soil for seedlings yourself. To do this, you need to prepare peat and turf soil. Another option is peat, sawdust, mullein.
For 5 kg of such a mixture you need 1 kg of river sand, 5 g of ammonium nitrate, 1 g of superphosphate and 1 g of sodium chloride. Before planting seeds or seedlings, the soil is steamed. It is recommended to disinfect it with a manganese solution.
Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):
Not every forest soil is suitable for creating nutritious soil. A good soil composition is obtained from soil taken from broad-leaved (but not coniferous) forests. Land taken from oak groves is not suitable, because fallen leaves contain a lot of tannins.
A good component of greenhouse soil is self-prepared compost or leaf soil obtained from fallen leaves of fruit trees in your garden.
What to feed to make them plump
Why do gardeners hope that as they grow, tomato bushes will become strong and plump? Yes, because such plants give a more generous harvest. Thick stems provide adequate nutrition to the fruits and do not break off under the weight of ripe vegetables. The aspirations of gardeners are not always justified in themselves. Tomatoes often need to be helped by feeding.
See also: How to properly care for tomatoes in open ground after planting
If you also encounter this problem, try one of the recipes below:
- You need to mix 500 g of chicken manure, 500 g of wood ash, 1 glass of sugar, 10 g of dry yeast and pour the ingredients into 10 liters of water. Before use, the mixture must be properly fermented.
- Tomatoes must be fed in a timely manner to avoid thinning of the stems. The bushes will be strong if they are fed with calcium nitrate or urea in the early stages of growth, using 30 grams of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.
- You can give tomatoes a large dose of potassium using banana peel tincture. The peels of 4 bananas are placed in a three-liter jar and filled with warm water. The fertilizer should infuse for 3 days in a dark, cool place. After this period, fertilizing is used for watering at the root to strengthen the stems.
It is necessary to monitor the condition of the plants even at the seedling stage, because it is at this time that the tomatoes begin to stretch. In addition to self-prepared fertilizers, you can use industrial preparations, for example, “Athlete” or “Stop Growth”. Both products promote enhanced root growth while simultaneously stopping the growth of the vegetative part.
The growth stimulator “Etamon” has proven itself well when growing tomato seedlings. After using it, the bushes become lush, beautiful, strong, and develop roots well.
To prevent seedlings from stretching out due to a lack of important microelements, they are fed 2 weeks after picking with one of the complex mineral fertilizers:
- "Agricola";
- "Baby";
- "Strong";
- "Emerald";
- "Fertika Lux";
- "Ideal";
- "Solution";
- "Ferovit".
After another 2 weeks, fertilizing is repeated.
If you did everything correctly at this stage, then by the time you transplant them into the ground, the tomato bushes will be strong and healthy, with thick stems and emerald leaves.
