How to feed tomatoes with boric acid, how to dilute tomatoes, proportions

Why do tomatoes need boric acid?

The use of boric acid when growing tomatoes is an old-fashioned, but no less effective feeding method.

Boron is directly involved in the formation of plant cells and nucleic acids. This microelement is responsible for the development of ovaries and roots, active growth of leaves.

However, being so important, this element does not occur in nature in its pure form, it can only be found in the form of salts. Boron is responsible for such qualities of tomatoes as:

• Abundant flowering;
• Preservation of ovaries;
• Formation of healthy fruits with excessive humidity;
• Sugar taste;
• High keeping quality;
• Immunity to fungal diseases.

The most accessible source of boron is boric acid. A simple pharmaceutical remedy that is most often used by gardeners in their garden plots.

What kind of remedy is this

Boric acid is a colorless and odorless powder.

It dissolves well without sediment in hot water, the temperature of which is not lower than 700C.

The main active ingredient of the product is boron. The standard package contains 10 g of boric acid.

This product is widely used in growing many vegetable crops, but it is of particular value for tomatoes at the flowering stage.

In what cases can you feed tomatoes with boric acid?

If you notice one of the signs of a microelement deficiency on tomatoes, you should make up for this deficiency as soon as possible.

The most accessible source of boron is the pharmaceutical product - boric acid. Gardeners recommend using it at different stages of the growing season, from seed germination to increasing productivity.

When growing seedlings, to increase germination, tomato seeds are soaked in a solution of boric acid for a day. After picking the seedlings, foliar feeding of the seedlings is carried out for the rapid development of the root system. During the period of bud formation, during flowering and at the fruiting stage, tomatoes are also irrigated with boron-containing liquids.

Benefits of the solution for tomatoes

Packaging of boric acid

Boron is practically never found in the natural environment. Plants have to get it from salts contained in the soil. Meanwhile, boron helps in better absorption of beneficial components.

In addition, boron for tomatoes brings invaluable benefits:

• ensures flowering productivity;
• helps reduce the number of barren flowers;
• increases the resistance of fruits to unfavorable growing conditions, in particular high humidity in a greenhouse or the environment;
• reduces sugar content in fruits;
• helps reduce the risk of late blight infection;
• ensures better preservation of tomatoes after harvest.

Boron is often found in a free, undiluted state in fertilizers. But boric acid is the simplest and most accessible remedy that helps to quickly saturate tomato bushes with the necessary element.

Also, experienced gardeners recommend using boric acid for spraying tomatoes quite often, since boron tends to be poorly absorbed in the soil. The element is easily washed out when watering or during rains if the plants are planted in open ground.

Boron in sufficient quantities in tomato bushes helps to synthesize well all the necessary macro- and microelements taken from the soil. Boron also helps to establish various internal processes of tomato bushes.

Among other things, boron increases the efficiency of pollination of cultivated plants, as well as fertilization of ovaries during the development of peduncles. Thanks to the element, the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins improves.

However, when mixing a solution of boric acid and spraying cultivated plants, a certain treatment schedule should be followed and not exceed the recommended dosages. An excess of boron in plants can lead to serious problems, including the complete destruction of the plant.

Tomato bushes tolerate high concentrations of boric acid very poorly and react negatively to an overdose of the drug. The leaves of the plant can suffer serious burns. Most likely, this will lead to the death of the bush.

If the solution is purchased in a specialized store, you need to dilute it exactly in the proportion indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

How to feed tomatoes with boric acid, recipes

Feeding with boron is inexpensive and simple, but very effective. Its use will increase the number of ovaries and accelerate the ripening of fruits.

To prepare foliar feeding solutions, either simply a product diluted with water or an acid in more complex solutions is used.

Feeding with milk and iodine

To prepare a remedy effective against late blight, take one liter of any milk, half a teaspoon of acid and ten drops of iodine.

Everything is topped up with water to the volume of a ten-liter bucket. The resulting solution is sprayed on tomatoes in cloudy, windless weather or in the evening.

This feeding will be especially useful in rainy summers, when the difference between air temperatures day and night is noticeable.

Feeding with whey and iodine

Feeding based on whey will be no less effective. It is used both in greenhouses and in open beds.

The serum itself is a folk remedy against fungal diseases, and in combination with boric acid and iodine it will give a triple effect: an increase in the number of ovaries, accelerated fruit ripening and disease resistance.

The solution is prepared according to the same principle as with milk, replacing it with whey.

Feeding with potassium permanganate, milk and iodine

Half a teaspoon of acid, ten drops of iodine and a glass of milk are added to a bucket of pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

IMPORTANT. Potassium permanganate is diluted in a small container until the last crystal dissolves. Then the strong solution is brought to the desired concentration.

The product prepared according to this recipe will extend the period of flowering and fruit formation. Potassium permanganate, as a source of potassium, will further strengthen the immunity of tomatoes.

Top dressing with ash and iodine

Ash is rich in potassium in a form accessible to tomatoes. Ash is also rich in phosphorus, magnesium, manganese and other trace elements.

A cocktail prepared on the basis of wood ash, boric acid and iodine can also be applied at the root, but not more than 0.5 liters per bush. Can also be used as a solution for foliar spraying.

Two liter jars are filled with ten liters of boiling water and left for a day. The resulting liquid is filtered, half a teaspoon of acid and ten drops of iodine are added.

Rules for preparing the solution

Preparation of boric acid

Dilute boric acid for spraying tomatoes is quite simple. The main thing is to use boiled water for this, not lower than 70ºС. In such a situation, the composition will completely dissolve without any residue. For sufficient concentration, no more than 2 g of substance per liter of water is required.

To get rid of pests or pathogenic microbes, only 1 g per liter of water will be enough.

There are also several types of composition that are used in one or another period of formation of tomato bushes:

• for feeding tomatoes;
• to fight diseases;
• for pest control.

All of them are similar in structure, but have some significant features that are considered key for a specific period of development of a cultivated plant.

For feeding tomatoes

Spraying tomato leaves

In this case, a solution of liquid boric acid is prepared and the plant is sprayed leaf by leaf. It is important to prevent the solution from dripping from the green mass onto the soil and stem. To prepare the solution, take 1 g of boric acid per 1 liter of water or 10 g of the substance per bucket of water. Mix thoroughly and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. It is better if the holes in it are as small as possible.

Tomato spraying is carried out carefully, on the leaves and unopened buds. This will help improve the condition of tomato bushes and increase the fruiting period. Similar processing can be carried out during the ripening period of tomatoes. The solution helps improve the taste of tomatoes. The main thing is not to exceed the indicated dosages, otherwise the leaves may receive serious burns.

To fight diseases

Late blight on tomatoes

Late blight is one of the most common diseases of tomato bushes. To stop its development and prevent damage to cultivated plants, spraying with a solution of boric acid is used. The entire green part of the plant must be treated with the composition in order to overcome this dangerous disease.

To dilute boric acid, take 10 g of the substance and mix it in a 10-liter bucket of clean irrigation water. For greater effect, you can add iodine tincture in the amount of 30 g. This will help you defeat the disease much faster.

During processing, the main thing is to carefully spray the entire above-ground part of the tomato bush. It is better not to allow the composition to flow onto the soil surface. The first results of the treatment will be noticeable within a couple of days after the procedure.

Experienced gardeners use another composition against diseases based on boric acid. The same amount of the substance is diluted in a bucket of water and 1 liter of milk or whey mixed with 20 g of iodine is added. Mix everything thoroughly and spray the tomato bushes with a spray bottle. To stop the disease from spreading, it is necessary to spray every leaf and stem, leaving no “gaps”. Careful processing guarantees quick relief from the disease and restoration of the normal state of the tomato bushes.

For pest control

Aphids on tomato leaves

Pests are also a common problem in greenhouses where tomatoes are grown. Aphids, whose larvae are very quickly transferred by ants to healthy bushes, are a real disaster for cultivated vegetable plantings. To cope with aphids, you can also spray the green part of the plant with a spray bottle.

To prepare, take 2 g of boric acid powder and dilute it in 1 liter of boiled hot water. The composition must be thoroughly kneaded. After this, the solution is cooled and poured into a spray bottle with a fine mesh. The treatment must be very thorough so that there are no untreated areas left on the leaves and stems.

To combat ants and other dangerous insects, various boric acid-based compounds are prepared and poured under the bushes. You can also simply scatter the powder near anthills and in places where insects are active. However, this method is still much less effective than using chemicals to poison harmful insects. Boric acid is used more often to prevent the appearance of aphids and ants, and is also used as an adjuvant as part of a complex treatment.

It is noteworthy that boric acid is a fairly inexpensive product, available in any pharmacy. Any gardener can purchase such a substance and make a solution of liquid boric acid for spraying tomatoes on their own. In addition, the substance is absolutely safe for humans and domestic animals, and also promotes enhanced growth of cultivated plants.

How long does the diluted solution last?

When choosing one or another recipe for preparing the product for feeding tomatoes, the shelf life of the resulting liquids will differ.

An ordinary aqueous solution of the drug can be stored with virtually no restrictions. The only condition is that the container must be closed, since as the water weathers, the concentration of the microelement in the liquid will increase. This is fraught with chemical burns to the tomatoes.

Solutions based on dairy products are best used within 24 hours and not stored for a long time.

Signs of boron deficiency

For normal development of tomatoes, a microscopic dose of boron is necessary, however, its deficiency immediately adversely affects the development of plants:

• chlorosis appears;
• the leaves curl into a tube;
• growing points die (turn yellow);
• branching of the bush progresses;
• leaves turn purple and old ones turn pale;
• stems become brittle;
• the formation of buds decreases;
• the flowering phase is delayed;
• flowers and ovaries begin to fall off;
• tomatoes become covered with dry spots;
• the fruits develop an ugly shape.

A lack of orthoboron is most often experienced by plants in sandy, infertile sandy loam, alkaline (carbonate) and wetland areas. When liming the soil, its amount decreases. Clay and loamy areas contain more orthoboron, so plants there feel less of its deficiency.

What happens if you overfeed tomatoes with boric acid?

The element boron does not move well throughout the plant. Once in any organ - leaf, flower or fruit - it remains there and has a local effect. In addition, boron is not removed over time.

Therefore, frequent use of products containing it is excluded. An overdose of a component is as dangerous for tomatoes as its deficiency.

When using a boron solution on tomatoes, you need to monitor the tomatoes’ reaction to fertilizing. If small brown spots are observed on the leaves, which subsequently grow, the top of the tomato curls - these are clear signs of excessive boron content.

The fact is that this microelement is contained in some quantity in the soil and enters the tomatoes through the roots. You can get rid of an overdose by intensively watering the bushes to try to wash the boron out of the soil.

How often should you feed

Foliar feeding is carried out no more than 3 times during the entire growing season of tomatoes. Regardless of whether the soil was fertilized with boron before planting tomatoes in the ground, the plants should be sprayed for the first time during the budding period. This will activate the development of strong peduncles, increase the number of flowers on the brush and accelerate the formation of ovaries.

During the period of mass flowering, a second foliar feeding of tomatoes with boric acid is required. In a greenhouse it is especially important due to the increased humidity and temperature. According to biologists, self-pollination stops if the air temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius. The reason lies in the drying out of the pistils of tomato flowers. Foliar feeding helps plants cope with external unfavorable conditions.

The last feeding of the season is carried out during the ripening period of tomatoes. At this time, tomatoes are especially sensitive to the availability of nutrients. Boron promotes the absorption of nitrogen compounds and affects the movement of carbohydrates in fruit cells. Tomatoes that are fed with nutrient liquid ripen faster and do not suffer from late blight and other diseases of fruits and vegetative parts. Fruits fed in a timely manner are distinguished by increased taste. In addition, the shelf life of tomatoes increases, which is especially important when transporting vegetables.

Gardening Tips and Tricks

You can use boron in the garden and personal plot not only for feeding tomatoes.

This product is an excellent assistant in the fight against insect pests, which can cause considerable damage to tomato bushes.

Garden ants plant aphids on tomato bushes. A boron-containing solution will help get rid of both. The product is poured over the entrance to the anthill, and a little liquid soap is added to the anti-aphid agent for better adhesion.

Mole cricket - this pest destroys the roots of tomatoes. You can drive it away with the help of steamed grain, mixed with crystals of a dry preparation, and spread out in places where the pest moves.

IMPORTANT. Boric acid is toxic to pets; care must be taken to ensure that the crystals do not get into their food.

Timing for fertilizing

To prevent an excess of boron in the soil, fertilizing based on boric acid should be applied according to a clear schedule. Since in most cases the composition is used for spraying, it is advisable to carry out treatment in the morning or late evening. On cloudy days, spraying can be carried out at any time (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Fertilizer is applied at different times of the growing season: during transplantation, during flowering and fruiting

It is best to feed tomatoes with boric acid according to the following schedule:

1. After planting in open ground: this procedure will speed up the rooting process. This treatment is especially important if the seedlings are planted in poor, sandy soil.
2. During the flowering period: treatment during this period will help stimulate the formation of ovaries. If the tomatoes were treated when planting, it is advisable to spray only the flower brushes the second time to prevent an excess of boron. To ensure a large number of ovaries, it is advisable to spray twice, with an interval of two weeks.
3. During fruiting: spraying is carried out immediately after the formation of small fruits on the bushes. This will help speed up the ripening process and protect the fruits from diseases. Boron is completely harmless to humans, so treatment can be carried out outside the schedule if the fruits ripen too slowly.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Is there a difference between a product in crystals and an alcohol solution?

To obtain a solution for foliar feeding, only the drug in dry form is used. In addition, boric acid powders designed specifically for agricultural technology are currently on sale. Such products have an optimal concentration of microelements for tomatoes.

How quickly can you see the effect after treatment with boric acid?

A noticeable effect from foliar application will appear within a week.

Precautionary measures

Despite the fact that boric acid is harmless to humans in small quantities, it is still a toxic substance. Therefore, to work with boric acid you need to protect yourself:

• Spraying should be carried out in closed clothing;
• use a mask and gloves;
• boron is very flammable, so it should not be stored near an open fire;
• Do not allow particles of the substance to get into your eyes or lungs;
• after use, remove any remaining solution;
• The longer the powder is stored, the more toxic it is; it is better to use fresh.

Errors in using boron solution

You should pay attention to the most common mistakes that novice gardeners make when using the solution:

• excessive dose of powder;
• non-compliance with consumption standards;
• the area or plants are unevenly treated with the solution. Low mobility of boron can lead to this. If it gets on the leaves, the solution does not flow well to other parts of the plant;
• temperature violation. The temperature of the mixture must match the air temperature. Otherwise, it quickly evaporates and does not have time to have a positive impact.