Feeding tomato and pepper seedlings with ammonia

Peppers and tomatoes are different plants, but their need for mineral components is almost the same. It is useful to feed tomato seedlings, like bell pepper seedlings, with a solution of ammonia.

The mineral compound must be added in several stages. If certain proportions are observed, fertilizing with ammonia will stimulate growth and ensure the growth of green mass. The plants will be strong and able to adapt to any environmental conditions.

Basic properties of ammonia for seedlings

Ammonia is a source of nitrogen for plants. The lack of this element negatively affects the condition of the seedlings. If in open ground the balance can be leveled by adding compost or humus to the soil, then in room conditions already at the stage of growing seedlings it is necessary to regulate plant nutrition.

Ammonia, unlike organics, acts instantly and does not accumulate at all in plant tissues. This distinguishes it from mineral fertilizers (urea and nitrate), when feeding them the risk of nitrate concentration increases.

When is fertilizer needed?

Next we will describe the signs of acute nitrogen deficiency. If you notice them on your tomatoes, you should treat them as quickly as possible:

1. The lower leaves began to turn yellow or turned pale and light green.
2. The green mass grows slowly, new leaves grow very small.
3. The stems become thinner and brittle.
4. Tomato bushes have completely stopped growing.
5. Plants do not bloom or there are very few flowers.
6. Tomatoes react negatively to the slightest weather changes and temperature fluctuations, the leaves wither, dry out, turn yellow, and the bushes begin to disappear.

Attention! All of these signs are symptoms of an acute lack of nitrogen in the soil. They are the same for both adult tomato bushes and seedlings.

When is it necessary to use ammonia for seedlings?

The lack of nitrogen can be judged by the appearance of plants:

• general growth arrest;
• weak shoots;
• yellowed leaves, stopping the photosynthesis process;
• formation of small leaf plates;
• deformation of buds.

The second purpose of ammonia for seedlings is the prevention and control of pests: carrot flies, wireworms, weevils, and aphids.

Ammonia paralyzes the breathing of pests.

Is it possible to feed tomatoes with ammonia and what does it do?

Why ammonia is valuable as a fertilizer for tomatoes:

1. Nitrogenous substances in it are in a form that is easily absorbed by plants; their additional processing by bacteria is not required.

1. It very quickly, almost instantly saturates the soil with nitrogen.
2. Perfectly disinfects the soil, helps fight pests and fungal microorganisms.
3. The growth of the above-ground parts of tomatoes is significantly accelerated thanks to the “building material” nitrogen.
4. Ammonia is absolutely harmless, both for tomatoes and for plants that are nearby.
5. It is very cheap and easy to use.

For which plants is ammonia suitable?

All plants need nitrogen fertilizing, but they especially need this element:

• tomatoes;
• cucumbers;
• cabbage;
• zucchini;
• eggplant;
• potato;
• pumpkin;
• roses;
• dahlias;
• petunias.

Less often, ammonia is poured over:

• carrot;
• garlic.

Ammonia only according to indications:

• salad;
• radish;
• onion.

Legumes do not require nitrogen.

Reasons for using ammonia in the garden

Ammonia as a fertilizer

Ammonia for strawberries

Among the reasons for using ammonia when feeding tomatoes it is worth noting:

• fragility of the stem system - fruiting stems bend under the weight of the fruit, subsequently breaking;
• change in color of leaves and trunk - green color is replaced by yellow;
• delay in the development of foliage - the green mass is small in size and deformed, curling into a tube;
• nitrogen starvation;
• degradation - the growth of a tomato bush slows down or stops.

How to dilute ammonia

Each crop has its own dosage of ammonia fertilizer. As a standard, if there are no special recommendations, 3 tablespoons are diluted in 10 liters of water. alcohol (10%), mix thoroughly and use without further dilution for irrigation.

Frequency – 1 week. The shelf life of the diluted composition is 1 day.

To disinfect soil, the proportions of the solution are different:

• 10 liters of water;
• 10 ml of ammonia.

Moistening is carried out at least one day before sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings.

Pest Control

Ammonia is very beneficial for plants at all stages of the growing season. And with its help, you can at the same time protect your garden from invasions of insects that eat the entire harvest. Aphids, weevils, ants, and wireworms are very afraid of ammonia.

Ammonia solution is used to protect the garden from parasitic insects.

To do this you need:

• Dilute 200 g of brown laundry soap shavings in a bucket of water;
• add 100 ml of ammonia.

Plants are treated with the prepared solution during the formation of ovaries and ripening of fruits. Ammonia can be used when insecticide treatments are prohibited. Spraying plants also helps get rid of some diseases.

Ammonia is also a very effective remedy against fungal diseases. Tomatoes are especially susceptible to fungal infections.

General recommendations for using ammonia fertilizer

Ammonia is used to feed fruit and vegetable crops already at the seedling stage. Young seedlings actively consume nitrogen from the soil, so already 2 weeks after germination it is recommended to carry out the first fertilizing with ammonia.

The second feeding is a week after transplanting into the ground. The third - in another 20 days.

Important: fertilizing with ammonia should be primarily at the root. Foliar spraying - according to indications.

If ammonia is used to control pests, then the concentration is increased to 1 tbsp. for 10 liters of water.

How to fertilize correctly?

These simple rules will allow you to fertilize as efficiently as possible and not harm the plants.

• 
  Fertilizing is carried out in calm, windless, warm, but not hot weather . Do not feed with ammonia in extreme heat from +28° and above.

• Feeding in rainy, damp weather is unacceptable ; it is better to postpone it until another day if clouds gather.
• The best time to feed is before 10 am , that is, before the midday heat, and after 18 pm.

If the tomatoes were fed, and it rained within 8-9 hours after that, they did not have time to absorb nitrogenous substances. It is recommended to repeat feeding on the next day when there is no rain.

• An aqueous solution of ammonia is poured under the roots of each tomato bush . If these are young seedlings, then 0.5 liters are needed for each bush, if the plants are mature, pour 1 liter.

You will find more information about watering tomatoes with ammonia in the material at the link.

Application of ammonia by crops

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are most in need of fertilizing with ammonia, since at the initial stages of growth, seedlings actively select this element from the soil, which leads to its depletion.

1. The first time tomato seedlings are sprayed with an ammonia solution 2 weeks after germination. Fertilizers are prepared at the rate of 1 tsp. alcohol per 1 liter of water. Be sure to pay attention to the back of the leaves.
2. If the plants do not experience nitrogen starvation , then the first feeding should be at the roots 2 weeks after picking. The product is diluted in a ratio of 15 ml (15%) of ammonia per 5 liters of water. Water strictly at the root and only on wet soil, trying not to get on the stem and leaves.
3. The second feeding will be when transplanting tomato seedlings into the ground. To do this, the fertilizer is diluted according to the classical scheme: 10 ml of alcohol per 10 liters of water. Use a freshly prepared composition at the rate of 500 ml of product for each bush. Repeatedly after 10 days.

This feeding will help tomato seedlings adapt to new conditions.

cucumbers

Cucumbers are considered one of the most capricious crops. Regular feeding of cucumber seedlings with ammonia helps improve the plant's immunity and is the key to a good harvest.

It is recommended to treat not only seedlings, but also seeds with an ammonia solution in order to set their “growth rate.” Before sowing, a drop of ammonia solution (10%) prepared according to the standard recipe must be applied to each seed.

Ammonia softens the seed coat.

After the first pair of true leaves appear on the seedlings, root feeding is carried out. To do this, dilute 1 tsp. alcohol in 3 liters of water and water the seedlings on the wet soil.

After transplanting into the ground, when each bush sprouts side shoots, fertilize again with ammonia, using a solution in the same proportion. Frequency – once every 10 days.

For cucumbers, fertilizing with ammonia three times a day is enough, after which the bushes begin to be fed with compounds based on potassium and phosphorus.

Peppers

Pepper is considered a very delicate plant, so experienced gardeners advise holding off on feeding its seedlings until the 4th true leaf has formed. Fertilize in two stages:

• root application of solution 1 tsp. per 1 liter of water, avoiding contact of fertilizer with the vegetative mass;
• the second feeding immediately after planting in the ground. Dilute 3 tbsp. alcohol to a bucket of water. Apply exclusively at the root.

To combat aphids:

• 50 ml of ammonia;
• 1 liter of water;
• 100 g grated laundry soap.

Peppers are sprayed with this product, paying special attention to specimens with curled leaves.

Eggplant

Eggplants react very sharply to a lack of nitrogen. If the seedlings do not receive enough of this element, then the entire harvest may be at risk. Eggplant seedlings are treated just before planting them in open ground.

To do this, seedlings are watered at the root with a solution of ammonia in a ratio of 1 tsp. alcohol per liter of water.

Cabbage

All varieties of cabbage are responsive to ammonia fertilizing. The first time with fertilizer at a concentration of 1 tbsp. Alcohol per 10 liters of water is watered on already sufficiently strong seedlings 1.5-2 weeks before transplanting them. To enhance the effect, potassium sulfate is added to the solution.

For watering, use 150-200 ml for each bush. Water over wet soil. This feeding not only increases the immunity of seedlings, but also serves as a preventive measure against insects that attack immature plants.

The last time you can feed cabbage with ammonia is during the period when the cabbage is setting. Proportions – 100 ml of ammonia per 10 liters of water.

Onion and garlic

Onions and garlic rarely experience nitrogen starvation, however, if young plants begin to lag behind in development, they are treated with an ammonia solution either on the leaf or at the root.

For spraying, ammonia is diluted in the proportion of 3 tbsp. (10%) alcohol per 10 liters of water. Use simultaneously immediately after dilution. Spraying is indicated for plant restoration during nitrogen starvation, as well as for the prevention of chlorosis.

Beneficial features

Ammonia is necessary for growing green mass. Ammonia helps the plant to accelerate growth, improve immunity and prevents the development of chlorosis - a disease of plant leaf blades.

When used, soil deoxidation is ensured. Fertilizing with ammonia in reasonable doses will be useful for weakened crops with yellowing leaves. But we must take into account that this is not a panacea; it will not cure the plant. If the seedlings are sick, it is necessary to act on them comprehensively, adjusting their care.

Many gardeners identify an unpleasant and even pungent odor as a significant drawback of the solution. The substance cannot be used in conjunction with ash solution, because the components neutralize each other's effectiveness. The break between their use should be at least 2 weeks.

Attention! Remember that before using ammonia for seedlings, you need to clarify the composition of the soil. If it is saturated with nitrogen, fertilizing is dangerous and can cause noticeable harm to the crop.

Precautionary measures

Ammonia must be handled with extreme care. Ammonia is considered a medical drug, but in high concentrations it can be harmful to health.

1. When diluting alcohol, you must wear medical gloves.
2. Avoid contact of skin with ammonia undiluted with water.
3. When processing plants, wear a respirator mask.
4. Protect eyes when spraying.
5. Avoid contact of fertilizer with the vegetative organs of plants, especially if the solution is prepared for root application.

Important: standardly, to prepare fertilizer, take 10% ammonia; if you use a 15% or 25% solution, then the concentration is changed proportionally.

Security measures

Ammonia belongs to a group of substances that can cause harm to human health. Upon contact, it enters the body through the skin and mucous membranes. Ammonia for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers should be used carefully, observing basic safety measures.

Already when preparing the solution, you must use a respirator to minimize contact. When spraying, you should protect your eyes by wearing special glasses. You need to work with gloves. After the procedure, wash your hands and face well. Remove clothes and put them in the wash.

Ammonia against tomato pests

In the spring, after tomatoes are transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground, they can be attacked by insects. Tomatoes are often attacked by aphids, midges, caterpillars, and mites. To repel pests, prepare the following remedy:

• 2 tbsp. ammonia;
• a bucket of water.

Dissolve the alcohol in water, pour it into a spray bottle and irrigate the branches, leaves and stems of the plants. The first treatment is carried out 2-3 weeks after planting, and irrigation is repeated after 2 weeks.

Important! The water for making the product should be taken at room temperature. Too cold water can cause rot on the leaves.

Composition and features of ammonia

Ammonia or ammonia is a liquid solution of ammonium hydroxide with a strong, specific odor. Its chemical formula is NH4OH. It is a nitrogen compound that neutralizes acid.

For pepper, the product is used due to its high nitrogen content (82%) and the ability to alkalize acidic soils. In addition, the pungent odor of the substance repels many pests that are dangerous to nightshade crops.

Advantages and disadvantages of ammonia fertilizer

For tomatoes, just like for other vegetable plants, nitrogen is a very important element that affects fruit filling and ripening. Nitrogen deficiency during crop cultivation affects tomatoes in the most negative way. Tomatoes growing on nitrogen-poor soils are not able to produce a good harvest, and if the plant experiences severe nitrogen starvation, there may be no harvest at all.

Ammonia is an ammonia solution of ten percent concentration, containing more than 80% nitrogen in an easily digestible form. Thanks to these characteristics, ammonia has a clear advantage over such popular fertilizers as:

• manure;
• humus;
• ammonium nitrate;
• bird droppings;
• urea.

When applying the above fertilizers, it takes quite a long time for them to decompose and break down into nutrients available to plants. And ammonia begins to act immediately after application.

Another advantage is that the nitrogen in ammonia is in a volatile form and does not pollute the soil in any way.

Ammonia is readily available, inexpensive and easy to use, which gives it an additional advantage.

Ammonia fertilizing carried out according to the rules, in any case, fully pays off with a high increase in yield.

The use of ammonia has a number of disadvantages:

• strict adherence to the concentration is required, because otherwise burns of tomato leaves, weakened flowering and fungal infection may occur;
• it is necessary to strictly observe precautions when carrying out work on preparing the solution and spraying in special protective equipment;
• Work on preparing the solution should be carried out outdoors, since the preparation has a strong and unpleasant odor.

Periods for applying fertilizer with N2

Ammonia for ants

There are several stages in the life of a seedling when it needs to be fed with nitrogen:

1. Pre-planting - before planting seeds in the ground, they are treated in a concentrated 1% ammonia solution to reduce the risk of disease infection and increase the percentage of first shoots.
2. Adaptation - 7 days after the bushes are planted in open ground, it is necessary to introduce fertilizers so that the seedlings quickly get used to the new conditions and begin to grow rapidly. To carry out the feeding procedure, it is recommended to wait until 4 adult leaves appear and after they appear, prepare fertilizer by dissolving 20 ml of ammonium hydroxide in a bucket of water, pour 3 tablespoons under the root of each bush.
3. Flowering and fruiting - the fertilizing process is carried out 2 times per period with a break of 10-18 days. During the procedure, a mixture of 54 ml of ammonia and 10 liters of clean water is used; you can use rain or room temperature water, which has been settled in advance. After receiving the solution, tomato bushes are sprayed with it, distributing 10 liters per 10 bushes. After adding N, gardeners advise adding phosphorus and potassium to the soil to restore the balance of microelements.
4. If there is a nitrogen deficiency in the soil, it is necessary to dissolve about 2.5 bottles of ammonia in a medium bucket of water.

Ammonia

Helpful Tips:

1. When introducing N in the form of fertilizer, it is necessary that the soil be neutral, since in acidic soil it is poorly absorbed by plants; a lack of this microelement can lead to undesirable consequences.
2. If the soil is acidic and plants need nitrogen, then lime is added to the soil to neutralize it.
3. In addition to the ammonia solution, you can use dry grass and sawdust as a nitrogen supplier; the latter fertilizer can also be used as mulch, but it must be dried in the sun in advance to eliminate insects and bacteria.

Pros and cons of using

Ammonia as a fertilizer has received many positive responses. He is praised for:

• quick result. The effect can be replaced already from the second feeding;
• maintaining the immune capacity of plants, reducing the risk of fungal and viral infections;
• minimum consumption. To prepare the fertilizer, no more than 2 tablespoons of the substance are required.

However, the additive has some negative consequences due to an excess of ammonia in the soil. First of all, this is the excessive formation of green mass. In another way, they say that tomatoes “fatten” - fruiting does not occur, but a large number of leaves form on the stem.

To avoid this, fertilizing is carried out in compliance with certain proportions and with a given frequency. In no case should you neglect the recommendations and use ammonia thoughtlessly for feeding. This will lead to virtually no harvest.

Watering rules

Ammonia can cause great harm to the human body.

Therefore, when watering tomatoes with a solution of ammonia, you must take safety precautions, that is, wear protective clothing: latex gloves, a plastic apron and cap, goggles, and a respirator.

If you suddenly experience signs of poisoning with a toxic substance, you will need to drink a glass of warm milk as soon as possible and call an ambulance.

Tomatoes should only be watered in warm weather. If they are growing in a greenhouse, you will need to open the frames first to allow fresh air to enter.

Ammonia is a volatile substance, so you need to water the tomatoes from a watering can that produces a stream with visible splashes.

Watering rules are as follows:

1. The procedure should be done after sunset, early in the morning or in cloudy weather.
2. Before this, the tomatoes need to be watered with plain water.
3. It is necessary to water the seedlings from a watering can without a sprinkler. The stream should be small. You only need to pour the solution under the roots. It should not get on the green parts of the tomatoes. To prevent burns after the procedure, you can spray the plant with plain water.