Iodine for tomato and pepper seedlings, feeding and fertilizer

In order for tomato and pepper seedlings to grow strong and healthy, they need proper nutrition and a sufficient amount of microelements.
Everyone knows about potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen as the main substances in the plant diet. But they also really need iodine, which increases the immunity of seedlings and protects them from diseases. Dear readers!
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Why do seedlings need iodine?

Iodine is an important element in the plant diet. Without it, seedlings will not be able to grow normally and will often get sick. Plants obtain this element from the soil. Its deficiency negatively affects seedlings, so it must be replenished in order to increase the germination of seeds and strengthen the immunity of seedlings.

This substance also affects the formation of ovaries, flowering, and, consequently, the yield of the crop.

REFERENCE. Treatment with iodine water kills spores of pathogenic fungi, which are the causative agents of many seedling diseases.

Where is iodine found?

This microelement takes an active part in all biological processes.

Iodine is found in chernozem, floodplain and chestnut soils. But there are types of soils that lack it, which causes plants to suffer greatly. This applies to gray soil, podzolic and solonchak.

For a plant to develop well, it needs to receive iodine, but in small proportions.

This fertilizer is not produced separately, so it can be purchased in ready-made formulations, for example, in phosphate rock. Also, do not forget that manure and ash are fertilizers rich in iodine.

When can you feed tomato seedlings with iodine?

According to the schedule, fertilizer based on this microelement is applied to tomatoes three times:

1. Pre-sowing seed treatment involves soaking tomato grains in a solution of 1 drop of iodine and 1 liter of water. Soaking time – 6 hours.
2. Root feeding in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. The composition of the solution is 1 drop of iodine per three-liter jar of water.
3. Fertilizing with fertilizer based on ash, iodine and boric acid during the beginning of fruiting.

In other cases, iodine fertilizer is applied when signs of microelement deficiency appear. And foliar treatment is carried out to prevent fungal diseases.

Recipes for feeding tomato and pepper seedlings with iodine

Iodine is an element that combines well with other remedies. Because of this, there are many recipes for feeding based on this substance. Let's look at the most popular of them.

How to use iodine with milk

To prevent the appearance of fungus on seedlings, they can be treated with iodine water mixed with milk.

Take a liter of water, drip 5 drops from the bottle and pour in 200 ml (1 glass) of milk. Mix until the composition is homogeneous and use it to spray seedlings.

ON A NOTE. Skim milk is most effective. It interacts much better with the microelement.

Fertilizer for seedlings with iodine and whey

If you mix iodine and serum, you get a remedy for late blight. Of course, in case of severe infection it will not help. But it will help prevent the spread of fungus throughout the seedlings.

It is better to use the drug on the day of production, so we offer you a recipe for 1 liter of water.

So, we need 1 liter of water, 100 ml of serum (2 stacks), 4 drops of iodine and 1 ml of hydrogen peroxide.

Mix everything thoroughly and process the seedlings. It is better to alternate foliar and root treatments.

How to use iodine solution with yeast for seedlings

Quite difficult to prepare, but very effective fertilizer with yeast is prepared as follows:

1. Take 0.5 liters of milk and heat it slightly;
2. Add 50 grams of yeast;
3. Place in a warm place to infuse for at least 6 hours;
4. After this time, add water and bring the solution to 5 liters;
5. Add 15 drops from the bottle and mix.

NOTE. This solution should be used on the same day.

How to feed with iodine and brilliant green

Two medicines from the medicine cabinet can be mixed together to make an excellent antiseptic solution for spraying and root feeding.

The recipe is as follows: mix 1 ml of iodine and 4 drops of brilliant green in 1 liter of water.

How to use iodine and boric acid

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of water;
• 1 drop of iodine;
• 2 drops of boric acid.

This recipe is best used on tomatoes and peppers when ovaries form on them.

Solution using iodine and fertilizers

By adding the drug to mineral fertilizers, you can prepare a composition for plant nutrition and protection against fungus.

To do this, in 5 liters of water you need to thoroughly mix 5 ml of iodine, 5 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of potassium sulfate.

The consumption rate of the drug is 0.5 l per 1 plant.

How to make a supplement using only iodine

You cannot water seedlings directly from a bottle with just one preparation. It needs to be mixed with water. Just 3 drops per bucket is enough, and the feeding is ready. But this is too much preparation if you do not deal with seedlings professionally. Therefore, a three-liter jar of water into which you need to add 1 drop of product is enough.

Basic feeding rules

Feeding tomato seedlings with iodine involves the use of various concentrated treatment agents during plant growth and formation. This is because different stages of growth require dosages that will differ from each other.

If the proportions are chosen incorrectly, the crops begin to get sick. When the fruits are fully ripened, heavy application of fertilizers can provoke the formation of cracks on the surface of ripe vegetables. When planning to fertilize tomatoes, you need to understand that it is best to apply fertilizers one at a time, which are intended for the trunks, foliage and roots of crops.

Experts advise using foliar and root fertilizing to achieve a positive effect during fertilization:

Foliage must be treated exclusively with weakly concentrated products, otherwise a burn may form on the crops.

When should iodine not be used for seedlings?

As with any other fertilizer, there are a number of restrictions for using the drug.

Do not use the product on newly planted or newly picked seedlings. Allow the plants to recover from stress and become well established.

The drug should not be used earlier than 15-20 days after the previous application of fertilizer.

Iodine supplements are not needed if there is no deficiency of this microelement in the soil. In other words, there is no need to feed plants with iodine for future use.

There is no need to fertilize with iodine immediately after transplanting tomatoes and peppers into open ground. Give the seedlings time to take root. At least 10 days for tomatoes and at least 2 weeks for peppers.

Useful tips

Iodine has been used in the garden since Soviet times. During this time, gardeners figured out how to enhance its effect and during what period it should not be used:

1. You can enhance the effect of the substance by preparing a solution based on it with the addition of 8-10 g of superphosphate and 15-20 g of potassium salt . This type of feeding is considered comprehensive. Its consumption will be significantly lower - instead of 1 liter, you can pour 400-500 ml under the bush.
2. The product stimulates the flowering of tomatoes . During this period, you can prepare a spray solution using iodine, boric acid, urea and humate.
3. You cannot use an iodine solution if less than 10 days have passed since the seedlings were planted.
4. If iodine is used in plant nutrition, there is no need to add pharmaceutical preparations “Trichopol” and “Aspirin” to the treatment solution .
5. Treatment with iodine can be alternated with boric acid and hydrogen peroxide . These products should be used 4 days after iodine supplementation.

How to carry out foliar feeding

Foliar feeding (foliar feeding) is spraying plants with a working solution from a spray bottle or garden sprayer.

The fact is that plants receive microelements not only through the root system, but also through the above-ground parts (leaves and stems). Therefore, such feeding also takes place.

By the way, in order to increase the effectiveness of the drug, it is recommended to alternate root and foliar feedings.

ON A NOTE. When spraying, it is better to slightly reduce the concentration of the active substance.

How to use iodine for tomatoes in open ground

In the garden, it is most effective to use iodine by alternating root feeding and leaf application.

Tomatoes should be watered and sprayed early in the morning or after sunset so that the plant tissues do not get sunburned.

ON A NOTE. If it rains 12 hours after you water the tomatoes, it is recommended to apply the treatment per leaf. But the concentration should be 2 times less than during planned treatment.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's talk about the pros and cons of iodine-based fertilizer:

First the advantages:

• Availability of the active substance;
• Efficiency;
• This is an assistant in the fight against fungal diseases;
• The drug actively interacts with other substances, which allows you to create an effective complex remedy.

And now the disadvantages:

• Difficult to dose without a dropper;
• The danger of excess iodine in the working solution;
• It is effective only in cases of iodine deficiency and does not replace other supplements.

Common mistakes

As usual, the most important mistake is an excessive concentration of the active substance in the working solution. This is fraught with burns to the root system.

Unfortunately, this is not the only mistake that is made when processing seedlings.

• Lots of boric acid. A solution of iodine and boric acid shows high efficiency, so there is a great temptation to use this fertilizer constantly. But, in fact, you can’t do that. Excess boron causes leaf drop in seedlings.
• Feeding with iodine solution immediately after transplanting seedlings in a greenhouse or garden. The first time you can apply iodide fertilizer no earlier than 1.5 weeks after transplantation. During this time, the plants should take root.
• Preparation of solutions “by eye”. The pipette costs mere pennies. Such savings can backfire: burnt roots, reduced growth rates of seedlings, etc.

Answers to frequently asked questions

How to understand that plants have a microelement deficiency?

They look lifeless, drooping and pale.

What fertilizer is best?

With milk or boric acid. Although each recipe has its own merits.

How often can seedlings be fed this way?

No more than 2 times a month. But you need to apply fertilizer only when necessary. If the seedlings grow well, you can spray them once to prevent late blight and that’s it.

Is iodine from a pharmacy suitable or do I need to buy another drug?

No, a regular bottle will do just fine.