What do tomatoes need during flowering?
Tomatoes should be fed regularly. Otherwise, the harvest will be small. Particular attention should be paid during the appearance of buds.
In order to harvest throughout the summer, you should know how to feed vegetables, as well as possible mistakes when applying fertilizers.
During flowering, tomatoes may experience a deficiency of nutrients. During the period of bud formation, tomatoes need special care. Tomatoes need to be watered regularly, but avoid getting moisture on the inflorescences. It is also important to loosen the soil and add nutrients in a timely manner.
Reducing tomato ovaries in a greenhouse: causes and consequences
If you do not adhere to the temperature regime, then tomato flowers may fall off without waiting for pollination. Acceptable daytime temperatures range from +23°C to +29°C, and night temperatures should range from +13°C to 21°C.
The maximum temperature at which tomatoes feel normal is 36°C. If it rises to 40°C, then we can confidently say that there will be no flowers or ovaries. And every night the temperature should drop below +20°C. If you neglect this rule, the tomato yield may fall. And in this case, even the best folk remedies for starting tomatoes in a greenhouse will not help.
Humidity in the greenhouse should range from 40-70%. To achieve the required indicator, you should lightly spray the tomatoes every morning. But it is very difficult to get rid of excess moisture. Therefore, experienced gardeners mulch the bushes, and to maintain moisture, they dig plastic bottles with holes or without a bottom into the soil.
What microelements do tomatoes need during fruiting?
For abundant fruiting, tomatoes need to be fed in a timely manner. Lack of nutrients impairs the taste. Tomatoes during the formation of inflorescences need the following elements:
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- nitrogen;
- magnesium.
Fertilizing stimulates the appearance of new flowers, resulting in an increase in the number of ovaries. Summer residents who use such components note that the harvest can be harvested throughout the summer.
NOTE! During the flowering period, nitrogen substances must be added very carefully. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of young shoots and can lead to the absence of ovaries. Therefore, it is recommended to use nitrogen fertilizers only in combination with other beneficial substances.
What determines the sweetness of tomatoes?
The fruits obtain their recognizable aroma and characteristic taste thanks to a balanced combination of sugars (fructose, glucose), carotenoids, polyphenols, pectic acids (glutamic, malic), and an accumulated complex of chemical elements. In addition, there is a correlation between weight, color, and ripening period. Mid- and late-ripening, small-fruited varieties have higher sugar content than early and large ones. Sugar is concentrated primarily in the pulp rather than the juice, so sweetness is greater in fleshy rather than juicy fruits.
The pink and black varieties of the crop are considered the sweetest.
It has long been noted that the same variety, grown in different areas, amazingly changes its organoleptic qualities. This is influenced by many factors: soil composition, amount of moisture and light, temperature, fertilizers used, etc. It has also been established that a certain combination of nitrogen and sulfur contributes to the potential manifestation of useful substances in the biosynthesis. But this is not the main secret of sweet tomatoes. Tomatoes grow tastier in open ground than in a greenhouse . Give them the opportunity to bask in the sun and then the rich, pronounced taste will manifest itself.
How to feed tomatoes during this period using folk remedies
Proper and timely feeding of tomatoes is not only the key to a large harvest, but also improves the taste of vegetables.
During flowering, tomatoes need to be fed very carefully and no more than once a week. Since if the proportions are not observed, flowers may fall off and leaves will become lethargic.
In order to increase fruiting, tomatoes can be fed with substances that have repeatedly proven their effectiveness.
Yeast
During flowering, it is recommended to use yeast fertilizer for fruiting.
Pour 50 grams of yeast into 5 liters of water and add a spoonful of sugar. Leave the resulting infusion for 3 hours until dense foam appears. Dilute the fermented solution in 5 liters of water and feed the bushes at the root.
Iodine and milk
To increase the number of ovaries, you need to feed the tomatoes with iodine during the flowering period.
For this purpose, 10 drops of iodine must be dissolved in a liter of water. Add 1 liter of milk or whey to the resulting composition. Stir the entire mixture thoroughly and use it to spray the bushes.
It is necessary to feed tomatoes after sunset.
Superphosphate and ash
The fertilizer contains a full range of substances necessary for tomatoes.
For feeding, 1 tablespoon of superphosphate and 100 grams of ash are dissolved in 2 liters of water. The resulting concentrated solution must be mixed with 5 liters of water and used for irrigation.
Green manure
To feed tomatoes during the flowering period, you can use a green infusion. Most often, nettles and dandelions are used for this purpose.
2 kg of plants should be finely chopped and filled with 5 liters of water. Leave for 2 days. Strain the fermented slurry and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:5. Feed the plants at the roots.
NOTE! To get the maximum benefit from the green infusion, it is recommended to use young plants along with the roots. Rinse the roots with running water before chopping.
Mullein
If you feed with fertilizers during the flowering period, you can increase fruiting.
To feed, pour 1 kg of the substance into 2 liters of water and leave for 2 to ferment. Mix the resulting slurry with 10 liters of water and water the bushes under the roots of the tomatoes during the flowering period.
Fertilizer application timing
After planting tomato seedlings, you need to feed them to get more fruit. These feedings can be divided into 3 stages according to timing:
- 2 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground or in a greenhouse. Helps the plant to take root faster and get used to new conditions. Liquid root fertilizers made from organic matter or mixed with mineral fertilizers are recommended.
- During budding or flowering. Promotes better fruit set. During this period, the share of nitrogen fertilizers is sharply reduced, with phosphorus and potassium taking first place. During this period, superphosphate or mixtures with it, fertilizing with yeast, and foliar spraying with boric acid or iodine will be useful.
- During the period of fruit set and growth. Improves the taste of tomatoes and increases their size. Fertilizers made from organic or complex fertilizers with the addition of ash, iodine, and manganese are well suited.
Did you know? In Japan, in the old days, the soil was fertilized with human feces because there was a shortage of livestock and manure. The feces of rich people were considered to be of the highest quality, since their diet was more varied and sufficient.
Features of fertilizing tomatoes during flowering and fruiting
Before feeding tomatoes during the flowering period, it is recommended to properly prepare the bushes. Otherwise, the nutritional components will not give the desired effect.
Water the tomatoes
Before applying fertilizer, the beds with tomatoes must be thoroughly moistened. This will protect the roots from burns and increase the rate of penetration of nutrients.
Fluff up the beds
To ensure that fertilizers quickly penetrate to the roots, the beds must be fluffed up before fertilizing. However, loosening must be done very carefully so as not to damage the roots and inflorescences of adult tomatoes.
Use the solution correctly
It is recommended to use the fertilizer immediately after preparation. Diluted solutions may lose their effectiveness. Therefore, the finished material is not stored.
The most common compositions for foliar feeding
Gardeners, when growing tomatoes, use different fertilizing solutions for foliar feeding, depending on the phases of crop development and its need for a particular nutrient.
Foliar treatments are carried out using fertilizers and home remedies. Below are the most commonly used compositions for feeding tomatoes.
Urea solution
Urea contains 46% nitrogen, without which the process of photosynthesis is impossible. With a nitrogen deficiency, the growth of tomatoes slows down, their leaves turn yellow, and the fruit sets poorly.
Spraying with urea favors the growth of the vegetative mass of the plant, strengthening the root system and lengthening the fruiting period. The drug granules dissolve well in water. If the dosage is observed, the urea solution does not cause burns.
To prepare the working solution, dissolve 50 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water. This amount will be enough to spray tomatoes on 1 acre of tomatoes.
It is advisable to spray with urea before fruit sets. When applied later, the nitrogen from the fertilizer will be directed towards shoot growth rather than fruit filling.
Boric acid
A microelement such as boron, contained in boric acid, has a beneficial effect on the flowering process of tomatoes and with a sufficient amount of boron, the ovaries never fall off.
At high air humidity, boron protects tomato fruits from rotting. Ultimately, boron increases the overall yield of tomatoes. During the season, spraying tomatoes with boron is performed several times:
- during the budding period, before the buds open;
- with mass flowering of tomatoes;
- at the beginning of fruit ripening.
It is allowed to carry out the fourth treatment when the tomatoes have predominantly small, lightened leaves or do not bloom well. To prepare a working solution, dissolve 1 g of boric acid in 1 liter of water.
Potassium monophosphate
Of all phosphorus fertilizers, potassium monophosphate is the most soluble in water. The domestic industry produces it in the form of colorless crystals. This mineral fertilizer contains a balanced amount of phosphorus and potassium, necessary for the normal growth of tomatoes.
Potassium monophosphate has the following advantages:
- the fertilizer can be quickly absorbed by tomatoes and accelerates metabolic processes;
- it can be used together with other fertilizers;
- it is impossible to overdose;
- has no side effects;
- The drug is good for preventing fungal diseases.
During the season, treatment with this fertilizer can be carried out twice:
- before the budding phase;
- with mass formation of fruits.
When preparing the solution, you need to dissolve 2 g of the drug in 1 liter of water. At least 15 days must pass between two such sprayings.
Calcium nitrate
This fertilizer contains two macronutrients: nitrogen and potassium. With sufficient calcium, nitrogen absorption improves. Calcium is especially needed for tomatoes growing in acidic soils. With calcium deficiency, the roots are primarily affected and plant immunity is reduced.
During the growing season, several treatments with this drug are allowed:
- 8 days after planting the seedlings;
- 12 days after the first treatment;
- during the budding period.
When preparing a working solution, you need to know how to dilute calcium nitrate. To do this, dissolve 2 g of fertilizer in 1 liter of water. After mixing, the solution is ready for use.
Feeding with Epin
Epin is a phytohormone and a good anti-stress agent. The substance strengthens plants and increases their ability to withstand stressful situations, such as:
- heat;
- illness;
- frosts.
The use of epin increases the yield of tomatoes even on soils with low fertility. The first treatment with Epin should be carried out on the second day, after planting the tomato seedlings in a permanent place. This treatment will help the seedlings take root well. The second and third treatments are carried out, respectively, in the budding phase and at the moment of flowering of the first cluster.
To prepare a working solution, dissolve 6 drops of the drug in 1 liter of water. To process 1 hundred square meters of tomatoes you will need 3 liters of the drug solution.
Top dressing with superphosphate
This phosphorus fertilizer is also often used for foliar feeding of tomatoes, but to do this you need to know how to prepare an extract from superphosphate and apply it in practice.
The use of superphosphate for fertilizing promotes:
- an increase in the total number of ovaries;
- faster fruit ripening;
- preventing the ovaries from falling off;
- increase in yield by 1.5 times.
Superphosphate extract is prepared as follows:
- take 2 tbsp. l. crushed product and fill them with 1 liter of hot water;
- the composition is infused for 26 hours;
- the light part of the solution is poured into a bucket;
- add 1 tablet of microfertilizers and 1 tsp. potassium sulfate;
- add clean water to the bucket and mix the entire composition.
Prepared 10 l. superphosphate extract, with the addition of potassium and microelements, will be enough to treat 50 tomato bushes using the spraying method.
How to use preparations for feeding tomatoes during flowering and fruiting
To increase the fruiting of tomatoes, you can use special preparations. The action of such agents is aimed at the formation of inflorescences and ovaries.
Mortar
The drug contains a large amount of phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, it is often used for improved fruiting.
The substance should be used in a proportion of 25 grams per 10 liters of water. You can feed both root and foliar methods.
Ovary
A special product that increases the number of inflorescences and buds. The drug is used for foliar feeding. To feed tomatoes during flowering, dissolve 10 grams of the substance in 3 liters of water and spray the bushes.
Mineral fertilizers
Balanced mineral fertilizing promotes the harmonious development of the plant and provides targeted nutrition to the tomato bush that needs support. During flowering, tomatoes are fertilized with the following substances:
- superphosphate and double superphosphate, the peculiarity of which is slow solubility - put the required dose of the product into hot water, leave for a day, and then mix with the rest of the water;
- Potassium salt and potassium chloride are used strictly according to the instructions, not exceeding the recommended volume due to the chlorine content in the fertilizer;
- potassium sulfate is the optimal fertilizer, which, if possible, is better to replace potassium compounds with chlorine;
- potassium nitrate, which has good solubility.
Ammophoska, nitrophoska, potassium monophosphate and other complex mineral preparations are widely used for feeding tomatoes in the flowering phase. For effectiveness, they often use ready-made complexes or mix the substances themselves, following the instructions. The dosage of fertilizing varies depending on the phase of development:
- at the very beginning of flowering, take 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 10 g of potassium chloride and 40 g of superphosphate per bucket of water;
- add 2 g of potassium permanganate and 20 g of potassium sulfate to a bucket of water to 25 g of superphosphate diluted in advance;
- in the flowering phase of the third and fourth clusters, select the following composition - 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 70 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium;
- after 2 weeks, fertilizing is carried out in the following proportion - 30 g of ammonium nitrate and potassium preparation, 45 g of superphosphate;
- fertilizing with 5 g of urea and the same amount of potassium preparation, 20 g of double superphosphate accelerates fruiting, while for weak tomatoes at the flowering stage the share of the nitrogen component is doubled.
Foliar feeding with various microelements is also used:
2 g of boric acid, copper and zinc sulfates, and 4 g of manganese sulfate are dissolved in a bucket of water. The consumption of the specified volume of fertilizer is per 100 square meters. m. To increase the number of ovaries, fertilize with boron, which is included in various preparations: boron-magnesium fertilizer, boron superphosphate, borophosphate and others.
When fertilizing tomatoes during flowering, they comply with the requirements of agricultural technology regarding the amount of fertilizing and their timing. Using mineral preparations, they study the characteristics of fertilizers and their use. Before or after fertilizing, the bed must be watered. Preference is given to products in liquid form, which are more easily and quickly absorbed by plants. If dry fertilizer is applied, the granules or powder are spread over the surface of the soil so that they do not come into contact with the roots. Different types of soil require a certain dose of mineral fertilizers. On heavy clay soils, a larger dose of the product is used, because in such areas minerals are absorbed slowly. On light structured soils, applied fertilizers reach the root shoots faster.
Attention! With intensive development of tomato tops instead of flower clusters, the share of the nitrogen component is reduced. To get a harvest faster, increase the dosage of potassium and phosphorus.
How to spray tomatoes to form ovaries, recipes?
To increase the fruiting of tomatoes, you can use mixed fertilizers that are combined with each other. The effectiveness of such fertilizing is high, so summer residents often choose such methods.
Recipe No. 1
To feed with the solution, dissolve 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska and 1 teaspoon of sodium humate in 10 liters of water.
The resulting composition is thoroughly mixed and used for root and foliar feeding.
Recipe No. 2
Used to increase the ovary of tomatoes. To prepare, you need to dissolve 1 tablespoon of superphosphate, 100 grams of wood ash and 1 teaspoon of potassium humate in 10 liters of warm water. The resulting composition is applied to the soil under the bushes during the flowering period of tomatoes.
Recipe No. 3
Mix 200 grams of mullein and 100 grams of chicken manure in 10 liters of water. Add a spoonful of superphosphate and 1 gram of copper sulfate. The resulting composition is applied to the root.
Why spray flowering tomatoes?
It is believed that spraying garden plants is most often carried out in order to protect them from attacks by pests and diseases. But during the flowering and ovary period, tomatoes most of all need mineral and organic substances. It is foliar feeding that can provide them. This treatment is a kind of first aid for plants. Indeed, in this case, the nutrients immediately, passing through the leaf shell, begin to work. And there is no need to wait until they dissolve in the soil and reach their destination through the root system. Timely and regular foliar application of both complex inorganic and organic fertilizers will help bushes that have gained color to quickly form an ovary and provide the necessary resources for the subsequent development of fruits. In addition, sometimes when there is an excess or deficiency of certain elements in the soil, tomatoes need targeted help.
The result of foliar feeding will be noticeable within a few hours
How to understand what exactly they are missing? To answer this question, it is often enough to take a closer look at the tomato beds.
- If your plants stretch before your eyes, characterized by spreading bushes, which, unfortunately, have almost no flowers or ovaries, we can assume that this is a consequence of excess nitrogen in the soil. The application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers will help correct this deviation.
- A lack of phosphorus can be signaled by a purple tint to tomato leaves.
- Small shoots on plants indicate a lack of copper and sulfur.
- If the leaves bend down and the top of the bush curls, a zinc deficiency may be suspected.
- Pale green leaves of young plants curled down and black spots may indicate boron deficiency.
- Tomato leaves that lack iron begin to droop and turn yellow at the ends.
Spraying correctly
Despite the fact that spraying tomatoes is a seemingly elementary procedure, it also requires compliance with certain rules. First of all, you need to listen to the weather forecasters. A cloudy, cool day is suitable for spraying. Rain in this case will be unnecessary, since it will simply wash away all the fertilizers. Foliar feeding is carried out in the evening, when evaporation is minimal. Each plant is sprayed generously, moistening the leaves both above and below.
Unlike tomatoes planted in the ground, greenhouse plants need to be sprayed early in the morning, when the air in the greenhouse has not yet warmed up and evaporation there is minimal.
How to water tomatoes to stimulate fruiting?
To improve fruiting, it is not enough to water with plain water. Recipes are often used that not only strengthen tomatoes, but also increase yield.
Watering with boric acid
Boric acid saturates tomatoes with boron, thanks to such components the number of inflorescences increases. For watering during flowering, you need to purchase boric acid in granules.
The drug is sold in affordable quantities. To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve 1 sachet (10 grams) of the substance in 10 liters of warm water. The resulting composition can be watered and sprayed on the bushes during flowering. Effectively increases fruiting.
NOTE! The use of boric acid can increase fruiting. However, it must be remembered that it is necessary to treat the bush completely, since boron is absorbed not only by the roots, but also by the leaf plate.
Ash and iodine
The use of ash and iodine not only feeds the tomatoes, but also protects them from pests. To prepare, dissolve 200 grams of ash and 10 drops of iodine in 2 liters of water.
The resulting composition is thoroughly mixed and mixed in 5 liters of water. The prepared solution must be watered over the tomatoes during the flowering period.
NOTE! Ash contains a whole range of useful substances. Therefore, the drug can be used throughout the entire period of growing vegetables to increase fruiting. However, it is necessary to use ash only from hardwood trees.
Optimal microclimate
Peduncles begin to develop at a certain temperature and humidity. Tomatoes love warmth. The flowering period of tomatoes is in June. At this time, the temperature is 20-25 C during the daytime and 17-19 C at night. If June is cool, then the time of budding shifts.
If the seedlings are located on protected ground, then a comfortable temperature regime can be created for them by using heat-insulating material. The greenhouse or film tunnel is covered. During the daytime, ventilation is carried out to refresh the air.
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With plants in open ground it is more difficult. If the weather is cool and rainy, gardeners risk getting a later harvest.
To grow tomatoes in an open garden, choose varieties that are resistant to low temperatures and can produce flower stalks in any conditions.
More on the topic: What kind of care does Volgograd tomato 5/95 require?
Air humidity for normal flowering and fruit set is 65-70%. Greenhouse plants must be ventilated; a small draft is allowed. For tomatoes in open ground, organize regular watering and loosening of the soil. Watering is always carried out at the root.
To ensure high-quality fertilization in flowers, the bushes are shaken; pollen falls on the pistil. This is especially true for greenhouse plants. Tomatoes that grow outdoors are pollinated by insects. They are attracted to fragrant herbs and flowers.
If the first inflorescences form normally in tomatoes, then in July some difficulties may arise. The tomatoes bloom, but there is no ovary. The flowers fall.
Gardeners often encounter this problem when choosing varietal tomatoes for cultivation. Hybrid tomatoes usually set well even under extreme conditions.
Tomatoes are parthenocarpic plants. One flower contains both the pistil and anthers with pollen. Under favorable conditions, at normal temperature and air humidity, high-quality pollination occurs, which ends with the formation of the ovary.
If the weather is hot and dry, the pollen dries out. Plant growers say pollen loses its ability to fertilize. Pollination disturbance is also observed at high air humidity, if it rains frequently. Pollen falls into the flower cup in a lump.
Flowers in which fertilization does not occur fall off. If pollination occurs poorly, the formation of the fruit is disrupted. Ugly-shaped fruits appear on the bush. What to do:
- A greenhouse effect is often created in a greenhouse. To remove excess moisture, carry out ventilation. Strong drafts must be avoided. For this purpose, windows are provided in the upper part of the greenhouse;
- seedlings in an open garden bed are protected from rain with film;
- to prevent the pollen from drying out, the plants are shaded with a green mosquito net;
- when air humidity decreases, tomatoes are irrigated with ordinary water to moisten the pollen;
- To avoid trouble, choose tomato varieties that are suitable for greenhouses or open ground.
In addition to organizing an optimal microclimate for tomatoes, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the green mass of plants and pay attention to their growth. To exclude pathologies, fertilizing is introduced.
Fertilizing schemes
To increase fruiting, you need to follow the following feeding schemes.
First application of fertilizers
It must be carried out at the beginning of flowering. Most often the period occurs at the beginning of July;
Second feeding
Done in 10 days. For such purposes, it is necessary to use foliar application of fertilizers.
Feeding for the third time
A week after the second feeding, feed the bushes with green fertilizer or wood ash. Such feeding is necessary for more ovaries to appear.
Organic fertilizers
Among fans of organic farming, there is an opinion that mineral fertilizers should not be used after tomatoes have flowered and set. Natural products contain all the elements necessary to nourish the crop.
Humates
Fertilizers from various organic extracts and minerals increase the structure of the soil by activating microorganisms. Accordingly, the access of nutrients to the plant is simplified. The industry produces many drugs, of which the most famous are:
- sodium humate - 20 ml diluted in 10 liters of water, watered for the first time after transplantation with 500 ml, the second time, in the flowering phase, 1 liter per bush, and for spraying with the same volume of water take 3 ml of the product;
- potassium humate is dissolved in 10 liters of 50 ml for watering and foliar feeding;
- Fertilizer "Gera" is applied 5 g per bush or dissolved 25 ml in a bucket of water.
Yeast
At the beginning of tomato flowering, yeast fertilization is favorable on those soils that were enriched with organic matter in the fall:
- 100 g of fresh yeast and 100 g of sugar are infused for a week in a 3 liter jar in a warm place, for watering, 200 ml of infusion is diluted in 10 liters of also warm water and 0.9-1 liter of solution is used under the bush;
- a packet (10-11 g) of dry yeast is placed in a bucket of warm water and left to ferment in the sun for 4-6 hours, then the entire volume is diluted with another 50 liters of warm water and poured 1 liter at the root.
Comment! When feeding with yeast, the fertilizer is dissolved only in warm water.
Ash
Ash of various origins, from wood or straw, contains minerals necessary for tomatoes at the flowering stage: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium. Dissolve 50-150 g of the product in a bucket of water and add 500 ml to the root. On acidic soils the proportion of ash is increased, on alkaline soils it is reduced. The substance is combined with other fertilizers - yeast or green infusion. Experienced agronomists advise not to mix mullein with ash, because ammonia is significantly lost in the compound.
How to apply fertilizers correctly?
To increase the fruiting of the bushes and not harm the tomatoes, you need to know how to properly apply nutrients. It is recommended to follow the following tips:
- Apply root fertilizers carefully so that the substance does not get on the leaves;
- use a special measuring cup, which is convenient for pouring under each bush;
- Foliar irrigation is carried out using a sprayer with a fine nozzle;
- fertilizing is carried out in the evening after the sun begins to set;
- Only one type of fertilizer is used per procedure. The intervals between feedings are at least 10 days.
It is necessary to mix fertilizers in plastic containers, since many fertilizers can react with metal.
When is the best time to spray?
Fertilizers are usually applied during the following periods:
- when sowing seeds, add a little superphosphate or other product to the soil;
- after picking, water or spray the seedlings with solutions;
- after transplanting to a permanent place, apply fertilizers 7-10 days later or place them in holes in the beds;
- spray tomatoes on the leaf at the stage of flower budding, and then during flowering;
- feed at the root or fertilize with gentle solutions without chemicals in the fruiting phase.
Between feedings you need to observe intervals of 1-2 weeks.
Common mistakes
When feeding tomatoes during flowering, mistakes are often made that can negatively affect fruiting. These include:
- incorrect concentration. Too concentrated solutions can lead to the death of tomatoes. Therefore, care and proportions must be observed;
- processing on dry leaves. Before spraying the plant, the tops should be irrigated with water. Otherwise, yellow spots may appear;
- applying fertilizing after pinching. The plant is under stress, so it is recommended to add nutrients after a few days;
- fertilizing before the rain. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers before precipitation. Since such feeding will be of little effectiveness.
You should also carefully ensure that the inflorescences are not damaged when spraying the crop. Summer residents often make the mistake of watering the buds abundantly; this can lead to a lack of pollinators and subsequently to a low yield.
NOTE! With a lack of nutritional components, the bushes begin to weaken and the buds fall off. Also, another symptom of a lack of substances is slow growth and yellowing of leaves.
Recommendations from gardeners
Experienced gardeners advise adhering to the following rules when preparing nutrient solutions for foliar feeding of tomatoes:
- carefully prepare the working solution and never exceed the established concentration;
- when selecting the means for preparing the solution, carefully monitor the color of the leaves, so you can understand what the plants are missing;
- if there is a deficiency of magnesium, light green spots appear on the leaves - spraying the tomatoes with magnesium sulfate is required;
- if there is not enough boron, the ovaries begin to fall off and the fruits crack;
- If there is a deficiency of potassium, blossom end rot appears on tomatoes - treat the plants with potassium sulfate;
- there should be no chlorine in the fertilizing solution, all ingredients must dissolve without the formation of sediment;
- inspect tomato bushes daily and quickly respond to negative changes.
Foliar feeding of tomatoes, compared to root application of fertilizers, has tangible advantages. The main feature of this method is its greater efficiency and speed of impact. By using mineral fertilizers and folk remedies for spraying, you can sufficiently saturate the tomatoes with the required nutrients and protect them from diseases and pests.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Can dry fertilizers be used?
Granular fertilizers, such as ammophosphate, can also be used for tomatoes. However, for this it is necessary to thoroughly mix the granules with the soil and pour plenty of water. For one adult plant, no more than 5 grams of the substance is used.
When can chicken manure be added?
You can use chicken manure during the budding period. However, you need to be extremely careful with this type of feeding. Chicken manure contains a lot of nitrogen, and a solution that is too saturated will cause the leaves to turn yellow.
For tomatoes, use 200 grams of the substance dissolved in 10 liters of water. Before use, the litter must ferment for at least 2 days.
How often to water tomatoes?
Tomatoes need frequent watering. It is necessary to water the bushes every 3 days. In summer, watering increases to 1 time every 2 days. However, there is no need to water the crop daily; this can lead to late blight and rotting of the root system. During the period of fruit ripening, watering is reduced to 1 time every 5 days.
Feeding tomatoes during fruiting period
As mentioned earlier, fertilizing tomatoes during the ripening process is necessary to increase the yield, as well as the taste properties of tomatoes.
To improve tomato yields, experienced gardeners recommend using the following methods of mineral and organic fertilizer for filling tomato fruits:
- A product based on nitrophoska (1 tbsp), dry sodium humate (1 tsp) and 10 l of warm water.
- A solution with nitrophoska (2 tbsp. l) and liquid sodium humate (1 tbsp. l) per 10 l of water. Watering in this case and the previous one is carried out directly under the bush.
- Organic and mineral solutions have a positive effect on tomatoes during fruit ripening. For 10 liters of water, we use 1 liter of manure with the addition of dry mineral fertilizer (complex) and 1 g of manganese. Watering must be done exclusively under the rhizomes, with an estimate of 1–1.5 liters of water per plant bush.
- We first prepare a solution based on bird droppings or mullein, the output should be 10 liters. Next, add Kemira-universal, Mortar, 1 tbsp each into the prepared solution. l. In addition to these products, you can also use analogues, which can be purchased at specialized gardening stores. We water the prepared product directly under the root of the plant, for low-growing fruits at a rate of 1.5 liters per bush, for tall ones at least 2.0 liters per bush.
- Fertilizer manufacturers have prepared preparations specifically for tomatoes during the fruit ripening period. One of them is auxin “2,4-D”. The principle of its action is to accelerate ripening and increase yield. As soon as the ovaries begin to appear on the plant, gardeners need to immediately treat it with this drug. The fruits begin to grow faster and increase in size.
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How to properly process tomatoes for ovary
In order for the tomato ovaries to form and the pollination process to be restored, it is necessary to follow the processing rules:
- Do not water plants in high humidity.
- If there are sharp transitions from frequent rains to heat, the tomatoes should be additionally treated against late blight.
- When there are temperature changes or in an unstable climate, you need to treat tomatoes with growth stimulants.
- Before spraying, it is better to stand chlorinated water or, if possible, use rainwater.
- It is better to spray in the evening or in the morning so that the solution can be completely absorbed into the plant and not evaporate under the influence of the sun.
- It is better to spray on a windless day, trying to hit the ovary exactly.
On a note!
In all cases, it is better to use warm water for spraying, approximately +20°C.
Favorable time for feeding tomatoes
Start feeding tomatoes early in the morning or in the evening on a clear sunny day. Fertilizers for the root system should not fall on the leaves, as excess moisture cannot be absorbed and sunburn will appear on the leaf.
In cloudy weather, tomatoes are sprayed with folk remedies for ovary at any time of the day. The main condition is that the moisture from the leaves must evaporate before nightfall.
Before spraying tomatoes for ovary with folk remedies, you need to study all the recipes in detail. And only then begin practical application. Thus, every gardener increases the chances of getting a rich harvest with tasty and healthy fruits.