Feeding tomato and bell pepper seedlings with iodine

The effect of iodine on young plants

Iodine is involved in many biological processes. However, some types of soil contain a minimum of this substance. For normal development of crops, a microscopic amount of the element is required. Therefore, it is not released separately.

You can make your own iodine solution. It is used to solve the following problems:

• increase in yield parameters;
• stimulation of seed development;
• prevention of fungal infections;
• improving plant immunity.

Important! Fertilization in the form of iodine improves human health. Fruits grown in this way contain many valuable microelements.

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.

Methods of feeding

Feeding tomato and pepper seedlings with iodine can be done in different ways:

• Under the root. This procedure helps to disinfect the soil and replenish the lack of substance. It is recommended to take only 3 drops of alcohol solution per 10 liters of water. You need to feed the bushes this way from the moment the real leaves appear.
• By the leaves. Such fertilizers also bring great benefits to the bushes. They help protect plantings from fungal microorganisms. In addition, the alcohol solution helps repel parasites. To make a working solution, you need to take 1 drop of the substance per 3 liters of water.

Important! Carrying out foliar feeding requires the use of personal protective equipment. After completing the procedure, you need to ventilate the room.

Why is an overdose of iodine dangerous?

When spraying or adding iodine fertilizer to the root, it is important to strictly observe the proportions when creating solutions.

Features of iodine dosage:

• If the crop grows in regions with high levels of iodine in the soil and air, then the generally accepted dosage is reduced.
• If plants are grown in regions with low iodine content, they must be prepared for processing. Otherwise, the plants will get burns to the roots and leaves.
• First, the treatment is carried out with a weakly concentrated solution - 1 drop of iodine per half bucket of water.

An overdose of iodine leads to the following consequences:

• above-ground parts of plants are deformed;
• subsequently the fruits become deformed.

To avoid overdose, it is recommended not to use several active liquids (alkali, acid) in one solution at once.

Recipes for feeding solutions using iodine

How to feed pepper and tomato seedlings with iodine? This question interests many beginning gardeners.

Recipe using iodine, serum and hydrogen peroxide

This folk recipe successfully eliminates late blight. It should be made from 1 liter of whey and 40 drops of iodine solution. You need to add 1 tablespoon of peroxide to the product. The components should be mixed and used for spraying.

Recipe using milk and iodine

To protect bushes from fungi, you need to make a solution based on 1 liter of warm water and 5 drops of iodine solution. Add 250 ml of low-fat milk.

Recipe based on whey and iodine

This will require 10 liters of water, 1 liter of whey, 40 drops of iodine. You also need to add 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 10%.

Yeast and boric acid recipe

To make a healthy composition, you need to take 1 liter of warm milk, add 100 g of yeast and leave for 6 hours. Add water to obtain a mass of 10 liters. It is also worth introducing 30 drops of iodine into it.

Important! Using this product at home saturates plants with useful substances and prevents the development of late blight.

Recipe based on iodine and brilliant green

This product is suitable for root and foliar feeding. It saturates plants with useful substances and improves their growth. To prepare, you need to take 10 ml of iodine and 40 drops of brilliant green per 10 liters of water. Fertilize plants at the roots with the prepared mixture or spray them.

Recipe based on iodine and mineral fertilizers

This product has nutritional and protective properties. It helps to avoid infection of crops by fungal microorganisms.

To make a solution, you need to take 10 ml of iodine. 10 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium sulfate are added to it. Apply once every couple of weeks.

Why are seedlings fed with iodine?

Iodine is actively used in growing garden and vegetable crops, including at the seedling stage. This item:

• actively participates in metabolism;
• has a disinfecting effect;
• stimulates seed growth;
• enhances plant growth and development;
• increases productivity.

Effect on metabolism

Features of the effect of iodine on metabolism:

• Iodine is involved in the metabolism of various nutrients, primarily nitrogen.
• If you water the seedlings with a solution of iodine and wood ash, the plants will better absorb the components of the applied fertilizer.

Iodine cannot replace fertilizing; it only helps the plant absorb the optimal amount of nutrients.

Effect on fruit quality

It has been noted that the application of iodine at the root affects the yield and quality of the fruit. Watering with iodine solution increases yield by 10%. But in order to achieve results, treatments must be carried out not only at the seedling stage, but throughout the entire growing season.

Help fight disease

Thanks to its powerful disinfectant effect, iodine kills fungi, viruses and bacteria. Seedlings, and later adult plants, are treated with iodine, watered at the root or sprayed.

Iodine prevents the development of diseases and treats:

• late blight;
• rot;
• spotting;
• powdery mildew.

For prevention, it is recommended to regularly treat the soil and above-ground parts of plants with iodine.

Iodine reduces the likelihood of disease development in plants by 80%.

Features of fertilizing with iodine

The proportions of feeding tomato and pepper seedlings with iodine depend on the crop growth conditions. Such substances are required when growing seedlings and after planting them in open soil.

In a greenhouse

The greenhouse is always warm and humid. This causes active development of fungi. Using iodine helps avoid such problems. Before planting plants, you need to treat the greenhouse with disinfectants.

Note! It is important to be careful when using iodine in these conditions. The vapors of this substance provoke a deterioration in health.

In the open ground

When moving seedlings from home to open ground, you need to protect them from late blight and other fungi. It is important to follow these rules:

• use only warm mixtures for watering;
• during the first treatment, use a weak solution;
• Before using iodine, water the bushes generously;
• fertilize in the morning and evening;
• If there was precipitation after the foliar procedure, you need to spray the bushes again.

Important! It is recommended to treat bushes with iodine in cloudy weather. When spraying the substance, you should make sure that it gets not only from above, but also onto the inner parts of the foliage.

How do you know if plants need iodine?

Iodine is sufficient in chernozems, lowlands and coastal areas. The further a region is located from the sea, the greater the deficiency of this element.

When there is a lack of iodine in the soil, acidification and an excess of chlorine and calcium are observed.

Signs of iodine deficiency in plants:

• susceptibility to diseases and pest attacks;
• the leaves turn pale, and the stems become thinner and elongated;
• the seedlings wither and wither over time.

Lack of iodine causes symptoms that are similar to those that occur with nitrogen deficiency and freezing.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of using the product include the following:

• availability of the active component;
• high performance;
• effectiveness in the fight against fungi;
• Possibility of combination with other compounds.

There are also disadvantages:

• difficulties with dosing in the absence of a pipette;
• danger of overdose;
• effective only in case of microelement deficiency.

A common mistake for beginners is violating the dosage.

Benefits of iodine for tomatoes

The main property of an alcohol solution of iodine is instant disinfection. The product is often used to cauterize open wounds.

Gardeners have long used iodine as a fertilizer, but it has gained the greatest popularity among greenhouse owners. It is believed that this pharmaceutical product does not harm either the plant or people.

Iodine is an optional component for plant growth, but its lack has a negative effect on the development of ovaries and the formation of fruits. Young plants especially need this element.

Signs of iodine deficiency

Substance deficiency can be recognized by the following manifestations:

• plants have thin stems;
• leaves are weak and limp;
• adult plants do not enter the fruiting stage;
• a small number of ovaries;
• delayed fruit ripening;
• massive damage to seedlings by diseases - root rot, brown spot, late blight and tobacco mosaic virus.

If the deficiency of the element is not eliminated, plants begin to suffer from decreased immunity and, as a result, the development of various diseases caused by pathogens. The product serves as an additional fertilizing for the soil, helps accelerate the growth of seedlings and helps save the crop in case of disease.

The effect of iodine on seedlings

The active components of the element improve nitrogen metabolism, which makes it possible to fertilize seedlings without the use of nitrate. The pharmaceutical product is also known for its fungicidal properties: experienced summer residents use it both as a preventive measure for various diseases and to disinfect seeds before planting. It has been proven to help fight fungal and bacterial diseases of tomatoes.

Tomatoes actively react to aggressive iodine components. The effect of fertilizing and spraying is not long in coming - the plants begin to grow rapidly. In addition, the number of ovaries and fruits increases.

IODINE IS A SUPER MEANS FOR TOMATO SEEDLINGS!

Common mistakes

When processing bushes, gardeners often make the following mistakes:

• Violation of dosage. Concentrated solutions are very dangerous.
• Frequent use of boric acid. It is often mixed with iodine solutions. As a result, the foliage dies.
• Feeding after transplantation. For the first time, iodine solutions can be added only after 10 days.

Using iodine to care for seedlings helps saturate the bushes with this substance and protect them from fungi. It is important to strictly follow the instructions.

Complex fertilizer for feeding tomato seedlings

Nitrophoska Of the complex ones, I always use nitrophoska to feed tomato seedlings. This mineral fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The main thing is to use nitrophoska in strict accordance with the instructions on the package and not increase the dosage.

Agricola Agricola is also a fairly popular fertilizer for tomato seedlings. There is up to 13% nitrogen and approximately 20% phosphorus and potassium each. In addition, Agricola contains trace elements and magnesium.

Organomineral fertilizers Recently, complex granular organomineral fertilizers have become especially popular. They have a more environmentally friendly and gentle composition. They have a gentle effect on the growth and development of seedlings. They are produced on the basis of lowland peat with the addition of humic substances.

How to feed tomato seedlings with complex fertilizers

• I apply complex fertilizers 14 days after sowing tomatoes for seedlings.
• They can be applied dry or pre-dissolved in water. I'm using a solution.

Photo: OMU Rost - organomineral fertilizer from the Buysky plant

Organic fertilizers for tomato seedlings

Effecton The drug Effecton is good for seedlings. It belongs to the class of organic fertilizers and quite actively stimulates the growth of seedlings. This fertilizer is obtained by composting peat with the addition of dolomite flour or wood ash to reduce the acidity of the peat, as well as phosphate rock and potassium chloride.

Growth regulators for tomato seedlings

Atlet The drug Atlet can also be used for seedlings. This is a growth regulator, the so-called. retardant. This drug inhibits the growth of the plant, but makes it stockier by stimulating the growth of the root system.

When using Atlet, it is important to stop watering during this period. Only after a day, or better yet after two, you can spray the soil surface with a spray bottle, then the effect will be stronger. If you notice that your seedlings are not stocky enough, Atlet can be used 4 times every 4-5 days. 1 week before planting seedlings in the soil, the application of the drug must be stopped. Don't rush to use Atleta

It is better to start adding it when 3 true leaves are formed. With an athlete you can not only water the soil of the seedlings, but also spray the entire seedlings. When spraying, it is optimal to carry out 3 treatments at intervals of a week.

For seeds instead of potassium permanganate

with iodine . This is one of the most effective ways to use it, which, among other things, accelerates the emergence of seedlings.

Treatment is carried out immediately before sowing. The seed is soaked for two to three hours in a five percent iodine diluted in the proportion of a drop per liter. After processing, the seeds are not washed, they are allowed to dry a little and placed in the ground.

To disinfect potato tubers, place them evenly, in one layer, on film. Then prepare a solution based on

• 2 milliliters;
• a bucket of water .

Generously spray the potatoes with it.

How to properly fertilize tomato seedlings

In order for fertilizers to benefit the seedlings, you need to adhere to the feeding rules.

1. I advise you to definitely fertilize tomato seedlings either early in the morning or late in the evening in cloudy weather. If the sun is shining, I advise you to shade the window with newspaper for the duration of feeding (24 hours).
2. Before applying fertilizing and after applying it, the soil should be watered with soft water - preferably melted water or rain.
3. Never exceed the dosage of fertilizers and always read the instructions on the package.
4. To keep track of the type and amount of fertilizing, I strongly advise you to keep a regular notebook and write down what fertilizers you applied and when. Believe me, even those with “amazing memory” make mistakes.

Fertilizer schedule for tomato seedlings

For those who do not particularly care about seedlings and want to devote a minimum of time to them, I can say that a tomato needs only two critical feedings.

• The first feeding is carried out 14 days after picking,
• The second feeding is 7 days after the first.

In general, you can fertilize tomato seedlings at least every 2 weeks. You don’t have to fertilize the seedlings at all if they look great – they have dense green leaves, a thick, stocky stem and don’t stretch out.

You can carry out up to 6 fertilizing of seedlings before planting them in the ground. It is done when necessary: ​​if the plant stretches out, grows weak and lethargic, a sign of mineral starvation and disease appears.

1. The first time I feed the seedlings is as soon as the first true leaf has formed. I use nitrophoska for this: 1 tsp. I dissolve it without a small amount in 1 liter of water and distribute this volume among 40 plants.

2. For the second feeding, you can use Effecton or superphosphate. I feed it a second time when I notice that the stems have begun to lengthen.

• If you use superphosphate, then 1 tbsp. l. dilute it in 3 liters of water, if Effecton, then 1 tbsp. l. need to be diluted in just 1 liter of water.
• If the drugs are not very effective and the stems continue to stretch (this, alas, happens), then Athlete will come to the rescue - he will sharply slow down the growth, and the stem will begin to develop in thickness.
• At the same time as Atlet, you can use any folk remedy - plants, as a rule, already have a couple of true leaves.

3. I carry out the third feeding 1 week after the second. Again I use my favorite nitrophoska: 1 tsp. I dilute the mixture in a bucket of water and pour 500 g of solution under each bush.

4. After 1.5 weeks, I carry out the fourth feeding, which is primarily aimed at strengthening the root system of tomato seedlings. Here I use potassium sulfate, well known to many, in a volume of 1 tbsp. for 10 liters of water. I water the soil generously, 500 g should fall exactly under the bush.

5. After another 1.5 weeks, I carry out the fifth feeding. I dilute 1 tbsp. l. nitrophoska in a bucket of water, and then add 600 g to the seedlings.

6. After a week, you can spray the above-ground part with the same solution, without calculating how much fertilizer was spent on the plant, the main thing is that it is completely moistened with the solution.

Before hardening, about a week in advance, I simply spray the plants with clean, soft water, also wetting the entire plant, washing away all traces of fertilizer.

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Experiment on growing tomato seedlings: sowing, picking, fertilizing _________________________________________________________________________

Feeding seedlings with eggshells

Eggshells contain a lot of calcium, which promotes cell division and, accordingly, active growth of seedlings. An infusion of shells is used as a top dressing.

Take the shells of 3-4 chicken eggs, pour in 3 liters of warm water and leave to infuse in a dark place. To prevent the smell of the infusion from spreading throughout the house, cover the container with a tight lid. After 3 days, when the infusion becomes cloudy and “fragrant,” dilute it in a ratio of 1:3 and water the seedlings.

Eggshells can also be used to protect seedlings from blackleg. To do this, finely chop the shells and sprinkle the soil in containers with seedlings.

Disinfection of seeds and soil with iodine

Before sowing, it is recommended to disinfect the planting material, for which gardeners use solutions of potassium permanganate and soda . Iodine can also be used for pre-planting seed treatment:

• dilute 1 drop of antiseptic in 1 liter of water at room temperature;
• soak the seeds in the solution for 10 minutes and rinse under running water at room temperature;
• dry the planting material on paper or fabric napkins.

You will be interested to know: Cow and horse manure as organic fertilizer: how to apply, process and store

This procedure will help rid infected seeds of infectious agents.

The soil is disinfected with an iodine solution, which is prepared from 10 liters of water and 3 drops of antiseptic. Useful water is poured into a watering can with a strainer and the beds are watered.

Watering tomato seedlings

Folk fertilizers are not inferior in efficiency to industrial fertilizers, but at the same time they cost almost nothing. Recipes inherited by summer residents from previous generations pass from mouth to mouth and help to grow strong and healthy seedlings.

Iodine

Experts have not thoroughly studied the effect of iodine on the plant, but the positive effect of using such fertilizing has long been confirmed experimentally. The element does not directly affect the growth processes of tomatoes, but is a catalyst for the absorption of nutrients and helps strengthen the immune system. In the case of seedlings, iodine is used only until the ovaries appear. After its influence, plants develop better, get sick less, and subsequently produce a bountiful harvest.

It is important to follow the correct dosage of iodine fertilizer. In large quantities the substance has a toxic effect on plants

It is recommended to water the seedlings with water with the addition of iodine 7 days after the first fertilizing with mineral complex fertilizer. To prepare the solution, 1 drop of iodine is dissolved in 3 liters of water. You need to water the seedlings with this product through a strainer, irrigating the leaves and the top layer of soil.

On a note! Before planting the seedlings in a permanent place, the soil is watered with an iodine solution prepared in the same proportion as for watering the seedlings. This will disinfect the soil and help the plants take root better. This manipulation should be carried out a day before the transplant.

Yeast

Yeast contains a lot of substances beneficial to plants and additionally improves the soil structure after application. Under the influence of the yeast solution, the growth rate of tomatoes increases, disease resistance improves, and productivity increases.

This fertilizing can be used at any stage of crop cultivation, but it is better to start doing this at the seedling stage. Yeast has an equally good effect on the development of the above-ground and underground parts of seedlings, helping them become stronger and recover faster after picking. Yeast does not cause any harm to the soil and plants, so you can safely use it.

To prepare the solution, use 50 g of fresh yeast or 5 g of dry yeast per 5 liters of water. Additionally, you can add 1 tbsp. spoon of sugar. All ingredients must be mixed and the mixture allowed to brew for 2-3 hours. Before use, the fertilizer is diluted in a ratio of 1:5.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is used to stimulate the growth of tomato seedlings and prevent diseases. The product disinfects the soil well and prevents the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in it. Peroxide, as peroxide is also called, helps fill the roots with oxygen and neutralizes nitrates contained in the soil.

After watering with peroxide, iron and manganese salts that are useful for tomatoes are restored in the soil. The first feeding is carried out 2-3 weeks after emergence. In the future, the plants are watered with the product once a week. To prepare the fertilizer, mix 1 tbsp. spoon of hydrogen peroxide with 1 liter of water. The composition must be prepared immediately before use; it cannot be stored.