Tomatoes are one of the most common vegetable crops. Someone grows tomatoes without much difficulty, while someone is fighting for every bush of this plant. The question arises: what does the harvest depend on? In this article, we will talk about how to feed tomato seedlings so that the tomatoes develop well and give a good harvest.
Why you need to feed
For normal development and a high yield of vegetables, during the summer they must be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. There is an opinion that without the use of mineral fertilizers, organic vegetables are obtained. But it is precisely because of the lack of fertilizers that the yield is low. Unfortunately, the soil no longer has a sufficient amount of substances that ensure the normal growth of the plant. Such plants are most often attacked by pests. If top dressing is done on time, then you can significantly increase your yield. It is advisable to fertilize plants at an early stage of development when any changes are visible.
Every gardener wants to get a high yield. To understand what your plants lack and to fight against nutrient deficiencies, you need to know the symptoms of a lack of elements:
- With a lack of nitrogen, the plant develops yellow leaves, which eventually wither and fall off. In this case, the main thing is not to confuse with excess moisture.
- With a lack of phosphorus, the plant may acquire a slightly purple color.
- Magnesium deficiency manifests itself in plants in the form of brittle leaves.
- With a lack of iron, the top of the shoot begins to turn yellow, and the leaf may turn white. In this case, foliar fertilizer is carried out with iron sulphate, in a proportion of 5 grams per 10 liters of water. Foliar top dressing is recommended to be applied at low soil temperatures.
- Calorie starvation manifests itself in the form of wrinkled leaves. Watered with sodium chloride solution.
When and what to feed
You can fertilize tomatoes with a wide variety of preparations, which may include the following components:
- One of the common and effective fertilizers is superphosphate, which contributes to the good growth of nightshade. In most cases, it is available in powder form.
- Complex fertilizers. These are mixtures that include potassium and nitrogen.
- In particular, organic fertilizers are used as top dressing for tomato seedlings.
Like any organism, tomatoes need a balanced diet, which includes such macronutrients as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and microelements - iron, copper, manganese.
It is recommended to prepare a place for planting vegetables in the fall. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that these colorful vegetables do not like overfeeding. When the period of planting tomatoes from the greenhouse into open ground comes, it is recommended to sprinkle it a little with a little ash. When introducing this substance into the soil, you need to understand that ash is a rather caustic substance and the main thing is not to overdo it. Of course, it will not provide a complete fertilizer, but it will help if the seedling stems are too thin or slow down a little in growth.
Feeding tomato seedlings with urea has a positive effect on their growth. In order for the roots to take root well during transplantation, you can add one tablespoon of urea with the addition of superphosphate to each hole, and in no case should you forget about good watering.
It is best to carry out the first dressing of tomato seedlings on the 10-14th day after picking.. Among gardeners, the following mixture for seedlings has proven itself well: for 10 liters of water we take 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of urea and 15 g of potassium chloride. The second feeding is repeated after two weeks. It is good to use completely soluble substances, dissolving them no more than 50 g per 10 liters of water.
You can feed nightshade with another rather interesting tool. I think we all have pieces of bread. As you know, it contains yeast. Therefore, the bread remaining throughout the year, in order to avoid mold, is dried in the oven and stored, and in the summer it is used as fertilizer. Already dried leftovers are soaked in warm water and left overnight. The resulting slurry is used during the loosening of the earth, adding it under the roots. You can also dilute the bread mass in a large amount of water, and use the resulting mixture for irrigation. After such fertilizer, the yield increases by 1.5 times, the endurance of plants increases, and root formation increases. This is the so-called growth stimulant.
An effective preparation for spraying tomatoes is the most common skimmed milk. To do this, take half a glass of milk and dilute it in 1 liter of water, and in the morning the plants are sprayed with prepared solutions. Such a seemingly harmless and simple spraying will help get rid of pests that cause leaf curl. This solution is sprayed with varieties of folk selection.
There is a method of fertilization that inveterate gardeners are fond of - this is fertilizing the soil with chicken manure. In addition, bird manure is considered an organic fertilizer, the composition of which is rich in chemical elements, namely: phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium. Such a fertilizer will affect your crop no worse than any other complex mineral fertilizer. The advantage of it is that it is practically free.
With a lack of calcium, you can use an infusion of eggshells. To do this, a three-liter jar is filled 2/3 with eggshells and insisted in a warm place for 3-4 days, then diluted in a ratio of 1:3 and watered.
As it turned out, it is not so easy to grow these delicious vegetables in your garden, and not just grow, but get the desired harvest. Therefore, it is necessary to have at least elementary knowledge and follow the rules of agricultural technology.
Video "Secrets of growing a large crop of tomatoes"
To grow a good crop of tomatoes, it is enough to know a few simple rules for growing and caring for these plants. Watch this video and find out.
plodovie.ru
How to feed tomato seedlings
A hot time has come for all summer residents, regardless of their area of \u200b\u200bresidence. I live on Baikal. A lot of garden crops have to be planted in the ground with seedlings, this also applies to tomatoes.
To the question: “How to feed tomato seedlings?”, I will give an answer using the experience of my mother - she is an experienced summer resident who not only grows seedlings for herself, but also for selling roots for 3000! She has already moved her seedlings to a heated greenhouse, carefully closes it at night, but does not plant it yet.
She begins to feed the seedlings from the moment the leaves are “baptised”, but the main thing in this matter is not to overdo it, because. you can get a good green mass, but there will be no fruits. If the leaves are dark green in color, and the stems are dense, with a purple tint, then top dressing is not needed at an early stage.
When the seedlings grow for a long time on the window in a small amount of soil and fertilizing, the leaves from below begin to turn yellow and crumble, this indicates that the tomatoes lack nitrogen, which is transferred from the lower leaves to the upper ones. (Attention! With an excess of nitrogen, all leaves turn yellow.)
If the plant is deficient in phosphorus, then on the underside of the leaves, their veins, stems become purple.
The lack of potassium, which tomatoes need in large quantities, is manifested by the wrinkling of young leaves, and later by the uneven ripening of the fruit.
Chlorosis, or in other words, a lack of iron, can manifest itself in tomatoes that are around the clock in a lit room, and we also know from biology that the main growth and processing of nutrients occurs at night. In this case, spray the leaves with a weak (0.1-0.5%) hypotonic solution.
In general, tomatoes love top dressing. The first - do 10 days after the pick. The second, in two weeks, and so on, until the seedlings are planted in the ground. How to feed tomato seedlings, each hostess chooses for herself. It can be complex fertilizers, of which there are many on sale now, or it can be a solution of superphosphate, potassium sulfate, urea per 10 liters in grams 35-12-4. Don't forget to water your seedlings before feeding.
OgorodSadovod.com
Feeding seedlings - how to feed, when and why
The role of feeding seedlings in its cultivation is underestimated by many gardeners. But in vain! Top dressing strengthens the immune system of plants and helps it withstand stressful conditions. Before fertilizing, the soil in the containers must be lightly watered with ordinary water so that the nutrient solution does not burn the roots. This is especially true for seedlings grown in small containers, such as cassettes.
To feed the seedlings, you can use various special solutions in low concentrations - organomineral fertilizers, trace elements. Now on sale there are many different drugs that can be used to feed seedlings. These are, for example, Uniflor Growth, Kemira Lux, Agricola for various garden plants, and others.
Last season I used the preparation "GUMI Kuznetsova" to feed the seedlings. Very satisfied. It can be used for soaking seeds before sowing (1 drop per glass of water), for dipping roots when picking seedlings (2 teaspoons per 5 liters of water), for feeding (spraying) seedlings (2 teaspoons per 10 liters of water). This is an organomineral fertilizer, a natural elixir of fertility. Water or spray the seedlings with this solution once every 10-14 days.
You can make your own complex fertilizer for feeding seedlings from the main fertilizers, which, for sure, every gardener has.
Below is a table of the order of feeding. Doses are given in grams per 1 liter of water.
CultureThe sequence of dressingsAmmoniac nitrateSuperphosphatePotassium sulfate
I usually have a lot of seedlings and, of course, 1 liter of fertilizer solution for watering is not enough. Therefore, I don’t bother too much, I don’t measure out such tiny doses - I measure fertilizers with teaspoons or tablespoons.
Ammonium nitrate in 1 teaspoon - 5 g, and in one tablespoon - 15 g, in a matchbox - 20 g.
Superphosphate granulated in 1 teaspoon - 6 g, and in one tablespoon - 17 g, in a matchbox - 23 g.
Potassium sulfate - in 1 teaspoon - 4 g, and in one tablespoon - 13 g, in a matchbox - 17 g.
As can be seen from the table, it is necessary to carry out 3 top dressings for the entire period of seedling development - from the emergence of seedlings to planting in open ground.
The first feeding is carried out with the advent of the first true leaf.
The second - 10-14 days after the first.
The third - one or two days before disembarkation. This is the so-called hardening top dressing.
Growing seedlings is an exciting process that will give you a lot of emotions. Feel free to take on this exciting business, experiment and share your experience with us!
garden23.ru
Is it necessary to feed pepper seedlings? Is additional nutrition of seedlings justified at the initial stages of development? Why waste energy and time on operations that you can do without? Such questions are increasingly of interest not only to beginner vegetable growers, but also to those who have been growing this crop for a long time.
To feed or not?
Numerous publications intended for gardeners and owners of personal subsidiary plots offer very contradictory answers. A significant part of the authors believe that seedlings should be grown in relatively poor soil in order to avoid stretching and overgrowing. Overfed with fertilizers, especially nitrogen, seedlings begin to rapidly develop above-ground parts, often reaching unacceptably large sizes long before the planned transplant. And the lack of light, inevitable in the first spring months, provokes an unnatural elongation of the stems, which significantly reduces the quality of future plants.
Other experts give directly opposite recommendations, advising to feed pepper seedlings with nutrient solutions every 10-15 days during the entire growing period, until planting. They say that without this, it will grow weak and unviable, will take root for a long time and bloom poorly.
Involuntarily, you will think about who you need to listen to. Especially if your own experience in growing seedlings was not particularly successful or non-existent.
According to most gardeners-practitioners who annually receive their own seedlings of peppers, everything depends on the choice of soil - the substrate in which the seedlings will develop. If the composition of the nutrients in it is correctly selected, that is, the soil is intended for growing this particular crop, top dressing may not be needed at all. Or a minimum number of them is required. But those who want to grow seedlings in artificial soil, for example, according to the method of Dr. Mitlider, need almost daily additional fertilizer with solutions of strictly verified concentration.
How to feed
When using soil labeled "For Peppers and Tomatoes", seedlings usually require no more than 2 - 3 dressings. The first of them is advised to do immediately after unfolding the second real leaflet. The second - 14 - 15 days after the first. And the third top dressing, if needed, is carried out two or three days before moving to a permanent place.
In the case of a two-time top dressing, the first start two weeks after the emergence of seedlings. At this time, three or four true leaves are already formed on the seedlings. The second - four days before transplanting into a greenhouse or greenhouse. Their purpose is to strengthen seedlings, increase the ability to withstand stress and quickly recover after transplantation.
What to feed
For the first feeding of peppers, mainly nitrogen and potassium fertilizers are used. There may be several recipes here.
1. Solution of potassium nitrate:
- saltpeter - 60 g;
- water - 20 l.
2. Ready-made composition of "Kemira-Lux":
- composition - 40 g;
- water - 20 l.
3. A mixture of mineral fertilizers:
- ammonium nitrate - 2 teaspoons;
- superphosphate - 3 tablespoons;
- potassium sulfate - 3 teaspoons;
- water - 1 bucket.
4. Complex mixture of GUMI Kuznetsov:
- GUMI - 2 teaspoons;
- water - 1 bucket.
The second dressing, in addition to nitrogen and potassium, should contain phosphorus and other elements. The following fertilizers are most suitable for her:
- "Kristalon" at a concentration of 20 g per bucket of water;
- "Kemira-lux" - 30 g per bucket;
- a mixture consisting of 60 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulfate per bucket of settled water.
You can use the same mineral mixtures as for the previous top dressing, increasing the doses of all elements by about 2 times and pouring a little wood ash into the cups.
Opponents of chemical fertilizers are usually advised to infuse nettle, at a concentration of 1:10, in combination with ash.
For the third feeding of pepper seedlings, complex fertilizers are suitable - Nitroammofoska, Gomel, Uniflor-growth, Agricola. All of them must be used in accordance with the instructions.
With a clearly slow development and too light leaves, you can add a solution of urea to the substrate at the rate of a teaspoon of the drug per six liters of water. Or use Ideal fertilizer in the concentration prescribed in the instructions.
It happens that individual plants begin to noticeably lag behind in growth and development. Such specimens can be fed additionally. The simplest nutrient solution for them can be prepared from sleeping tea. It is enough to collect half a glass of dry used tea leaves, pour into a liter bottle and pour hot water. After five days, the resulting infusion should be drained, filtered and, without diluting, used for irrigation.
Feeding rules
When feeding seedlings of peppers, you must remember:
- this plant does not tolerate fresh manure;
- you can not feed the seedlings immediately after picking - at least two weeks must pass;
- feeding solutions should be at room temperature or slightly warmer;
- feed, as well as water, you need to be very careful, trying so that the drops do not fall on the leaves and stems;
- This operation is best done in the morning or evening.
indasad.ru
how to feed tomato seedlings
✿Elena m✿
What is missing from seedlings?
You must constantly monitor the development and growth of plants planted by you and notice all changes in time, especially those that are unnecessary for them (those that retard growth, development), and quickly take action.
After all, this is often caused simply by a lack of some kind of nutrient, an excess of moisture in the soil, cold soil in pots, pests that have settled on the underside of the leaves, a disease that begins. If the plants lack nitrogen, they look stunted: the stalk is thin, the leaves are small, pale green, turn yellow from below and die. And, conversely, with an excess of nitrogen, they fatten: the stem and petioles are thick, the leaves are large, dark green.
With a lack of phosphorus, a red-violet hue appears on the leaves (more often on the underside), on the lower leaves, chlorosis is a discoloration of the tissue between the veins. If the ends and edges of the old (lower) leaves turn yellow, then this is a clear sign of a lack of potassium. In tomato seedlings, the leaves can curl down.
How much fertilizer to give each plant?
Young tomato seedlings need phosphorus. This plant does not absorb it well from the soil. If the situation is not controlled in time and fertilized with phosphorus, the seedlings will slow down growth, and their leaves will turn dark purple.
Fertilizing the soil with nitrogen, you need to be extremely careful. With an abundant supply of these elements, the seedlings are stretched, and this leads to a delay in flowering and fruit set.
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, the soil must be prepared in the fall. For each square meter, one bag of rotten woody leaves should be poured and immediately loosened. And in mid-April, it is enough to apply 10 g of nitrophoska to the same place, then dig again. This procedure makes the soil sufficiently moist and the tomatoes will not suffer from drying out.
Seedling picking is the transplantation of young plants from a common container into larger pots.. This is done at an early stage, when 2-3 true leaves are fully formed.
Experts believe that picking promotes the development of roots, makes the plant stronger and stronger.
Since during the period of active growth, the seedling begins to require a sufficient amount of soil volume, nutrients and oxygen. The root system is actively developing, requiring more and more space in the tank.
What happens if you do not dive:
Therefore, the feeding area is increased for young shoots by transplanting larger pots of approximately (500 ml in volume). This gives the seedlings an incentive to develop the root system and is the key to health. Picking also promotes the development of lateral roots, facilitates subsequent planting in the ground, helps to select strong plants and get rid of weak ones. If necessary, picking will help slow down the growth of seedlings.
Next, consider how you can feed the tomatoes before picking, during or after it, so that the stems of the plant are plump and strong.
We offer you to watch a video about what a tomato pick is and how to properly fertilize a plant before transplanting:
How to feed a young plant before transplanting
Do tomatoes need it in the early stages for seedling growth?
Young seedlings require quite a lot of nutrients. Since all the forces at this time are aimed at growth, the development of the root system and the growth of green mass. And a healthy plant can grow only on fertile, fertilized soil. Usually, experts recommend carrying out the first dressing after the full formation of the first true leaf, sometimes a little later.
The amount of top dressing depends on the quality of the soil in which the seeds are sown, and the soil into which the shoots will be transplanted after picking.
If plants are deficient in nutrients, then this is very easy to notice by the appearance of the shoot.
Signs of nutrient deficiency:
- A lack of nitrogen is manifested by yellowing of the lower tier of leaves, after which they fall off. At the same time, excess nitrogen is manifested by the yellowness of the entire green mass. A solution of urea or ammonium nitrate will help here.
- If the plant lacks phosphorus, then the lower part of the leaf becomes purple with veins. To eliminate this problem, superphosphate is used (read about what types of phosphate fertilizers for tomatoes are and how to apply them).
- With a lack of potassium in the soil, young shoots shrivel and if this is not dealt with, the fruits will ripen unevenly.
- With a lack of iron, plants suffer from chlorosis, yellowing and twisting of the leaves are observed. Iron chelate is perfect here.
Fertilizer recipes prepared at home
If you decide to feed the seedlings before picking, then the best option for the first feeding is a copper solution. It will reliably protect young shoots from late blight.
To do this, 1 teaspoon of the concentrate (microfertilizer with a high copper concentrate) is dissolved in 10 liters of water. Then the shoots are abundantly watered. The rest of the solution can be stored for as long as needed.
For subsequent dressings, both chemical compounds and organic fertilizers prepared at home are well suited.
- 2 liters of water.
- 1 g of urea.
- 8 g of superphosphate.
- 3 g of potassium sulfate.
Recipe number 2:
- Dilute 5 g of bread yeast in 5 liters of water.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Infuse for 24 hours.
Yeast infusion cannot be stored. It is used immediately after preparation.
You can find out how to prepare yeast-based top dressing for tomatoes, as well as the pros and cons of such a fertilizer.
Recipe number 3:
- 2 liters of water.
- 1 st. a spoonful of wood ash.
Mix and infuse for 24 hours, then strain.
Recipe number 4:
- 2-3 parts of dry banana skins (read how to use banana skins and other organic matter for feeding and proper growth of tomatoes).
- 1 part water.
Banana skins pour water and leave for 3 days. Before feeding, dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 3. All the recipes described are used for root dressing.
How to fertilize:
- Before applying fertilizer, the soil should be well moistened.
- The most convenient way to feed is with a syringe, as the plant is still very young and tender.
- Under each bush, it is desirable to add about 3-5 g of the solution from the syringe.
- The second top dressing is allowed to be carried out no earlier than two weeks after the first.
At this stage (before picking), the plants are still too young and tender. The main thing here is not to overdo it!
What fertilizers and when to feed the tomatoes after transplantation?
In order for the seedlings to be plump, and the fruits to be large, the correct selection of the composition for feeding is necessary. Also, regularity and the correct scheme of procedures are important. Root top dressing is desirable to alternate with foliar fertilizer. In addition, the rules of procedure must be followed.
root preparations
The first top dressing should be applied no earlier than 10-14 days after picking.. The second top dressing is made in two weeks. Third - as needed. The last feeding of seedlings is carried out 10 days before planting in the ground.
After picking, the plant is actively increasing its green mass, and the following compositions will help in this.
Recipe #1:
- 1 st. a spoonful of urea.
- 1 liter of water.
Mix the components until completely dissolved and water the plants abundantly. Such top dressing contributes to the growth of green mass.
Recipe number 2:
- 1 liter of water.
- 1 st. a spoonful of Nitrofoska fertilizer.
Stir the ingredients until completely dissolved and water the seedlings abundantly.
"Nitrofoska" is a mineral fertilizer. The main components are phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen in equal proportions. Produced in the form of granules.
You can learn more about the benefits of mineral fertilizers for seedlings and adult tomatoes, as well as the types of dressings and their use.
Recipe number 3:
- 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate.
- 1 st. a spoonful of superphosphate.
- 0.5 l of chicken manure.
- Water -10 l.
Recipe number 4:
- 0.5 l of liquid mullein.
- 1 st. spoon "Nitrophoska".
- 10 liters of water.
Liquid mullein can be purchased at any gardening store. As a rule, it is sold in containers of 5 liters. According to the manufacturer, 1 liter of this liquid replaces 100 kg of fresh manure. Also in the garden store you can buy dry mullein in various packages.
Fertilizers according to recipes 3 and 4 should be added under each bush for 200-300g (about half of a 0.5-liter jar).
Foliar spray formulations
Foliar top dressing is the spraying of plants with special formulations from a spray bottle.. This is a great way to fertilize plants in active growth stages and when soil problems occur.
The main plus is the rapid absorption of nutrients. The second advantage is efficiency in adverse weather conditions.
There is also a minus - the difficulty in selecting the concentration of the drug. If you exceed it, you can get burns on the leaves. In this case, the concentration of fertilizer should be 3 times less than with root dressing.
When foliar top dressing is indicated:
- Too acidic soil. Root fertilizers in such soil are poorly absorbed.
- Plants have a weak appearance with pronounced signs of a lack of trace elements.
- Before flowering.
- With problems with the roots, when it is difficult to absorb nutrients through the root. The reasons may be different: high soil temperature, waterlogging of the soil, lack of oxygen in the soil, damaged roots (during transplantation or due to pests).
Foliar top dressing should not be carried out during the day, as the liquid from the leaves evaporates quickly and the effectiveness of the procedure is lost.
Consider the most effective recipes.
Recipe #1:
- Water - 9l.
- 10 drops of iodine.
- 1 liter of whey.
Recipe number 2:
- ½ small bottle of brilliant green (diamond green).
- 10 pieces. tablets "Trichopolum".
- 10 liters of water.
Recipe number 3:
- ½ cup sugar.
- Iodine 15 drops.
- 2 liters of whey.
- 10 liters of water.
Read more about the benefits of iodine for feeding tomatoes and how to use it correctly.
Rules for foliar top dressing:
- It is best to carry out foliar top dressing once every 10-14 days.
- In no case do not exceed the recommended concentration of substances in the preparation.
- Monitor the condition of the plants daily, if it worsens, then top dressing should either be canceled or replaced with another drug.
- If the seedlings are in the greenhouse after spraying, be sure to ventilate the room (read about the basic intricacies of fertilizing for tomatoes in the greenhouse, and from you will learn how to choose the best fertilizer for greenhouse seedlings).
- Spray materials must not contain chlorine.
Read more about what time foliar feeding should be carried out and with what preparations.
Experts warn:
- Fertilizing plants with mullein more than three times a season is very undesirable.
- The soil should not be overly fertilized, as the plants will actively grow greenery, and there will be few fruits.
- No need to put manure or bird droppings in the holes, this is fraught with a lack of harvest and a large green mass.
- You can fertilize seedlings only in the morning or in the evening.
- After fertilizing, the plant should be plentifully watered with settled water at room temperature.
- Purchase soil in advance in the composition, which has all the necessary nutrients. It will serve as the main top dressing until the tomatoes are planted in the ground.
Thus, the first and all subsequent feeding of tomatoes, both before and after diving, can be carried out with folk remedies prepared at home. Do not neglect the advice of experts, but at the same time, you should not thoughtlessly do everything you hear and read about. The golden mean is important here. The best teacher is practice. Only having gained practical skills in working with plants will you understand which tips to take into account and which not.
Useful video
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Experienced gardeners no longer need to explain that feeding tomato seedlings at home before and after picking, as well as after planting in the ground, is an absolutely necessary procedure for obtaining healthy and strong plants. After all, only such tomatoes can bring a good harvest, resist diseases and pests.
During the growth of seedlings, the root system begins to develop, the “immunity” of the plant to diseases is laid, and the basis for the future harvest is formed. And what it will be depends on how and when you feed tomato seedlings.
- How and when to feed tomato seedlings
- 1.1 Why do we need top dressing for seedlings
- 1.1.1 Signs of nutrient deficiency for seedlings
- 1.2 When to feed tomato seedlings
- 1.3 Feeding tomato seedlings after picking
- 1.4 Foliar top dressing tomato
- 1.5 Fertilizing tomato seedlings with organic fertilizers
- 1.5.1 Feeding tomato seedlings with iodine
- 1.5.2 Fertilizing with yeast
- 1.5.3 Fertilizing seedlings with ashes
- 1.5.4 How to feed tomato seedlings, video
- 1.1 Why do we need top dressing for seedlings
How and when to feed tomato seedlings
Many people mistakenly believe that tomatoes need fertile soil to grow. You can grow plants without fertilizing, and they will even give you a crop, but not the same if you still feed the tomatoes.
Why do you need fertilizer for seedlings
At the first stages of development, the plant lacks the vitality inherent in the seed itself and nutrients from the soil. But only at first. Imagine how much strength a plant needs to hatch from a seed and break through a layer of soil, even if it is loose. And at home, when it is warm and humid enough, all growth processes are accelerated and very soon the plants begin to experience nutrient deficiencies.
Signs of Nutrient Deficiency for Seedlings
Those gardeners who carefully observe the seedlings every day notice any changes immediately. At the same time, it is necessary to act immediately and correct errors during cultivation:
When to feed tomato seedlings
Experts recommend starting top dressing at the earliest stage of growth, that is, the first top dressing should be in the phase of two true leaves. At this time, the plant develops resistance to diseases, especially fungal diseases, such as late blight.
If you are going to feed the plants at this time, then it is better to use the Fitosporin preparation, which is diluted according to the instructions. It not only helps plants resist diseases, but also acts as a bioenergetic.
Also at this time it will be appropriate to shed the soil with a solution of copper, also for the emergence of disease resistance.
A week after the first, you need to carry out a second top dressing. here you can already use complex fertilizer, which will include not only mineral, but also organic substances. It is convenient to use the drug "Agricola", which has everything that tomatoes need. And the plants themselves will choose what to take for development.
The following top dressings are carried out every 10 days, preferably also with complex fertilizer. In addition, you can use organic matter, then I will give examples of organic dressings.
Feeding tomato seedlings after picking
After a dive, all plants experience stress, they need to get used to a new place, maybe a different soil composition. Necessarily at the same time the roots are damaged and the plant should just rest. Therefore, we give two weeks after transplantation and carry out the next top dressing with a solution of urea.
After planting in the ground, you also need to feed the tomatoes in two weeks, when they take root and grow. In the first feeding, you can use organic fertilizers. Dilute the mullein infusion, prepared in advance, 1 to 10. Add a tablespoon of nitrophoska to a ten-liter bucket of this solution and pour half a liter under each bush.
All root feeding should be done after watering, so the nutrients reach the roots of the plant faster.
Foliar top dressing tomato
As you certainly know, plants feed not only through the roots, but also through the foliage. Tomatoes are no exception, so foliar top dressing has a very beneficial effect on them. Usually these procedures are carried out in turn with the application of fertilizers under the roots. Spraying with useful compounds is recommended to be carried out early in the morning, in dew, so that nutrients penetrate the leaf faster.
For foliar top dressing of tomatoes, the following sprayings are used:
- Phytosporin solution, according to the instructions
- Urea solution
- Superphosphate, solution 1 tbsp. spoon for 10 liters of boiling water, leave for a day
- Potassium monophosphate, 1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water
- A solution of potassium nitrate.
Feeding tomato seedlings with organic fertilizers
Can be used for seedlings and fertilizers from folk remedies. My elderly neighbor every year sprinkles the soil in the seedling boxes with old tea leaves. Some collect eggshells by spring, pour two-thirds of a bucket of shells into a bucket of water with water, insist for three days and water. Just keep in mind that for such top dressing you need your own, homemade fresh eggs.
In the spring, when the seedlings already require top dressing, the first shoots of young nettles appear. I always collect young shoots in a bucket and fill it with warm water, leave it for five days, then use it to water small tomatoes.
Feeding tomato seedlings with iodine
You can use ready-made water-soluble fertilizers with iodine for seedlings and water the plants. You can use a solution of iodine for foliar top dressing. To do this, dilute a couple of drops of iodine in four liters of warm water and spray the sprouts from a spray bottle. In the seedling phase, one feeding with this preparation is sufficient for tomatoes.
Yeast nutrition
Previously, such dressings were popular, and both dry and raw yeast were used, even bread and crackers. But with the advent of new drugs, such a remedy was forgotten, and in vain. Because the yeast fungus activates the life of microorganisms in the soil, in addition, the yeast is rich in all the trace elements that are necessary for plant growth, root development and immunity.
Yeast sourdough for watering is prepared as follows: one hundred grams of any yeast is diluted in warm water with the addition of a couple of tablespoons of sugar for better fermentation. The solution is infused until the fermentation process stops, then you need to dilute it again, a liter of sourdough in five liters of water, water the seedlings a week after planting in a permanent place, then immediately after rooting.
Feeding seedlings with ashes
For many years, such top dressing has been popular, because the seedlings of tomatoes and peppers absorb the potassium and phosphorus contained in the ash very well. And everyone knows how all fungal diseases are removed with the help of ash.
The only negative is that nitrogen-containing fertilizers cannot be mixed with ash and nitrogen can be applied only a month after using ash top dressing.
For feeding, the following mixture is used: pour a tablespoon of pure wood ash with five liters of hot water and leave for a day, then apply under the plants.
How to feed tomato seedlings, video
To get a rich harvest, tomatoes need proper care, including fertilizer. Before feeding tomato seedlings, it is important to familiarize yourself with the terms and rules for performing the procedure, as well as with the instructions for the preparations.
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Why do I need top dressing for tomato seedlings
When the plant begins to hatch from the seeds and give the first roots, it has enough useful minerals that were in the seed itself and the soil. Seedlings grow quickly, which means they run out of nutrients. The seedling begins to experience a deficiency in them. The plant has changes that cannot be ignored.
When to feed tomato seedlings
Top dressing of seedlings in time is carried out in accordance with the schemes described below.
In addition, there are signs by which you can understand that nutrition should be immediately strengthened:
- the leaves have become pale green or yellow-green in color and veins have appeared, which means they lack iron;
- if the plant is fragile, breaks when touched, there is not enough magnesium;
- the leaves have acquired a purple hue - a sign of a lack of phosphorus;
- light leaves, their fall, stunted plant - indicate a lack of nitrogen.
Types of top dressing
Top dressing can be root or foliar, depending on how fertilizers will be applied.
Root
This feeding option is the simplest and most often used. Fertilizers are applied directly under the root of the plant. For root dressings, it is possible to use organic and mineral fertilizers. From organic, slurry is more often used. Plants need to be fed carefully, because excess fertilizer can increase nitrates.
Foliar
Foliar feeding - when fertilizer enters the plant through the leaves. In this case, the seedlings receive nutrients faster. This is the advantage of the technique. But to introduce many useful components using this method will not work. In addition, salt solutions can adversely affect the leaves and stem of the plant. Therefore, this type of fertilizer application is additional.
In order for all the nutrients to be absorbed by the plant, the leaves are sprayed, but not the stem. This should be done early in the morning or in the evening. You can perform the procedure during the day, but only in cloudy weather.
Why you need top dressing of tomatoes and how to carry it out is described in the video from the GARDEN, GARDEN, OWN HANDS channel.
Seedling feeding scheme
When feeding tomatoes, it is necessary to properly prepare fertilizer solutions, following the instructions with particular accuracy so as not to harm the plants.
General methods of feeding culture:
- dilute fertilizer;
- first, pour the seedlings with warm water;
- then water again, but with fertilizer.
There are several schemes for applying fertilizers.
Scheme "A":
- The first dressing is done 10 days after picking the seedlings. The fertilizer is prepared from ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate (10 g each), to which 50 g of superphosphate is added. All this is dissolved in a bucket of water heated to room temperature.
- The second feeding is carried out two weeks after the first. The components of the fertilizer are the same, but the amount of ingredients must be doubled.
- The third fertilization is carried out immediately before planting seedlings in a permanent place in a greenhouse or open ground. The recipe of the mixture is the same as for the first top dressing, but the amount of potassium sulfate must be doubled.
Scheme "B":
- The first feeding is carried out 10-12 days after picking. A liter of manure infusion, a glass of wood ash and 50 g of superphosphate are added to a bucket of water.
- The second feeding is performed 14 days after the first. The composition of the fertilizer solution is similar.
Types of fertilizers for tomatoes
Good growth and development of tomatoes can be ensured using various fertilizers, which can be:
- organic;
- mineral;
- complex.
From mineral fertilizers are often used for tomatoes:
- nitrogen-containing;
- potassium;
- sulfate;
- microfertilizers.
From organic use:
- manure;
- mullein;
- bird droppings.
All these fertilizers are natural and it is possible to use them both in liquid form and dry.
This video tells you what fertilizers are used to feed tomatoes. Photographed by the channel Tatyana's house and garden.
Mineral fertilizers
In order for tomatoes to grow and bear fruit, mineral elements are necessary. Such dressings contain a balanced amount of nutrients that have a complex effect on the plant. The most important are nitrogen, as well as potassium and phosphorus. The plant actively consumes these elements during the growing season, so their deficiency is possible.
Simple mineral fertilizers with low cost include one substance and only prevent its shortage. Their convenient feature is that an experienced gardener can independently regulate the content of components in top dressing.
Such fertilizers are divided into three types:
- Nitrogen. Nitrogen is necessary for building green mass and fruit set. They need to fertilize the plant from the moment of growth to flowering. They are used for rapid growth, they act at an early stage of vegetation. It is used before flowering, entering into the ground. After this period, the amount of nitrogen must be reduced. Among the nitrogen minerals, urea and ammonium nitrate are the best. Dilute 1 tablespoon in 10 liters of water.
- Phosphoric. Phosphorus is required for the formation of the root system. The element is necessary during the picking of seedlings. It is assimilated at a temperature of + 15 degrees, when diving it is better to use neutral soil. Simple fertilizers that contain it are called superphosphate. It should be noted that the substance is poorly soluble in water, and in dry form it is not absorbed at all. Therefore, the solution must be prepared in a day. This will require a liter of hot water and 1 tablespoon of superphosphate. After the solution has stood for a day, it must be diluted in 10 liters of water.
- Potash. Potassium is needed for the growth and maturation of the crop. If the leaves of the plant began to curl, then this element is needed. It has a good effect on the root system, immunity and improves the taste of fruits. It can be used at various stages of cultivation. It is not recommended to use potassium salts that do not contain chlorine, which negatively affects the plant. The most high-quality and popular fertilizer is called potassium sulfate. The solution is prepared as follows: 40 g of the substance is dissolved in 10 liters of water.
Zdraven Orton-RASSADA Tomato
All these fertilizers can be used both for feeding tomato seedlings and for adult plants. But when used in the first case, it is better to reduce the concentration.
organic fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are of plant and animal origin, they contain:
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- iron;
- calcium;
- other nutrients that are needed for the healthy development of seedlings.
You can feed tomato seedlings:
- manure;
- bird droppings;
- peat;
- sawdust, tree bark;
- leaves;
- ash;
- green manure;
- silt;
- compost.
Liquid organic top dressing from mullein and bird droppings for tomatoes can be applied during the period when the seedlings are actively growing, namely from the end of May to the beginning of June. If you notice that the seedlings are weakened and do not grow well, you can also use this fertilizer.
Stimulant drugs
Along with classical fertilizers, stimulating preparations are also used to ensure that the seedlings grow strong and do not get sick. Seeds should be treated with growth stimulants, as well as drugs for diseases that can be bought at gardening stores.
These include:
- Fitosporin, Baktofit. Used to disinfect seeds. It is important to follow the instructions exactly.
- Appin. Helps tomatoes grow and also promotes rapid seed germination. It must be used with care, because it is a concentrate. Diluted with warm purified water. If it will be used for soaking seeds, dilute 3 drops per 100 ml. For spraying seedlings - 6 drops per 500 ml. When conditions are unfavorable for the plant, you need to spray every 2 weeks until it gets stronger.
- Heteroauxin. Used to strengthen the root system. The tablet must be dissolved in 3 liters of water. The first time you can water after diving seedlings. The analogue of this drug is Vympel. It is also used to form the root system. Available in the form of a powder, which is diluted. The norm is 1 sachet per 5 liters of water.
- sodium humate. It is used to accelerate the growth of seedlings and increase yields. Most often it is used in the ground. It can also be used for soaking seeds in it.
- Energen. Increases adaptation when transplanting into the ground, increases yield and reduces nitrate content. The drug improves the metabolism in the plant at all stages. It is of natural origin: it is made from coal. Eco-friendly and economical, no contraindications to use.
It is necessary to use stimulant preparations for feeding tomatoes exactly following the application schedule.
The level of tomato harvest largely depends on agricultural technology in the cultivation of vegetables, which becomes important even when growing seedlings. It is especially necessary for plants to provide them with all the necessary nutrients in a timely manner, as a result of which top dressing of tomato seedlings at home is of particular importance.
Brief description of culture
Tomatoes are perennial bushy plants, which are one of the most common vegetable crops in our country and around the world. The fruits of the vegetable are large juicy fleshy berries, characterized by high taste and commercial qualities. Among the propagation methods, the seedling method is the most common. During the cultivation of seedlings, it is extremely important to provide young seedlings with fertilizers.
The need for top dressing
Before feeding tomato seedlings at home, you need to make sure that it is really necessary. The deficiency of a particular substance can be determined by external signs:
- Nitrogen. With a shortage of this element, the foliage in the lower part of the plant begins to turn yellow. This is because the plant is moving nutrients from there to the more promising upper part of the seedling. At the same time, growth processes slow down. Sometimes yellowing of the foliage with nitrogen deficiency is confused with a similar symptom with an excess of moisture and growing in cool conditions, but in this case all the leaves change color, not just the lower ones.
- Phosphorus. The lack of an element causes the formation of a purple tint on the underside of the leaf blade. Until the transplantation of seedlings to a permanent place, it is not recommended to take decisive steps to solve this problem, if this does not interfere with the normal growth and development of seedlings.
- Potassium. Deficiency of the element negatively affects the state of the root system of seedlings. By the time the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place, they do not have time to grow roots in sufficient volume. Subsequently, this negatively affects the growth and development of tomatoes.
- Iron. The element is extremely important for plants in the first phases of vegetation, its deficiency later manifests itself in the form of an insufficient level of immunity. You can determine the lack of iron by light spots on the leaves, on which streaks of green color are clearly visible.
- Calcium. This component is responsible for the normal formation of the stem. The deficiency of the element makes the stem thinner, makes it stretch in length.
Top dressing dates
The effectiveness of fertilizers largely depends on the correct selected period of fertilization. A rough plan for how to fertilize plants consists of the following points:
- First- when the first leaves appear on the plant.
- Second- 2 weeks after the picking of seedlings.
- Third- after another one and a half to two weeks.
- 4th- a few days before landing in open ground.
Important! Seedlings must be planted in nutrient soil, which will allow the seedlings to fully develop.
Top dressing when picking
Picking causes plants to experience serious stress, but nevertheless, this is a necessary measure. Timely application of fertilizer allows you to painlessly transfer it.
The first time you need to feed a week and a half before picking. It should be aimed at strengthening the immune system. Two weeks later, fertilizer is applied again. Thanks to this, the seedlings will regain strength and resume the growth of the root system and the aerial part of the plant.
Feeding tomato seedlings at home
Seedling feeding scheme
At the first stage Nitrogen and phosphorus are especially important for life development for plants, so it is necessary to focus on these elements. It is recommended to carry out root dressing with minerals, trying not to get on the foliage.
At the second stage top dressing is repeated if the development of seedlings proceeds normally. If there is a stretching of seedlings, then it is recommended to refrain from fertilizing with nitrogen. It is also necessary to technically increase the length of daylight hours and set the temperature at +18°C.
At the third stage, which usually falls on the period after picking, foliar top dressing is carried out using organic fertilizers. This will strengthen the seedlings and contribute to an increase in the vegetative mass.
At the fourth stage it is allowed to carry out top dressing both foliar and root methods. In the first case, the treatment is carried out in the mornings and evenings, so as not to provoke the appearance of sunburn on the leaves. You can use both mineral and organic fertilizers, but the main emphasis should be on the saturation of plants with potassium, due to which the formation of flower ovaries occurs.
Seedling feeding scheme
Feeding methods
Feeding tomato seedlings at home involves two main methods of application:
- root;
- foliar.
The first method involves dissolving the nutrient in water and applying it by watering the seedlings under the root. This method is especially important at 1-2 stages of plant development, when it is desirable not to moisten their foliage, since seedlings during this period are especially susceptible to the influence of fungal diseases.
Additional Information! In order not to provoke a burn of the roots, it is necessary to moisten the soil first.
At 3-4 periods of development of tomato seedlings, root feeding using a spray gun becomes a priority. The foliage by this time is already quite well developed and has the ability to absorb nutrients, as a result of which the effectiveness of such top dressing increases dramatically. In this case, under the influence of sunlight, burns may appear on the foliage, so it is better to transfer the procedure to the morning or evening.
fertilizers
The list of drugs and substances for feeding tomato seedlings at home is very wide and includes mineral, organic fertilizers, as well as a number of folk remedies. The described preparations can also be used to feed seedlings of other cultivated plants - peppers, cucumbers, etc.
fertilizers
mineral
The most common type of fertilizer. They contain essential nutrients for plants. The most common among them are:
- carbamide (urea)- nitrogen concentrated fertilizer, the action of which is aimed at ensuring the full growth and development of the root part of the seedlings;
- ammonium nitrate- nitrogen fertilizer, contributing to the full growth and development of shoots and leaves;
- superphosphate- a fertilizer that saturates the plant with phosphorus and other essential nutrients, intensifies metabolic processes and stimulates the normal development of a strong and strong root system;
- potassium sulfate is a chlorine-free potash fertilizer, the use of which allows the plant to build up a strong root system and increase immunity, intensify the development of flower ovaries, increase the quantity and quality of the crop.
- Mix 1 g of urea, 3 g of potassium sulfate and 8 g of superphosphate.
- The resulting mixture is diluted in 2 liters of water.
- The solution is stirred until all ingredients are completely dissolved.
- The resulting substance is used for root dressing.
For use in root and foliar dressings, the following preparation is prepared:
- Mix 600 mg of ammonium nitrate, 1.5 g of potassium sulfate and 4 g of superphosphate.
- Dissolve the mixture in a liter container with water.
- After complete dissolution, the fertilizer is ready for its intended use.
organic
Fertilizers of this category are characterized by their relative cheapness and availability. Most of these substances contain a significant amount of nitrogen, so their use is especially justified at the initial stages of plant development. The most common fertilizers in this category include:
- Bird (primarily chicken) droppings. 1 kg of the substance is dissolved in 10 liters of water and infused for 3-4 days, after which the fertilizer is ready for use.
- Cow dung used in a semi-decomposed state. 1 kg of mullein is diluted in 10 liters of water and infused for a day, after which fertilizer is obtained for root and foliar feeding.
Folk remedies
When choosing how to feed tomatoes at home on the window, many gardeners often choose products from this category. They are often found in everyday life and are suitable for those gardeners who do not want to expose the bushes to chemistry. The most common of them are:
- Ash. 30 g of the substance is diluted in 2 liters of hot water and left to infuse for a day, after which the liquid is filtered and used for spraying and watering.
- Iodine. The tool can not only saturate plants with nutrients, but also increase their resistance to fungal diseases. A drop of the substance is diluted in 3 liters of heated water. The resulting fertilizer is recommended for use in the last two stages of seedling development.
- Yeast. The substance is used at 2-3 stages of growing seedlings. 10 g of the substance is diluted in a bucket of water, insisted for a day and immediately used for top dressing, trying not to store the finished fertilizer for too long.
- Ammonia. Top dressing with this substance is carried out 2 weeks after picking, as well as on seedlings. To prepare fertilizer in a bucket of water, dilute one and a half tablespoons of the substance.
- Hydrogen peroxide. The tool is used for root dressing. 20 drops of a 3% preparation are diluted per liter of water, after which the fertilizer is ready for use.
Diseases and pests of tomato seedlings
Tomato seedlings can be damaged by the following categories of diseases:
- fungal;
- viral;
- bacterial.
- late blight;
- white leaf spot;
- rot;
- alternariosis (dry rot);
- blackleg;
- fusarium wilt;
- olive spotting (cladosporiosis);
- powdery mildew.
Viral diseases include:
- mosaic;
- streak (striation);
- aspermia (seedlessness).
Bacterial diseases include:
- brown leaf spot;
- bacterial mottling;
- bacterial wilt;
- black bacterial spot;
- stolbur;
- bacterial cancer.
The fight against these diseases involves the treatment of seeds before planting and spraying with appropriate fungicides.
Note! Viral diseases are practically untreatable. If they are present, it is necessary to get rid of the affected seedlings as soon as possible so that the virus does not have time to infect healthy plants.
Chemical preparations and mechanical collection are carried out against pests of tomato seedlings, which include:
- Colorado beetles;
- bear;
- whitefly;
- spider mites, etc.
Feeding tomato seedlings ensures the normal development of plants. In the future, this leads to a high and high-quality crop.
