How to fertilize tomato seedlings at home

If the soil you're planting in isn't the most fertile, you'll need to immediately apply a special fertilizer, as these additional nutrients will help the plant grow strong and fruitful. To ensure rapid establishment, it's important to add fertilizer immediately after planting the seedlings, but don't apply too little fertilizer, as the quality of the future harvest will depend on it. However, overdoing the fertilizer is also not recommended, as excess nutrients can seriously harm not only the plant but the entire crop. Be especially careful when using nitrogen fertilizer, as this additive can seriously harm the quality of the harvest or even destroy it entirely. Don't forget protect the area from ticks.

To get high-quality seedlings, it's important not only to use tomato seedling fertilizer at home (video), but also to choose the right seeds, as the quality of the future small sprouts will depend on their quality.

What are the signs that a plant is deficient in nutrients?

If the tomatoes are completely healthy and have sufficient nutrients, their leaves will be dark in color and very firm to the touch. Also, pay attention to the stems; they may have a dark purple tint. In this case, you can use a special tomato fertilizer, but only once. Fertilizing tomato seedlings at home with folk remedies is done before planting them in the greenhouse.

If the seedlings do not have enough nitrogen, they will begin to show signs of deficiency of this element:

The first symptom of nitrogen deficiency is yellowing of the shoots' leaves. The plant may also drop leaves, which can be caused by too-low temperatures or overwatering. These two factors can also cause leaf drop. Therefore, it's important to carefully check whether overwatering is the cause of the shoots' leaf drop.

If the leaves begin to turn purple, the only thing that can cause this change is insufficient phosphorus in the plant. However, if the leaves are growing normally, there's no need to apply fertilizer, as it can only harm the future harvest. If the leaves begin to turn pale, this could indicate chlorosis or iron deficiency; in this case, the leaves change color and become very noticeable with veins.

How to properly feed plants

When the plants begin to emerge, they should not be disturbed, but after two weeks of growth, these seedlings can be pricked out. It is after this picking seedlings It is recommended to fertilize tomato seedlings at home with ash or other fertilizers suitable for tomatoes. The first fertilization should be done immediately after transplanting, and the next two fertilizations should be done every two weeks to ensure a good yield. However, there are some differences between fertilizing seedlings grown in a greenhouse and those planted outdoors.

The first feeding is recommended after planting the plants in greenhouse soil, but only twenty days after planting the seedlings in the soil. It's recommended to use a potassium fertilizer for this first feeding; one tablespoon of potassium fertilizer can be used per liter of clean liquid. It's best to avoid using nitrogen, as it will reduce tomato yield.

The next feeding should be done only fourteen days after fertilizing tomatoes of any variety. It's best to wait about two weeks, and only use Group A solutions for fertilizing tomato seedlings. Gardeners recommend using chicken manure during this period for home-grown tomato seedlings, as it helps add a large amount of nutrients to the soil. If using Group A solutions, they should be applied at a rate of forty-five grams per ten liters of clean water. One liter of this solution should be used for each plant; this will replenish the deficient nutrients in the soil.

It's also worth protecting plants from rot, as this is common among tomatoes. To avoid this problem, use calcium nitrate. Plants are especially susceptible to rot when they're in the flowering period. A tablespoon of this substance per bucket of water is sufficient. Only by properly using tomato seedling fertilizer at home (forum) can you achieve a good harvest. Fertilizing the soil immediately after moistening the plant's soil allows the nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil.

Fertilizing outside the soil

If a gardener wants to harvest a little earlier than expected, it's worth using solutions applied outside the soil to fertilize tomatoes. These fertilizers help protect tomatoes from various pests and diseases and strengthen their health. Tomatoes, in particular, respond well to foliar feeding of tomato seedlings at home with nitrophoska or other solutions. It's important to prepare them properly to prevent the solution from damaging the plant's appearance and yield.

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These types of feeding can be done weekly. It is recommended to use any potassium-based fertilizer, such as saltpeter or Aquamarine. Simply add one small spoonful to a bucket of water and water the plants with this solution. It is best to spray the plants only in the late evening, as the nutrients will be absorbed by the leaves along with the dew.

What nutrient solutions can be used to fertilize the soil?

In addition to store-bought fertilizers, there are simpler nutrients that will enrich the soil with substances that will help plants bear fruit normally. For example, you can feed tomato seedlings at home with iodine, herbal infusions, or fruit peelings. It's worth considering these fertilizer options in detail.

Using eggshells

To prepare this solution, take one large jar (about three liters of water), place the shells of several eggs in it, then seal the lid and let it steep for three days. The infusion will have a cloudy appearance and an extremely unpleasant odor, as the eggshells will begin to decompose, which is what benefits the plants. Once the liquid has steeped, dilute it with clean water using a one-to-three ratio. Instead of this top dressingYou can also use regular ash, pour hot water over it and let it steep for a while, strain this mixture and water the plants with it.

Herbs for fertilizing tomatoes

To begin, take a large barrel and fill it with fresh nettle leaves, kitchen scraps, or any weeds. Add water to the mixture, leaving it to steep for a few days to create a green slurry. Leave the barrel in full sun for at least a week to allow the plants to decompose and create a nearly uniform consistency. If desired, add a small amount of manure or chicken manure to improve the quality of the resulting fertilizer.

If you pour the infusion into a bucket and place it in a greenhouse, the plants will quickly grow better, as the solution releases a lot of carbon dioxide, which has a very beneficial effect on tomato plants. It's important to continue caring for tomato seedlings at home that were recently fertilized. For example, don't forget about timely watering and pest control. It's essential. spray trees and bushes in the spring against pests.

You can purchase a special fertilizer at a gardening store, or make your own at home. The key is to properly time the application and apply the appropriate dose to each plant's soil.