Folk remedies for increasing the number of ovaries in tomatoes

Sometimes, even the strongest and most well-developed tomato plants can have a poor yield. This can be caused by unstable weather with sudden temperature fluctuations, nutrient deficiencies in the soil, or improper plant training. But don't panic, as there are ways to increase tomato yield.

What do tomatoes need for good fruit set?

The key to growing tomatoes is not choosing a productive variety, but following proper agricultural practices. Each crop has its own watering and fertilizing requirements. Excess moisture and nutrients lead to overgrowth of the foliage, to the detriment of the fruit, or to the development of diseases. A deficiency in any nutrition leads to poor development and reduced yields.

Attention!

Many gardeners consider tomatoes to be draft-loving plants. This is because they require periodic shaking to ensure proper pollination.

Most tomato varieties require staking, pruning, and removal of excess foliage. The plant thrives in warmth, but it also doesn't tolerate extreme heat or cold well. Gusty winds not only damage the bush but also prevent proper pollination.

How to create favorable conditions for tomatoes:

1. In cold regions, it is recommended to grow only tomato varieties that prefer warm weather and are resilient to adverse conditions outdoors. Other varieties should be grown in greenhouses.
2. To grow tomatoes, you need to choose an open and sunny place.
3. The soil in the area should be cultivated, loose, light, and well-drained. The optimal soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5.
4. If you plant tomatoes in the same place every year, they will not set fruit well and will often get sick.
5. Even for low-growing varieties, it's not advisable to plant tomato plants too closely. The distance between them should be at least 40 cm.
6. In normal weather conditions, tomatoes are watered once a week, and in hot weather, every two days. When watering, use warm water.
7. To determine the need for tomato fertilizer and select the appropriate fertilizer formula, it's important to observe the plants and consider the soil condition. If the leaves become too fleshy, this means the tomatoes are receiving too much nitrogen, and additional nitrogen feeding should be discontinued. If the leaves turn purple, this may indicate a phosphorus deficiency, and if they begin to dry out at the edges, there's a potassium deficiency in the soil.
8. Instructions for proper tomato plant training can be found on the seed packet. It's important to follow these guidelines, as excess branches can negatively impact yield and weaken the plant.
9. Tomatoes don't do well with weeds, which can choke vertical plantings and attract pests to the beds.
10. If signs of pest or disease damage are noticed, it is necessary to begin treating the plants immediately. Chemicals should be used only according to the instructions, adhering to the recommended timeframes between treatment and harvest.

Tomatoes are a rather demanding crop that requires care, especially if the goal is to produce a large harvest. Unfortunately, there aren't many varieties that can be grown with minimal care (just on weekends).

Reasons why tomatoes fail to set fruit in open ground

To choose the most appropriate method for increasing tomato yield, it's important to correctly identify the causes of the decline in fruit set or the lack of fruit set. When identifying the problem, it's important to consider the crop's overall growing conditions.

Temperature and humidity

The ideal daytime temperature for tomatoes is 23–29°C (maximum 30–32°C, but only for short periods) during the day and 18–21°C at night. If daytime temperatures rise and remain at 37–40°C, tomatoes will slow down and stop setting fruit. In hot weather without proper watering, tomatoes can lose a significant number of unpollinated flowers, and developing clusters will dry out.

We can't influence the weather, but we can help tomatoes survive unfavorable periods more easily.

• If nighttime temperatures drop significantly, you can build temporary shelters for your bushes. Simply install lightweight frames and thick covering material that can be easily removed during the day;
• During frequent rains, remove mulch and frequently loosen the soil around the bushes. If possible, thin out the foliage to help the plants dry faster and get good ventilation;
• To prevent rapid evaporation of moisture in hot and dry weather, cover the beds with a good layer of mulch;
• To protect fruit and young buds from direct sunlight, create shade for the bushes using a special net. The material should be stretched over lightweight, homemade structures, not directly onto the branches.

Tomatoes easily tolerate short-term weather changes. However, if protective measures are not taken during prolonged adverse periods, the harvest may be poor.

Pollination

Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants. Insects require little assistance, as a light breeze is sufficient. Pollination problems most often arise in greenhouses, but can also occur in open ground. Pollen dies at temperatures of 32°C or higher, especially in high humidity.

To determine whether a flower will produce a harvest, tap the flower stalk gently but firmly. A small cloud of pollen emanating from the flower is a positive sign; a lack of pollen and protruding threads on the long stalk indicate a pollination problem.

You can help your tomato plants pollinate by gently shaking the bushes. This should be repeated several times, preferably in the morning (between 9 and 11 a.m.). You can also pollinate them yourself using a regular artist's brush. Carefully insert a small brush into an open, brightly colored flower.

Fertilizers

The number of ovaries decreases due to improper, unbalanced nutrition. It is recommended to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers, including organic ones, before flowering. The first application is carried out approximately 10-14 days after planting, then repeat the procedure after the same interval, changing the type of nitrogen fertilizer if necessary, and applying foliar feeding to the tomatoes.

Once mass flowering begins, fertilize with complex fertilizers containing higher levels of potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen. Otherwise, the plant will overextend its foliage, which will negatively impact fruit formation. Some popular mineral fertilizers include the following:

• "Universal";
• Kemira station wagon-2;
• nitroammophoska;
• "Mortar".

Use any product strictly according to the instructions. Do not exceed the recommended application rate or frequency, as this may counteract the desired effect. Once the first flower clusters have bloomed and ovaries are beginning to form, superphosphate can be used as a foliar fertilizer (1 teaspoon per bucket of water). All fertilizing should be done only in the morning and evening, after watering, with intervals of at least 15 days.

Other reasons for poor fruit set in tomatoes

When purchasing seeds, pay attention to the recommended growing conditions. Tomatoes intended for open ground should be planted there, not in a greenhouse. It's important to remove excess side shoots early in their development to ensure the plant has more nutrients to develop fruit, which will thrive.

Tomato tricks for increasing fruit set

Experienced gardeners share secrets for preserving and increasing tomato yields. It's important to use advice and recommendations wisely and promptly. Overdoing the strain on plants is important, especially if there's no strong and reliable support. Fruit quantity isn't the only important factor, as too many can compromise quality.
Tips for growing tomatoes: It's important to plant tomatoes before the first bunch appears and to harden off the seedlings. Tomato beds in a greenhouse should be arranged east to west to ensure all plants receive uniform sunlight throughout the morning and afternoon. Hilling plays an important role in strengthening the plant's root system. The first hilling is done when barely noticeable bumps appear on the lower part of the stems, and the second when the stems near the ground turn a brownish-blue color. Hilling not only helps expand the plant's feeding area and increase the number of ovaries, but also saves plants damaged by frost or disease. This is especially important after heavy pruning.

Increasing tomato ovaries using folk remedies

Don't skimp on time and effort when caring for tomatoes. Instead of using chemical yield boosters, consider other options. Learn about reliable and proven methods for spraying and fertilizing tomatoes that are easy to prepare and inexpensive.

Wood ash

Wood ash is a source of potassium and phosphorus, which helps stimulate flowering and fruiting in tomatoes. To prepare a liquid fertilizer, add one tablespoon of ash to two liters of hot water, stir, cover, and let steep for 24 hours. Before use, strain the liquid and pour half of the resulting infusion under one tomato plant. Ash can be applied every 1-2 weeks.

For foliar feeding, prepare the solution differently. Mix 600 grams of ash with six liters of water, boil for 30 minutes, and let steep for five hours. Then, dilute the mixture to a volume of 20 liters and add 80 grams of laundry soap. Strain the resulting solution before spraying.

Eggshell

Eggshells are considered an excellent all-in-one fertilizer for tomatoes. Crushed eggshells from 3-4 eggs are placed in 3 liters of water, sealed tightly, and left to steep for 3 days in a dark, warm place. When the infusion darkens and acquires an unpleasant odor, it is ready to use. Eggshells are most often used when growing seedlings, but this infusion can also be used to water plants during the active growth stage. After the main watering, 200 grams of fertilizer is sufficient for one plant.

Iodine

To combat late blight and ensure a bountiful tomato harvest, we recommend using a mixture of 20 drops of iodine, a liter of whey, and a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. The recommended amount of ingredients is per bucket of water. Feed tomatoes with this solution instead of watering, not after. This procedure should be repeated twice a month. This recipe is also suitable for spraying, which can be repeated every 10 days.

If you water the established seedlings with a weak iodine solution (2 drops per 4 liters of water) while they're growing, the plants will flower and bear fruit more vigorously. The clusters will become more branched, large, and strong.

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Using banana peels as fertilizer for tomato seedlings helps strengthen the plants' immunity and promote the development of large, tasty fruits. Watering young tomatoes with this solution helps increase potassium levels, which plays an important role in nitrogen absorption.

To prepare the solution, take 3-4 banana peels and place them in a 3-liter jar. Then, pour warm water over the peels and let them steep for 3 days. Water the plants no more than once a week, just enough to completely soak the soil. The infusion can be stored in the refrigerator, but should be warmed to room temperature before use. Boric acid
This element helps transport calcium throughout the plant, promoting accelerated shoot growth, flower preservation, and fruit formation. Some gardeners recommend adding a small amount of powder to the planting holes a day before planting, but it's preferable to spray the plant during the active growth period.

Dissolve 5 grams of boric acid in a bucket of water and spray the plants evenly, covering all stems and the undersides of the leaves. Remember that the substance dissolves better in hot water. Another alternative is to dissolve 5 grams each of urea, copper sulfate, and boric acid in 10 liters of water, treating the plants twice, two weeks apart.

Yeast

Tomatoes can be fed with yeast fertilizer once before the start of mass flowering. To do this, add 100 grams of sugar and live yeast to a three-liter jar, fill it almost to the top with warm water, and place it in a warm place to ferment. Stir the mixture occasionally during fermentation. Dilute the resulting solution (200 ml per bucket of water) and water the tomatoes, using 1 liter per plant.

Mineral cocktail

Pour a liter of ash into a bucket, add 2.5 liters of boiling water, let cool, add 5 grams of boric acid and 5 ml of iodine, top up with water to make 10 liters, and let steep for 24 hours. Dilute the resulting infusion 1:1 with water, and pour a liter of the mixture under each tomato plant. Fertilizing can be done once during the period of mass flowering and fruit set.

Experienced gardeners recommend growing tomatoes "on your own soil." If the tomatoes are free of disease and pests this season, the tops can be dug into the soil in the fall. The following year, the plants can be replanted in the same spot. This advice may conflict with crop rotation rules, but numerous gardener experiments show that the results are indeed positive—yields increase by 50%.

How to preserve formed ovaries and increase fruit weight

To preserve fruit set and increase fruit production, it's important to continue caring for your tomatoes until late fall. Key care measures include controlling excess foliage, removing lower leaves, and removing dry or unwanted leaves (those not covering the fruit). Removing the tops will help ensure ventilation and proper nutrient circulation.

Removing side shoots is also important. Some gardeners recommend doing this no more than three times per season, but most tomato varieties constantly produce side shoots, which quickly grow back and drain the plant's energy, so it's best to remove them immediately. Tall varieties have 2-5 stems, while short varieties usually don't require pruning, but it's best to check the packaging for details.

Many gardeners train tomato plants, leaving no more than three stems and removing the first cluster to ensure larger fruits. To increase fruit size, iodine fertilizers can be used, which also promotes rapid ripening. Once a week, instead of regular watering, you can fertilize the plants with a mixture of 4 drops of iodine per 10 liters of water. Each plant should be treated with 1.5 to 2 liters of the solution.

To ensure the quality of tomatoes doesn't suffer due to their abundance, it's essential to provide comprehensive care. Growing tomatoes may seem complicated, but it's actually quite simple—the key is to invest time and regularly monitor the condition of the plants. Show care, and you'll achieve your ultimate goal—a bountiful harvest of delicious, large tomatoes.