The main secret of potash fertilizers

Soils in gardens and vegetable plots become depleted due to constant use, depleting their nutrient content. The key macronutrients, essential for robust growth and high-quality fruiting, are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are vital for plants at different stages of their life, including growth and maturation. Nitrogen is essential for strong stem formation and leaf growth, phosphorus is responsible for bud formation, and potassium is responsible for the sweetness and shape of the fruit.

Beneficial properties of potassium fertilizers

Potassium fertilizers are necessary for:

• better and faster rooting of seedlings after planting in open ground or a greenhouse;
• development of the leaf blade;
• improving the taste of fruits;
• approaching fruiting period;
• improving metabolism;
• protection against a number of fungal diseases;
• increasing resistance to adverse weather conditions.

Determining the deficiency of the macronutrient potassium

Gardeners often face the problem of a lack of potassium fertilizers in their gardens, but attribute the changes in the appearance of tomato bushes to:

• adverse weather conditions;
• rare or frequent, but superficial watering;
• drafts in the greenhouse, etc.

Potassium deficiency can be determined by:

1. Dry, light-colored tips appear on the leaves. They soon darken and spread to the entire leaf blade.
2. Poor formation of ovaries, which leads to a decrease in yield.
3. Due to uneven ripening of the fruits, they do not redden well at the stalk.
4. As the taste of the fruit deteriorates, they become sour.

As a result, the shelf life of the harvest is reduced. If these signs are detected in tomatoes, root or foliar feeding is recommended. However, when planting in alkaline soil, it's important to remember that the calcium present in alkaline soil inhibits the absorption of potassium from the soil. Therefore, before planting tomatoes, check the soil pH. It should be neutral or slightly acidic.

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Types of potash fertilizers

Among the mineral fertilizers containing potassium, the following are used in gardening:

1. Potassium nitrate (potassium nitrate). It contains 46% potassium and 11.5% nitrogen. It is best used early in the growing season due to its nitrogen content, which stimulates leaf growth and limits flowering.
2. Potassium sulfate. Contains 50-51% potassium, as well as the trace elements sulfur and iron. It is used throughout the warm season, including as a pre-winter fertilizer to promote the formation of new buds for fruiting plants.
3. Monopotassium phosphate (MPP). It is used to feed tomatoes before flowering, during flowering and during fruiting To increase the number of ovaries, fruit growth, and taste. Can be applied before winter during autumn soil tillage. Completely water-soluble, it does not contain heavy metals. It is used to increase tomato yields in poor soils. Fertilizing with MFC is a lifesaver during prolonged rains, when tomatoes bloom but do not set fruit.
4. Potassium magnesium sulfate (KMS). Contains 30-32% potassium, 11% magnesium, and the trace element sulfur. Magnesium is involved in photosynthesis, helps convert phosphorus from indigestible forms to soluble ones, accelerates tomato growth, and increases fruiting. The fertilizer is not very water-soluble, and its added to the holes during planting Or sprinkle it around the bush throughout the season, but not at the roots. Gradually dissolving, the potassium-rich compound supplies the tomato plant with essential potassium. It can also be added during winter soil tillage.

Application rates

All of these fertilizers are chlorine-free, which is harmful to all plants, and have no contraindications for use in both greenhouses and open ground. Application rates are roughly the same for all of them. After watering tomatoes, dissolve 20 g (a matchbox) of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and apply, pouring approximately 1 liter per bush. For foliar feeding, dissolve 25 g in 10 liters of water and spray onto the leaves in calm, dry evening hours. Applying foliar feeding in the morning or afternoon is not recommended, as the sun will quickly dry out the droplets of dissolved fertilizer, preventing them from being absorbed into the leaves. When applying dry granules and powder under the bushes, apply approximately 30 g per square meter. Then, loosen the soil under the tomatoes, mixing the fertilizer with the soil, and water.

Complex fertilizers with potassium

There are a number of fertilizers called complex fertilizers because they contain a selected percentage of macro- and microelements. These include Aquarin, Soversorin, Kemira, Nitrophoska, and Azofoska.

Organic fertilizers

Organic fertilizers contain micronutrients in chelated form, which facilitates their immediate absorption and longer-lasting effect on plants. Ash is one of the most well-known. It:

• removes excess soil acidity;
• contains a whole complex of easily digestible minerals;
• fights fungal diseases;
• helps soil microorganisms process organic matter;
• has a beneficial effect on the rooting of tomato seedlings.

Depending on the material being burned, the potassium content of ash ranges from 10 to 35%. Ash is added during spring tillage, at a rate of 3 cups per square meter. When transplanting seedlings, add a handful of this organic fertilizer to the hole. During rainy weather and when slugs are prevalent in the garden, ash is sprinkled under plants to improve soil looseness and irritate the mollusks. It is not recommended to use ash with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Alkaline ash and acidic nitrogen fertilizers react and negate the effect of the fertilizer.

Banana peel as a source of potassium

Banana peel contains a complex of microelements, each of which performs its own function:

1. Potassium. Banana peels contain approximately 8% of this mineral. It is essential for fruit set, regular fruit shape, increased sugar content, and disease resistance in tomatoes.
2. Manganese. Participates in photosynthesis and the delivery of nutrients to plant cells.
3. Calcium. Responsible for the growth of stems, roots, and shoots.
4. Phosphorus. Affects the budding process, improves nitrogen absorption, and is involved in metabolism.
5. Magnesium. Participates in chlorophyll production and provides cellular nutrition.
6. Iron. Necessary for the budding process and shoot growth.

There are several ways to use banana peels:

1. Banana peels are cut into small pieces and slightly dried. The hole for the tomatoes is dug slightly deeper than usual, the peels are placed at the bottom, and a handful of soil is added to prevent the tomato roots from coming into contact with organic matter. Then the tomato plant is planted. The peels will rot within 10 days, providing the plant with essential nutrients.
2. The dried raw material is ground in a blender and sprinkled under the tomato bush as fertilizer (1 teaspoon of powder) and the plants are watered.
3. During the winter, banana peels are frozen, and in early summer, a healing infusion is prepared from 17-20 peels and 10 liters of water. The infusion is steeped for 5 days, covered, in a dark place. Then, the tomatoes are fed by diluting one part of the infusion with two parts of water.

Top dressing

Initial contribution potash fertilizers Apply before spring tillage. You'll need 30 g of potassium fertilizer per square meter. During seedling growth, a supplemental fertilizer can be prepared by mixing 7-10 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of water. The next supplemental fertilizer is a complex fertilizer containing potassium. During bud formation, apply potassium salt, but not nitrate. After 10-15 days, apply the next fertilizer application.

In addition, the number of feedings is influenced by:

• appearance of the bush;
• ripening period;
• type of tomato.

Recommendations and advice

Many gardeners make mistakes by not following the rules for preparing aqueous fertilizer concentrations, thereby harming plants instead of benefiting them. But it's better to underfeed than overfeed. Other rules should also be followed:

1. It is advisable to fertilize in cloudy, warm weather in the morning or evening.
2. Follow the dosage as prescribed.
3. Fertilizing is done after watering, otherwise it will lead to root burns.
4. When fertilizing, do not apply the solution to the trunk and leaves.
5. It is not advisable to use cold water.
6. Any nutrient solution that gets on the leaves is washed off with plain water.

Adviсe:

1. When harvesting banana peels in winter, they must be cut and dried thoroughly, otherwise midges will appear in the apartment.
2. Don't place fresh banana peels on vegetable beds. They will attract flies. It's better to cut the peels and bury them near the roots, add them to the green manure solution when preparing it, or add the peels to the compost pile.
3. When burning trash to obtain ash, it is not recommended to throw magazines with glossy covers and pages into the fire.

Potassium, as a macronutrient, is vital for the proper growth and fruiting of tomatoes. A deficiency reduces the yield and quality of the tomatoes. Each gardener decides for themselves whether to use mineral fertilizers, organic matter, or a combination of both. The key is to provide the plants with the required amount of this important element.