Fertilizing tomatoes in a greenhouse: which fertilizers to use and when

Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse will yield a harvest a month earlier than in the open field. It's virtually impossible to grow strong and healthy tomatoes without fertilizing. Organic and mineral fertilizers are used to fertilize plants. The normal development and fruiting of tomatoes depends on three essential micronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. We'll discuss which fertilizers to use and when to use them below.

Stages of fertilizing tomatoes in a greenhouse

Basic, comprehensive feeding of tomatoes in a greenhouse involves applying fertilizer in four stages. Providing plants with nutrients will help them grow tasty, large fruits. Gardeners use both traditional methods and synthetic fertilizers to fertilize their plants.

First feeding This is done two weeks after planting the seedlings in the greenhouse. During this period, the plant needs to be saturated with substances that will accelerate the growth of green mass, so that it can develop a strong skeleton capable of withstanding the weight of the developing fruits.

At this stage, experienced gardeners use one of the following fertilizers:

• based on mullein (compost): dilute 0.5 kilograms of rotted manure and 30 grams of nitrophoska in a bucket of water.
• based on chicken manure: in a bucket of water, dilute 0.5 liters of liquid chicken manure, which has been infused for a week, 30 grams of superphosphate and 15 grams of potassium sulfide.
• based on mineral fertilizers: dissolve 30 grams of saltpeter and 30 grams of nitrophoska in a bucket of water.
• Nettle-based infusion. Collect a bucket of nettles, wearing gloves as they are prickly and have poisonous stems and leaves. Chop the collected plants, place them back in the bucket, cover with warm water, and let steep for two weeks. Don't be alarmed by the smell; water your plants with confidence. Use half a liter per plant.

The second stage Fertilizing occurs during bud formation and flowering. During ovary formation, tomatoes require potassium and phosphorus. Fertilizing solutions used during bud formation and flowering include:

• Using wood ash and boric acid: boil 2 liters of water first, add 1 kilogram of wood ash, and let the solution cool. Then add 10 grams of boric acid and 10 liters of water. Let it steep for 24 hours. Water at the roots, using 1 liter per plant.
• Based on potassium sulfide and superphosphate. Dissolve 20 grams of potassium sulfide and 30 grams of superphosphate in 10 liters of water and mix thoroughly until the granules are completely dissolved. Water each plant at the root.

The third stage Fertilizing is necessary during the fruiting period. Enriching tomatoes with nutrients improves the taste of the fruit. During the fruiting period, fertilize the plants with potassium-containing substances. Use one of the liquid fertilizers suggested below:

• Based on humate and nitrophoska. Dissolve 20 grams of nitrophoska and 15 milliliters of humate in a ten-liter bucket of warm water, stir, and water at the roots. Use 1 liter per tomato plant.
• A yeast and sugar-based infusion. To prepare the infusion and watering solution: dissolve 120 grams of yeast and 150 grams of granulated sugar in 3 liters of warm water. Stir until completely dissolved, and let sit for 7 days. The prepared infusion should be further diluted with water. For every 10 liters of warm water, you'll need 0.5 liters of the infusion. Water the resulting solution, 0.5 liters per bush.
• Based on magnesium sulfate and potassium nitrate. Dissolve 10 grams of nitrate and 25 grams of magnesium sulfate in a ten-liter bucket. Use half a liter of the resulting solution per bush.

How to grow plump tomatoes with fertilizer?

When growing tomatoes, gardeners often encounter the problem of leggy, thin stems. This can be overcome by adding balanced nutrients. During the tomato formation period, it's essential to add calcium nitrate (dissolve 10 grams in 10 liters of water, water 0.5 liters per plant), which promotes the development of foliage.

Two weeks after planting the seedlings, the tomato should be fed with one of the following fertilizers:

• "Vivifying" complex fertilizer. Dissolve 15 grams of dry yeast, half a kilogram of chicken manure, half a kilogram of wood ash, and 150 grams of sugar in a bucket of warm water. Let the solution sit for several days until fermentation stops. Then, dilute the resulting mixture with water in a ratio of 1 to 10.
• Yeast fertilizer. Take three liters of warm water, dissolve half a cup of sugar and 100 grams of yeast (fresh from a packet). Mix all ingredients and let it sit for 24 hours (stir occasionally if possible).

Root and foliar feeding

Fertilizer application is divided into root and foliar. The above-mentioned applications fall under the category of root nutrient applications. Let's focus on foliar fertilizers, which were not mentioned above. Foliar fertilizers are aimed at increasing yields by spraying the plant's green mass with various solutions. For plant treatments, use the following recipes:

• Urea-based solution. Dissolve 20 grams of urea in a bucket of water, pour it into a sprayer, and apply it to the tomatoes. The resulting solution is enough to treat one hundred square meters of vegetable crop. Spray until the tomatoes begin to set.
• A boric acid-based solution. Dissolve 1 gram of the acid in one liter of water, stir, pour into a spray bottle, and spray the entire plant. Three applications can be performed: the first during budding, the second during flowering, and the third during the ripening period.

• A solution based on the phytohormone "Epin." The working solution is prepared using one liter of water and six drops of the product. The resulting mixture is sufficient to spray 30 square meters of plantings.
• A solution made from iodine and milk is one of the traditional foliar feeding recipes. To prepare the solution, take 3 liters of milk, dissolve 15 drops of medical iodine, then shake the mixture, fill a spray bottle, and spray the plants. Apply the solution in the evening or morning for two days.

In August, the last formation of fruits in this season is completed, so it is necessary to carry out last feedingFirst, pinch off the tops of the tomatoes, then feed them with a liquid fertilizer based on monophosphate and potassium magnesium sulfate. Take 10 liters of water, add 10 grams of potassium magnesium sulfate and 15 grams of monophosphate, and stir until completely dissolved. Water each plant with half a liter.

Reviews from gardeners

Gardeners across Russia use both traditional fertilizer recipes and synthetic fertilizers. Agronomists note that high tomato productivity can only be achieved with a comprehensive fertilizer program. Gardeners speak highly of compost- and superphosphate-based fertilizers, as well as spraying with a solution containing the growth stimulant Epin.