Baking soda is an effective fertilizer for tomatoes.

Baking soda is used not only in cooking and household chores. It makes an excellent fertilizer for vegetable crops grown in greenhouses or open ground. This product is used to accelerate the growth of tomato plants and to improve the taste of the fruit. baking soda helps to get rid of pests that affect tomatoes and some diseases.

The beneficial properties of soda

Many gardeners and vegetable growers often use baking soda As a plant care product. The beneficial properties of this product make it indispensable for improving the taste of fruits and nourishing the plants themselves.

The benefits of sodium bicarbonate for tomatoes are as follows:

1. Baking soda solution has an antibacterial effect. Therefore, it is used to clean and disinfect containers for growing seedlings and to disinfect seeds.
2. The soda solution has an alkaline reaction, which destroys pathogenic microorganisms and fungal spores. This prevents many diseases of seedlings and plants.
3. Soaking seeds in a baking soda solution primes them for vigorous growth. Germination rates also improve.
4. A soda solution is useful for protecting mature bushes from pests such as aphids and caterpillars.

Advantages and disadvantages

Sodium bicarbonate is actively used for growing plants, thanks to its merits:

• This is an inexpensive product that is sold in any store;
• the product does not contain harmful impurities;
• does not emit toxic substances;
• applied in various fields;
• shows high results;
• easy to use.

The use of baking soda does not harm plants and has no significant disadvantages. cons include:

• Once the solution has been prepared, it cannot be stored for a long time;
• processed vegetables are covered with a whitish coating;
• A highly concentrated solution is destructive to plantings.

Types of fertilizers based on baking soda

Sodium bicarbonate is used to make solutions for root and foliar feeding. For this purpose, plants are watered at the roots or sprayed from above. Using baking soda in this form promotes rapid seedling growth, improves fruit flavor, and increases the number of ovaries.

Sometimes baking soda is applied to the soil dry, undiluted. This method is beneficial for the soil and reduces its acidity. This is especially beneficial for tomatoes, as they prefer to grow in neutral soil.

To combat diseases and pests affecting tomato plants, make a solution of diluted baking soda. It can be sprayed on the plants with a spray bottle or poured onto the plants with a watering can using a shower attachment. When the solution comes into contact with the foliage, it creates an alkaline environment that is harmful to insects and pathogens.

Timing of application of baking soda fertilizers

Sodium bicarbonate solutions are effective as fertilizers at different stages of tomato plant development. The solution concentration and frequency of application are adjusted based on the plant's needs. All working solutions are prepared in warm water between 30 and 37 degrees Celsius. If spraying is necessary, choose a windless day. This allows the fertilizer to be most effective.

Before sowing, treat the seeds with a soda solution. It kills pathogenic bacteria and eliminates free radicals. To prepare the solution, use 2 liters of warm water and 2 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate. Soak the seeds in this solution for 24 hours.

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Baking soda has good antiseptic properties. Therefore, it is used to disinfect planting containers and soil before planting seeds. A solution is prepared from 2 liters of water and 6 tablespoons of baking soda powder. The planting containers are rinsed with this solution and left to dry without wiping off the excess liquid. To disinfect, the soil is watered with the prepared solution. It infuses the soil with beneficial elements and kills harmful bacteria.

To improve immunity and stimulate growth, seedlings are treated 15 days after germination and immediately after transplanting into individual containers. This fertilizer accelerates the seedlings' adaptation to the new conditions after transplanting. To do this, dilute 30 g of powder in 3 liters of water. Use 3 tablespoons of the product per plant.

After planting the seedlings in their permanent location, apply a fertilizer made from 10 liters of water and 500 g of baking soda. The prepared solution is poured under the roots of the bushes, 500 ml per plant, and also sprayed on the foliage. This fertilizer stimulates growth and prevents pest infestations.

After the bushes have finished flowering, to improve fruit set, water them at the roots with a solution made from 2 liters of water and 60 grams of baking soda powder. Apply 500 ml of this fertilizer to each plant.

To speed up ripening and improve the taste of tomatoes, apply a fertilizer consisting of 5 liters of water and 200 g of baking soda during the ripening period. Spray the plants with this solution every week.

Pest and disease control

Unlike chemicals, baking soda doesn't harm plants. Therefore, products containing it can be used even during the ripening period to protect tomatoes from diseases and pests. To do this, mix 10 liters of warm water with 75 grams of baking soda powder. Spray the tomato plants with this mixture weekly until the pests disappear.

To prevent infection, use a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. This solution is applied to the above-ground portion of the plant. This increases the number of ovaries, and the foliage maintains its rich color.

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To prevent infestation, mix 1 tablespoon each of baking soda powder, liquid soap, and vegetable oil. Mix this mixture with 5 liters of room-temperature water and add 1 aspirin tablet, ground into powder. Spray the bushes with this solution every 10 days.

To prevent yellowing and premature leaf drop, water the bushes with a weak sodium bicarbonate solution. The solution is made from 10 liters of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Treatments begin in July, when the weather is hot. Three applications per season are sufficient.

Adviсe

To prevent diseases and pests from disturbing tomato bushes during the growing season, treatments are carried out in accordance with the following recommendations:

1. Working solutions are prepared only in water that has been free of chlorine.
2. If the product is used for foliar treatment, it is filtered before use.
3. Use the prepared solution immediately. Do not store it for more than three hours.
4. Soda-based fertilizers should be applied early in the morning or late in the evening. Otherwise, sun rays can burn the foliage.

Baking soda can be used to control weeds. To do this, prepare a highly concentrated solution of 10 liters of water and 1 kg of powder and water the weeds with it. They will dry out within a few days.

Reviews

Anna, 48 years old:

I've been using only natural fertilizers and remedies for diseases for a long time now. I recently discovered the benefits of baking soda solutions. They really help combat certain diseases and improve the quality of the harvest.

Inga, 28 years old:

I started using baking soda at my garden on the advice of a more experienced friend. She's been using it for fertilizer for a long time. I recently tried it too. I was delighted with the results. The tomatoes didn't get sick, and the harvest was bountiful. The fruits are delicious and sweet.

Conclusion

Many gardeners have already appreciated the benefits of soda fertilizer and abandoned chemicals. A sodium bicarbonate solution promotes the growth and development of tomato plants, improves the taste of the fruit, and protects against pests.