Content
- Fertilize tomatoes correctly - important nutrients at the right time
- When will tomato plants be fertilized?
- Organic fertilizers - in the service of health and nature
- Other natural fertilizers for magnificent tomatoes
- Naturally fertilize tomatoes in a bucket
- Identify and correct nutrient deficiency in good time
- Tips & Tricks
Fertilize tomatoes correctly - important nutrients at the right time
Fertilizing alone does not guarantee successful tomato cultivation. Without additional nutrients, the heavyweights are, of course, in a lost position. Which fertilizer is recommended and how it is administered can be found out here.
When will tomato plants be fertilized?
One week after planting in the bed or tub, tomato plants get their first dose of fertilizer. During sowing and pecking, additional nutrients have a counterproductive effect on growth. The cultivation pursues the goal that the plants develop a lush root system. If you find the coveted food, so to speak, on your doorstep, do not even go looking for it.
Organic fertilizers - in the service of health and nature
In the home garden, natural methods of nutrient supply dominate. Since the negative effects of chemical preparations on health and nature are known, hobby gardeners favor organic fertilizers. As a basis serve plant and animal waste, which are processed by diligent microorganisms in the soil to valuable humus. Here, the tomato plants use their roots. These fertilizer types have proven themselves:
compost
Properly stacked, green waste and uncooked kitchen remnants transform into a lush nutrient buffet of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium as part of the rotting process.
Horn chips / horn meal
These are shredded hooves and horns from slaughter cattle, with a nitrogen content of 10 percent or more. How to use horn chips as tomato fertilizer:
Planting - especially nettle and comfrey
Ideal for the nutrient supply of tomatoes in the bed and greenhouse. The manure can be easily made from fresh or dried plant parts.
Other natural fertilizers for magnificent tomatoes
Not every garden offers the opportunity to create a compost heap. Likewise, not every hobby gardener can make friends with the unpleasant smell of nettle. How good that Mother Nature offers more organic fertilizer:
guano
Does not sound very appetizing; however, the excrements of South American seabirds provide abundant nitrogen and phosphorus. The manure of European seabirds is watered down too much by rain. For use, guano is processed into liquid fertilizer, sticks or granules:
manure
Cows, pigs and horses provide the most traditional organic fertilizer. Horse apples in particular contain cellulose for strengthening the plant cell walls. It should be remembered that manure is to be used only after 12 to 18 months of rotting.
Naturally fertilize tomatoes in a bucket
Organic fertilizers are usually out of the question for potted plants. This also applies to tomatoes in a pot or flower box. In order to avoid the starvation in the confined space of the planter, biological liquid fertilizers are available from specialist retailers. The database of the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) regularly publishes all permitted preparations for the allotment garden.
Recommendations for use:
When in doubt, give the lower dose to the tomato plants. A deficiency can be remedied much easier than undoing an overdose.
Identify and correct nutrient deficiency in good time
Despite a balanced fertilization, it can still come to deficiency symptoms of tomatoes. Here are the most common symptoms and how to fix them:
If there is a lack of lime in the soil, this circumstance hinders the absorption capacity of the roots. If you mainly water your tomatoes with rainwater, we recommend a regular fertilization with rock flour or algae lime.
Tips & Tricks
Ideal for soil preparation is a green manure in the previous year or early spring. Seed mixtures such as Bee Lovers, Marigolds or Marigolds enrich the soil and prevent disease. In addition, the plants lure useful bumblebees and other pollinators into the garden. Before planting the green manure is simply under-farmed.