No matter how much or how little gardening experience you have, one of the most important skills for a successful tomato harvest is knowing how to fertilize the plants. Proper fertilization methods can make a big difference from the time those little seedlings sprout from the soil to the harvest of those juicy, ripe tomatoes. How then to fertilize tomato seedlings?
In this post you will find all the information and tips you need to know about fertilizing tomato seedlings. Put on your gardening gloves because we're going to learn how to fertilize young plants like a pro!
Fertilizing tomato seedlings: why is it so important?
Those who work in horticulture know tomatoes as heavy feeders. But that's no excuse for showering your tomato plants with fertilizer. Tomatoes grow best in soil that is already rich in nutrients. However, additional fertilizer is essential if the soil is not optimal or if you want to achieve a bountiful harvest. Adding additional nutrients results in stronger plants and a larger harvest since tomatoes are heavy feeders.
When and how often should you fertilize your seedlings?
When the first true leaves appear on your seedlings, you should start feeding. The first two leaves that grow from the seed are not true leaves, but rather are rounded. All the nutrients and energy a seedling needs to germinate, emerge from the soil and form its first leaves are stored in the seed's starch, protein and minerals. So you don't need to fertilize your seedlings until they come out of the ground and develop their first two small true leaves. Your tomato seedlings need to absorb nutrients on their own once they form true leaves that resemble tomato leaves. Now is the time to give your tomato plants a little fertilizer.
Fertilize with caution at this time. If you give these delicate plants too much fertilizer, they will burn. A half-strength solution of liquid fertilizer is sufficient. The fertilizer should never touch the stem of the plant: water from the bottom up. Since the plant is now developing in all directions, a balanced fertilizer is most effective. Nitrogen promotes leaf formation while phosphorus supports tissue development.
You should fertilize the young plants once a week until they are large enough to be transplanted into their own pots.
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Suitable fertilizers for tomato seedlings
You can try the following fertilizers!
Make your own tomato fertilizer
To improve the development and yield of tomatoes, you can use many popular organic products. If you must use liquid fertilizer, what options are ideal? Both commercially available and homemade liquid fertilizers are excellent choices. However, you should definitely choose an organic method.
- Compost tea
Compost tea is the perfect option for anyone looking for an all-natural method. The tomato plants can benefit from the balanced nutrients of the compost tea. Plus, the nutrient concentrations are just right, allowing plants to quickly absorb them into their roots and leaves without becoming overwhelmed. Both home-made and purchased compost can be used to make compost tea.
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For best results when making compost tea, use high-quality compost as a base. Making compost tea is easy and requires only a few ingredients: 300g of compost, 4L of drinking water, a mesh bag and a container. Fill the mesh bag with the finished compost and leave the bag in the bucket. Then add the water. The bucket should be stored in a cool, dark place. Stir the mixture well every day for a week.
- Worm tea
Alternatively, you can make tea from worm castings by soaking the worm castings in water. Plants can safely be treated weekly with organic worm and compost tea.
- Coffee grounds, banana peels, etc.
To prevent the leaves from turning yellow, you should use Epsom salt, which is rich in magnesium. Crushed banana peels, for example, are good sources of potassium. Nitrogen, contained in coffee grounds at a concentration of 20%, is a macronutrient that can be released gently and slowly,about growthof the leaves to support.
NPK fertilizer
You will find three numbers on a fertilizer label. These represent the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the entire formula, measured by weight. If the plantsbe transplanted, an initial diet rich in phosphorus promotes the development of new cells, roots and shoots. The amount of phosphorus is represented in proportion by the second variable. Last but not least, potassium supports the plants' nutrient and water absorption.
It is recommended to carry out initial fertilization and soil improvement shortly before planting. The soil must be worked well so that the fertilizer, which should be a phosphorus-rich mixture such as 5-10-5, can be incorporated. Give the plant more fertilizer when you see the first fruits.
Before the tomato plants are planted in the planting hole, fertilizer should be added to the soil at the bottom of the planting hole. A layer of unfertilized soil should be placed on top of the fertilized soil. Tomato plants can suffer root burns if they come into contact with uncooked fertilizer.
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