Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables - both bought in the supermarket or on the market, as well as for growing yourself in the hobby gardener's garden. No wonder, because the tomato tastes wonderful in an infinite number of different preparations. Have you also decided to do so this year?Tomato plants to your vegetable patchIf you add tomatoes or even want to grow them in a pot on your balcony, the important question arises as to which fertilizer is best for tomatoes. Chemical-free and natural fertilizers for tomatoes are particularly in demand - can you even find suitable ingredients in your own four walls? We have a few tips for you!
Fertilizer is not only important for harvesting large, juicy and tasty fruits. It also makes the plants strong by supplying them with nutrientspossible illnessesand can better ward off pest infestations. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and require extra nutrients and more frequent fertilization. It is therefore important to know what nutrient requirements tomato plants actually have in order to choose the best tomato fertilizer. Tomatoes are happy about:
- phosphate
- Potassium
- Nitrogen
- Magnesium
But be careful: Avoid nitrogen-rich garden fertilizers as these encourage the growth of new shoots and leaves rather than flowers and fruits.
Organic tomato fertilizer from your own garden or from the farm?
Compost is ideal for providing plants with everything they need. So you should already have oneCompost heap createdyou can use it to enrich the bed with a lot of nutrients before planting the tomato plants. You can expect around 3 to 5 liters of compost per square meter of bed, which you will work into the soil when digging. What else fertilizer for tomatoes can you choose?
Fresh manure is a real diamond for your own garden. So if you ask yourself “which fertilizer is best for tomatoes?”, this will give you an answer. Fresh horse manure can also be used as fertilizer for tomatoes, as can cow and sheep manure. Even if it is rare for tomatoes to be over-fertilized, this should be incorporated into the soil some time before the young plants are planted, as thisnatural fertilizersis quite sharp and could damage the delicate plants. A good alternative is dried stable manure, which both farmers and specialist retailers now offer.
When you plant the young tomato plants, you can also provide them with horn shavings and other organic fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer. These measures are enough to start with. Only when the first fruits form do the plants need nutrients again.
Which fertilizer for tomatoes – Fertilize tomatoes with home remedies
- Fertilize tomatoes with coffee grounds to combat phosphorus deficiency
If you have yourFertilize tomatoeswith coffee grounds, they receive nitrogen, phosphate, sulfur and antioxidants. Accordingly, the product is ideal for preventing a nitrogen deficiency in tomatoes. Only use coffee grounds that have already been brewed (never fresh ones) and always allow the grounds to dry very well before storing or using them. Moist coffee grounds tend to form mold. To do this, spread the powder out on a plate or other suitable surface. - Fertilize tomatoes with yeast and sugar to combat potassium deficiency
Yeast contains, among other things, potassium and magnesium and can therefore prevent magnesium and potassium deficiency in tomatoes. Sugar, in turn, gives plants energy to grow. Both can be given in addition to other fertilizers. Either you work both ingredients into the soil in autumn or sprinkle them over the substrate or you make irrigation water from 1 liter of stale tap water or rainwater, 10 grams of yeast and 20 grams of sugar.
- Eggshells as fertilizer for tomatoes
Like yeast, eggshells can be given as a supplement, but not as a replacement for other fertilizers, otherwise you risk Tomate has a nutrient deficiency. Simply collect the eggshells (whether raw or cooked) and crush them in a container, then fill it with water and let it steep for a few days. You can use the water to water the plants. - Which fertilizer for tomato plants – nettle manure for tomatoes
Nettle manure works quickly and reliably, but is even better when you combine it with comfrey manure. The advantage of the latter is that it is more lasting, even if the effect occurs more slowly. Find out how you can make nettle manure yourselfin this article.
- Epsom salt for tomatoes
The practical Epsom salt(also magnesium sulfate or Epsom salt) is not a typical home remedy, but it is available in the pharmacy and is very effective for acute or suspected magnesium deficiency. It is highly water-soluble and can therefore be administered with the help of irrigation water. To do this, mix 200 g of Epsom salt with 10 liters of water and water the plants (they can also be sprayed with the solution, but only in the evening hours, otherwise the strong sun could burn the leaves)
When should you fertilize tomatoes and how often?
When should you fertilize home-grown tomatoes?
This mainly depends on the seeds. It's best to inquire in stores. As a rule, the soil should be soiled one to two weeks beforehandSowing the plantsand/or to care for the young plants one to three weeks after germination is complete. Fertilize the tomato seedlings with one or two small doses of fertilizer before setting them out in May.
How often to fertilize tomatoes?
The frequency depends on various things. Varieties that bear large fruits have greater nutritional requirements than cherry tomatoes, for example. The nature of the soil also plays an important role. So you have to fertilize clayey soil less often. The lighting conditions must also be taken into account. The darker the plants are, the slower they grow and the fewer nutrients they require.
Also read: You should make these mistakesavoid when growing tomatoes!
