Best Fertilizer for TomatoesTomatoes are one of the easiest types of produce to grow, but once the plant starts to thrive, you have to keep a watchful eye. The gardening soil that contains the plants is also temperamental, and there are certain steps that you will need to take in order to prepare the tomato plants for growth. Continue reading for the best fertilizer for tomatoes.
Fertilizer for Tomato Plants
As a tomato plant starts to grow, the nutrient requirements also change. There might be too much of some nutrients, and too little of others. You should first do a soil test in order to determine what the soil needs. The nitrate content should be higher than the phosphorus content. There are certain test kits you can purchase from lawn and garden stores, or you can make your own test.
Begin with a clear quart jar that has a tight lid. Dig at least 6 inches deep into the soil and dig enough so that you can fill the jar halfway with soil. Fill the rest of the jar with water and close tight with the lid. Let the container sit 24 hours and then examine it. There should be a total of four layers. The top layer should be organic matter that either rests on one of the layers or floats on the top. Soil that is prime and ready for tomato plants is 20% organic matter.
More than likely, you will need to add organic compost in order to raise the current percentage. It is very unlikely that garden soil is ready at the beginning of the planting season without a bit of tweaking. Organic fertilizers are excellent, and contain organic matter. However, taste and growth are often better with commercial fertilizers. Animal manures, such as horse, cow or rabbit are all acceptable as long as they are free of any contaminants.
Fertilizing Tomatoes
An inexpensive way of making organic fertilizer is to make homemade tomato fertilizer. This can be achieved by making compost from grass clippings or other yard waste, as well as vegetable matter and other biodegradable food waste. Egg shells and coffee grounds are a favorite for many gardeners, and almost everyone has this sort of waste to throw out during the week. One way to collect the compost is to make a pile in the back yard. Add to it each day and then allow it to become a mixture of all of the components. Using Fertilizer on Tomato Growth About one month before planting your tomato plants, apply the organic fertilizer to the soil and work it in deep enough. A tomato plant uses about 10 pounds of compost in one growing season. After the plants are in the ground, continue adding the compost around the plants once a week.
In some cases, tomato plants need additional nutrients about one or two weeks after transplanting. This is typically done right when they start to show the yellow flowers. A good recommendation is to use 1 teaspoon of commercial fertilizer mixed in with about one quart of your regular compost for the first fertilizing. Then use 1 teaspoon with a half gallon of compost per plant when the fruit starts to show. Your plants might need a third and fourth fertilizer supplement depending on how much fruit the plants are producing. Some gardeners even use a slow release fertilizer such as osmocote. However, the best fertilizer for tomatoes is homemade and contains all natural organic matter.
|
