Take all the shot out of feed tomato plant plants with these must - know tips .
To turn the juiciest , most flavorful tomato , yourtomato plantsneed a unfaltering diet ofnitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium , as well as other key nutrients . But just discombobulate some fertilizer around wo n’t do the trick . Here ’s what you want to recognise about how and when to fertilise tomato plants in garden beds and containers , plus tips for choosing the good type of tomato plant food to employ .
First Step: Test Your Soil
A ground exam will give you a comprehensive picture of the nutrients uncommitted in your garden ’s unique soil , whether you ’re planting in a raised seam or in the ground . In many field , soil test kit are availablefrom a local Cooperative Extension Service for a small fee . There are several commercial grunge testing services too .
While the test kit vary somewhat , the process generally includes gathering a representative sample of the grunge in your garden and then package it and transport it to a lab for examination . The lab will then mail you a sum-up of nutrient story and the pH reading of the land . Most stain summaries includesuggested amendmentsfor nutrient deficiency and grease tips for growing specific plants , such as veg or turf skunk .
tomato do best in soil that ’s slightly acidic , a pH range of mountains of 6.2 - 6.8 . A grease examination will secernate you if your ground fall outside this compass and what to do about it .
Credit:Dana Gallagher
Best Tomato Fertilizer to Use
High caliber compost — material that is well - decomposed , dark in color , and crumbly — is the good tomato plant food to practice disregarding of the soil you ’re exercise with . Not only does an annual coating of compost boost the nutrient useable in the soil , but it also ameliorate soil social organisation . easy , well - drain soilthat is packed with available nutrient paves the way for secure , healthy tomato plants .
Here ’s how to apply it :
1 . spread out a 4 - in bed of fabric over the planting area in spring or fall to beginimproving soil with compost.2 . Use a spading fork or shovel to gently combine compost into the planting area.3 . go on fecundate with compost yearly by spreading a 1 - column inch - thick layer of compost over the planting site in bounce or autumn .
Credit:Blaine Moats
In compounding with the native soil , compost often provides all the nutrients mosttypes of tomato plantsneed to thrive . There might not be a motive to apply additional fertilizer . But remember : Too much compost , like too much of any fertilizer , can damage plants . Do n’t employ excessive amounts .
Using constitutive fabric as sources of nutrients can be preferred for comestible crops if you want to void synthetic chemical substance fertilizers . Other organic fertilizer options for tomatoes include compost tea , fish photographic emulsion , seaweed , and dirt ball casting .
How to Fertilize Tomato Seedlings
stain robust in compost is often enough to patronize tomato plants . But when tomatoes are just start up out , they can sometimes also do good from extra phosphorus , which is essential for new tissue development . So you may prefer togive tomato seedling a boostwith a water system - soluble plant food that is high in phosphorus .
If plant food is applied too frequently , or too much production is used at one fourth dimension , yourtomato plants may be damaged . The excess fertiliser also can harm the surrounding environment . Always watch over parcel directions for software rate and frequency .
Dana Gallagher
When to Fertilize Tomato Plants
As your love apple grow , they will sometimes point that they require extra nutrients . If development is slow and lank , for example , plants might be suffering from a deficiency of nitrogen . leave with a pronounced blue - unripened tincture along with poor increment might designate the industrial plant is lack atomic number 15 . normally adding some plant food when you see these signs will clear up the deficiency in a few day .
Here ’s a simple formula for side - dressing tomatoes : When yield begins to explicate , propagate ½ cupful of a 5 - 10 - 5 plant food around the floor of a tomato flora . Gently work the fertilizer into the top inch of soil . Fertilize tomatoes again with a ½ cup of 5 - 10 - 5 when the first fruit is reap .
Blaine Moats
How to Fertilize Tomatoes in Containers
Atomato plant originate in a pothas restrain soil volume to mine for nutrient . Provide food by mixing slow - release plant food shot into pot soil at planting prison term according to package directions . The dumb - release pellets are helpful , but will not supply food the entire growing season .
About 6 calendar week after plant , fertilize Lycopersicon esculentum plants with a body of water - soluble plant food at the charge per unit and frequency recommended on the package . calculate for an N - phosphorus - K ratio of 5 - 10 - 5 for best solvent .
Frequently Asked Questions
Tomatoes flourish when fertilized every 4 to 6 week during the grow season . Harvesting your first tomatosignals the last fertilizer app of the time of year .
Fertilize tomatoes at planting time with a water - soluble fertilizer high in phosphorus . Fertilize again with a 5 - 10 - 5 fertilizer after you see the first yield . Finally , fertilise one last time after reap the first fruit .
You might recollect that umber , which is high in nitrogen and other nutrients , will benefit love apple works . But research show that the benefits to works are marginal , plus , it ’s easy to go overboard when adding grounds to the land around the plant . It ’s good toadd coffee evidence to your compost pilerather than directly to stain .
Yellow leaves , leaf personnel casualty , or a delay in bloom product are all signs you ’ve overfertilized your Lycopersicon esculentum plant . Hope is not lost , however . Do a dirt test and lend oneself any recommended amendments to help bring your plant back to health .
