What you need to know about nitrogen fertilizers for tomato seedlings?

A plant is a living organism, and for it to function well, it requires adequate and proper nutrition. In 2 months, tomato seedlings should develop and get stronger, and there is not so much soil in the cups. The roots will quickly suck up nutrients from it, and without additional fertilizing, tomato seedlings will be weak and stunted. Plants need all the minerals and trace elements, but at each stage of development, some elements take on special importance. A strong bush should grow from a tiny seed in a short time, a rapid growth of green mass is taking place, this requires nitrogen. Later, other fertilizers will be needed to promote flowering and the appearance of fruits, but for now all the forces go to building a strong stem and leaves capable of photosynthesis.

How do you know if you need feeding?

There are many recommendations and schedules for fertilizing tomato seedlings, but every owner must learn to understand when his pets are lacking in nutrition. The soil can be both fertile and poor, it can contain an excess of some components and a lack of others. It is best to use a special soil for tomato seedlings, the manufacturer has already introduced the necessary substances into it and wrote an instruction indicating when to feed the plants. If you prepare the soil for seedlings yourself, add all the necessary components to it: until the true leaves appear, the seedlings will eat only what was originally put in the cups.

A healthy tomato seedling has a good, strong stem and dark green leaves. If the greens are too thick, you overdid it with nitrogen fertilizers, leaves and stepsons develop rapidly from their excess, there may not be enough strength for flower brushes. When there are too many nitrates in the soil, the leaves of tomatoes do not stand up, curl, break easily. An excess of fertilizers will also go to the fruits; instead of being useful, a salad of such tomatoes can be harmful to health.

If the lower leaves of tomatoes turn yellow and fall off, the plant has little nitrogen, it needs feeding. Do not rush to grab onto the fertilizer package right away if you notice that the seedlings are becoming lethargic and grow poorly. The reason may be the wrong temperature regime, and drafts, and excessive watering, and illness. Make sure there is enough light for the tomatoes. Seedlings need good lighting, but it is also impossible to keep them under the lights on around the clock: many biological processes take place only in the dark. If the living conditions of your pets are quite suitable, and they feel bad, additional feeding is necessary.

How to apply nitrogen fertilizers correctly?

It is not necessary to oversaturate the soil with nutrients once; it is better to apply fertilizers several times a little. Feed the tomato seedlings for the first time when 2 true leaves appear. At this time, tomatoes are developing vigorously, they need nitrogen. Then fertilize every 7-10 days, while watching the plantings - their appearance will tell you what substances are missing. A purple tint indicates that there is little phosphorus, and too fleshy leaves signal that there is too much nitrogen, feeding should be stopped for a while.

It is better to fertilize tomato seedlings in the morning or evening. For the first feeding of seedlings, dilute 1 tablespoon of urea in 10 liters of water. Next times use nitrophosphate or azofosku - 1 tablespoon for 1 liter of water. Water carefully so that the mixture falls on the ground and does not touch the stems and leaves of the tomatoes.Do not forget that nitrogen fertilizers increase the acidity of the soil, after top dressing add a little chalk or lime to the soil. As you grow, you need to add soil to the pots - use compost or biohumus for this purpose.

What if there is too much nitrogen and not enough phosphorus? Top-dress the tomatoes. Pour 1 tablespoon of superphosphate into 1 liter of water heated to 90⁰, let it brew for a day. The next day, without stirring the composition, drain the light liquid and stir it in 9 liters of water. Spray tomato seedlings from a spray bottle, it will perfectly absorb fertilizer through the leaves.

Advice

When buying fertilizers for seedlings, carefully read the composition. If sulfates are present there, such feeding is not suitable for young seedlings.

Be sure to feed your tomato seedlings 10 days before planting in the open field. The bush must gain strength and nutrients in order to survive the difficult period of rooting in a new place. When the buds begin to set and the fruits appear, reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers, and when the fruits ripen, abandon them altogether.

How to fertilize plants?

Many gardeners prefer to fertilize edible crops with organic fertilizers, mistakenly believing that there will be no harm from natural substances. Everything needs a measure and the right approach: fresh manure can "burn" the roots, and ash added to the soil for germinating seeds delays the emergence of seedlings.

How to use what nature gives?

• Manure can be used only when it has lain for at least a year; it is better to apply it as part of the compost.
• Poultry manure should be mixed with double the amount of peat or straw. For liquid feeding, 10 g of droppings must be stirred in a bucket of water.
• Compost is an excellent fertilizer from rotted plants. When setting up a compost heap, stratify the grass with manure. For the mass to be well processed, water it with biological products.
• Herbal infusion. It is best to use nettle, pour it with water and insist for 2 weeks in a closed container.
• Ash... Use only when no plastic, film or other chemical compounds have come into contact with fire. Apply ash separately from manure and compost, they reduce each other's efficiency.

Manufacturers are also trying to prepare compositions that will feed the plants, but will not allow harmful substances to be deposited in the fruits. To feed tomato seedlings, you can purchase a complex fertilizer for a specific crop. It is more convenient to use preparations in liquid form, then you will be sure that there are no solid, undissolved particles left in the composition.

If you need nitrogen specifically, you can purchase the following substances:

• calcium or sodium nitrate containing 17% of this element;
• urea – 45%;
• ammonium nitrate - 45%.

Since tomato seedlings need not only nitrogen, it is better to take complex fertilizer for feeding. All gardeners know nitroammofoska and azofosk, every year manufacturers produce more advanced preparations adapted for specific plants. To avoid mixing yourself, look for tomato seedlings. When buying, pay attention to the instructions: a conscientious manufacturer will definitely indicate which doses are needed for seedlings, and which for adult plants.

Output

To feed tomato seedlings, first of all, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are required, the remaining trace elements are necessarily present in the soil, and small seedlings do not need a lot of boron or molybdenum. During the period of active growth, plants need a lot of nitrogen; it can be obtained from organic waste or purchased mineral fertilizers.

Watch the tomato seedlings. If they are strong, develop well, have dark green leaves, there is enough nutrition, feeding can be skipped. Do not get carried away with all kinds of vermicompost.If you notice that the leaves of the seedlings are becoming thick and fleshy, stop feeding, the seedlings have already overestimated the nitrogen. When the seedlings wither, the lower leaves turn yellow, check if the room is cold and if the soil in the cups is too damp. If conditions are good, apply for seedlings complex fertilizer for tomatoes.

Until the seedlings have 2 true leaves, there is no need to fertilize the seedlings, the soil should have enough nutrients. For the first feeding, use urea, then complex fertilizers with a high nitrogen content. Be sure to feed the plants 10 days before planting in open ground, then they will quickly take root and start tying buds.