The most common vegetable grown in American gardens, the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) needs nutrient-rich soil for healthy development throughout the growing season. These medium to heavy “feeders” require regular boosts of nutrients to ensure steady growth of stems and branches, leaves and blossoms, as well as healthy fruit. To provide proper nutrition for growing tomatoes, gardeners need to adequately prepare soil before planting, add fertilizer during the growing season and recognize signs of nutrient deficiency.
If your tomato plants receive four basic nutrients, they will thrive and produce maximal tomatoes. You can make sure your plants receive the correct amounts of nutrients through organic matter rich soil, through compost or through commercial fertilizers. Fertilize tomato plants just after planting them, when the flowers bloom, when the tomatoes reach the size of a small ball and after first harvest.
Prepping the soil
Although tomatoes can grow in many kinds of soil, soil that is rich in organic matter like peat moss, compost or well-rotted manure will result in healthy productive plants. If growing in a garden space for the first time, a soil test is recommended and can be easily arranged through local county extension offices. Soil test results will indicate nutrient deficiencies, which can be corrected in early spring before planting. Lime can be added to soil to lessen the chance of nutrient imbalances and to bring soil pH within the 6.2 to 6.8 range, which tomatoes prefer. A basic 8-8-8 commercial fertilizer---containing the three macronutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus---or organic alternatives such as aged manure, sulfur and oyster shell lime can also be added to the soil in preparation of planting.
At planting
In addition to the early spring soil prep, tomatoes should also receive a light dose of fertilizer when planted. This will help to ensure sufficient nutrients for the young plants during the early stages of stem and branch development. If using a commercial fertilizer, recommendations for the ratio of the three macronutrients vary, depending on individual soil composition, but a balanced (8-8-8) or 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 mix is most often preferred. Always make sure to follow product instructions carefully during fertilizer application, because overuse of a starter fertilizer can burn a tomato plant's delicate root system. If following organic gardening practice, a mix of kelp meal, bone meal and organic compost added to the planting hole will provide young tomato plants the essential nutrients for early growth.
Side-dressing
The fertilizers added before and at planting will likely not provide sufficient nutrients for the complete growing season. Therefore, at least two additional fertilizer applications, called side-dressings, are recommended during a tomato plant's growth period. The first side-dressing is added soon after tomato fruit have set and are about one-third their final size. A standard 10-10-10 or 5-10-10 commercial fertilizer can be used, or organic alternatives include bone meal, dried manure or cottonseed meal. The fertilizer should be added to the top 1 inch of soil and applied 4 to 6 inches from the tomato plant stem to prevent fertilizer burn. Additional side-dressings can be added once the first ripe tomato is picked or every 3 weeks throughout the growing season, depending on the garden soil composition.
Signs of fertilizer problems
If tomato plants have grown tall with lush green foliage but few actual tomatoes, it is likely the soil has been over-fertilized with a nitrogen-rich product. As a result, ammonium sulfate, urea and fresh manure should be avoided. Ammonia fertilizers can also contribute to blossom-end rot. A calcium-rich side-dressing, like gypsum, can help correct this problem.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is good for the stem, leaves and stalk of your tomato plants. Don't feed the plants too much nitrogen, however, because the green parts of your plant will thrive but the tomatoes will be very small. If your plant's lower leaves turn yellow or the plant's growth is stunted, it likely isn't getting enough nitrogen. Nitrogen sources include compost, fully rotted manure and commercial fertilizer.
Calcium
Your tomato plant won't develop without calcium. This nutrient also helps prevent a common tomato problem--rotting from the roots up. Tomato plants that get enough water should not have calcium deficiencies. Sources of calcium are clean chicken egg shells, bone meal and ground limestone. It is not contained in most commercial fertilizers, but probably is in fertilizers specifically made for tomatoes.
Prepping the soil
Although tomatoes can grow in many kinds of soil, soil that is rich in organic matter like peat moss, compost or well-rotted manure will result in healthy productive plants. If growing in a garden space for the first time, a soil test is recommended and can be easily arranged through local county extension offices. Soil test results will indicate nutrient deficiencies, which can be corrected in early spring before planting. Lime can be added to soil to lessen the chance of nutrient imbalances and to bring soil pH within the 6.2 to 6.8 range, which tomatoes prefer. A basic 8-8-8 commercial fertilizer---containing the three macronutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus---or organic alternatives such as aged manure, sulfur and oyster shell lime can also be added to the soil in preparation of planting.
At planting
In addition to the early spring soil prep, tomatoes should also receive a light dose of fertilizer when planted. This will help to ensure sufficient nutrients for the young plants during the early stages of stem and branch development. If using a commercial fertilizer, recommendations for the ratio of the three macronutrients vary, depending on individual soil composition, but a balanced (8-8-8) or 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 mix is most often preferred. Always make sure to follow product instructions carefully during fertilizer application, because overuse of a starter fertilizer can burn a tomato plant's delicate root system. If following organic gardening practice, a mix of kelp meal, bone meal and organic compost added to the planting hole will provide young tomato plants the essential nutrients for early growth.
Side-dressing
The fertilizers added before and at planting will likely not provide sufficient nutrients for the complete growing season. Therefore, at least two additional fertilizer applications, called side-dressings, are recommended during a tomato plant's growth period. The first side-dressing is added soon after tomato fruit have set and are about one-third their final size. A standard 10-10-10 or 5-10-10 commercial fertilizer can be used, or organic alternatives include bone meal, dried manure or cottonseed meal. The fertilizer should be added to the top 1 inch of soil and applied 4 to 6 inches from the tomato plant stem to prevent fertilizer burn. Additional side-dressings can be added once the first ripe tomato is picked or every 3 weeks throughout the growing season, depending on the garden soil composition.
Signs of fertilizer problems
If tomato plants have grown tall with lush green foliage but few actual tomatoes, it is likely the soil has been over-fertilized with a nitrogen-rich product. As a result, ammonium sulfate, urea and fresh manure should be avoided. Ammonia fertilizers can also contribute to blossom-end rot. A calcium-rich side-dressing, like gypsum, can help correct this problem.
Nutrients requirements
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is good for the stem, leaves and stalk of your tomato plants. Don't feed the plants too much nitrogen, however, because the green parts of your plant will thrive but the tomatoes will be very small. If your plant's lower leaves turn yellow or the plant's growth is stunted, it likely isn't getting enough nitrogen. Nitrogen sources include compost, fully rotted manure and commercial fertilizer.
Potassium
Potassium helps tomato plants reach their full potential in growth and hardiness. It also helps make them disease resistant. Stunted growth, undersized plants, few tomatoes or yellow spots on the leaves are all signals of potassium deficiency. Potassium sources are wood ashes, compost and commercial fertilizer.
Phosphorus
The nutrient phosphorus helps aid in the production of the fruit, or the flowers, seeds and tomatoes. Phosphorus also promotes plant growth and health by helping it develop a strong root system and prevent disease. Stunted growth and leaves that turn purple on the undersides are signs of phosphorus deficiency. Feed your tomato plants phosphorus through chicken manure, bone meal, phosphate rock and commercial fertilizer.
Potassium helps tomato plants reach their full potential in growth and hardiness. It also helps make them disease resistant. Stunted growth, undersized plants, few tomatoes or yellow spots on the leaves are all signals of potassium deficiency. Potassium sources are wood ashes, compost and commercial fertilizer.
Phosphorus
The nutrient phosphorus helps aid in the production of the fruit, or the flowers, seeds and tomatoes. Phosphorus also promotes plant growth and health by helping it develop a strong root system and prevent disease. Stunted growth and leaves that turn purple on the undersides are signs of phosphorus deficiency. Feed your tomato plants phosphorus through chicken manure, bone meal, phosphate rock and commercial fertilizer.
Calcium
Your tomato plant won't develop without calcium. This nutrient also helps prevent a common tomato problem--rotting from the roots up. Tomato plants that get enough water should not have calcium deficiencies. Sources of calcium are clean chicken egg shells, bone meal and ground limestone. It is not contained in most commercial fertilizers, but probably is in fertilizers specifically made for tomatoes.
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