Tomatoes love fertilizer, but their stage of growth will determine what formula of fertilizer is used. Fertilizer formulation is indicated by three numbers. These numbers are interpreted as percentages. The first number is nitrogen, and in tomatoes nitrogen is used to encourage foliage growth. The second number is phosphorus, which encourages growth of flowers and fruit. The third number is potassium, which is used to help build strong stems and root systems.
Nitrogen
Foliage development is improved by the application of a high nitrogen fertilizer when plants are first planted. Nitrogen is used to encourage foliage growth. When tomatoes are planted, it is important to apply a fertilizer that contains a high percentage of nitrogen such as a 5-3-4. Organic sources of nitrogen can be found by the planting of hairy vetch and human hair.
Phosphorus
As the tomato plant matures phosphorus promotes flowering and fruit development. Phosphorus is used to encourage the tomato plant to start flowering and producing fruit. A fertilizer with a high percentage of phosphorus compared with nitrogen should start as the plant matures and begins to show evidence of blooms. At this stage the percentage of nitrogen should be reduced and phosphorus becoming the higher number with potassium not too far behind. An example of this would be a 3-5-4 formulation. An organic option to increase phosphorus level is through the application of rock phosphate and/or bone meal. Both of these options combine phosphorus and calcium.
Potassium
Potassium encourages the development of a strong stem and root system for tomato plants. Potassium is important to the tomato plant during its whole life cycle. It encourages strong stem development and root systems that are needed to support the plant and fruit. In the beginning of the season it is important to have nitrogen and potassium relatively close together in percentage. But as the season continues potassium numbers need to be close to phosphorus for fruit support. Fertilizer needed during the fruiting cycle is 3-5-5 or 8-10-10. An organic option for potassium is banana peels buried in the soil around tomato plants.
Nitrogen
Foliage development is improved by the application of a high nitrogen fertilizer when plants are first planted. Nitrogen is used to encourage foliage growth. When tomatoes are planted, it is important to apply a fertilizer that contains a high percentage of nitrogen such as a 5-3-4. Organic sources of nitrogen can be found by the planting of hairy vetch and human hair.
Phosphorus
As the tomato plant matures phosphorus promotes flowering and fruit development. Phosphorus is used to encourage the tomato plant to start flowering and producing fruit. A fertilizer with a high percentage of phosphorus compared with nitrogen should start as the plant matures and begins to show evidence of blooms. At this stage the percentage of nitrogen should be reduced and phosphorus becoming the higher number with potassium not too far behind. An example of this would be a 3-5-4 formulation. An organic option to increase phosphorus level is through the application of rock phosphate and/or bone meal. Both of these options combine phosphorus and calcium.
Potassium
Potassium encourages the development of a strong stem and root system for tomato plants. Potassium is important to the tomato plant during its whole life cycle. It encourages strong stem development and root systems that are needed to support the plant and fruit. In the beginning of the season it is important to have nitrogen and potassium relatively close together in percentage. But as the season continues potassium numbers need to be close to phosphorus for fruit support. Fertilizer needed during the fruiting cycle is 3-5-5 or 8-10-10. An organic option for potassium is banana peels buried in the soil around tomato plants.
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