Correct nutrients
Macro Nutrients
- Nitrogen - the most important of all the numbers. Nitrogen gives the plants their green foliage but too much and you'll get great foliage with no fruits or vegetables.
- Phosphorus- it is critical to the developing blooms which become fruits and vegetables. Phosphorus is very important to the development of larger tomatoes so important that rock phosphate is often used
- Potassium - too little potassium it will look sickly and the fruit or vegetables won't fill out properly. Potassium is important to the overall plant function and it helps with photosynthesis.
Micronutrients- The five main micronutrients are
- iron
- copper
- zinc
- magnesium
- manganese
Types
- Slow release are the easiest to feed your plants. Slow release means that the nutrients are broken down slowly over time and so the risk of burning the plants is minimal. Organic Tomato Taste boost pellets.
- Liquid fertilizer is also a great choice giving the plants a quick boost because it is absorbed instantly by the leaves as well as the roots. Organic Tomato Liquid Blast Fish emulsion is often used and it quickly adds nitrogen. Bone meal is also used and it adds bone powder to the soil. Cow manure is probably the oldest organic fertilizer on the market and it's very affordable. Fish emulsion, manure tea, and seaweed emulsion are all excellent choices. If you are diluting any product it should be the colour of weak tea to ensure you do not burn your plants.
You should fertilize your tomato plants once a week at half strength. Once the blossoms appear you need to fertilize at full strength. Organic fertilizers are much better because they break down a lot slower releasing the nutrients over time which is better for tomato production. Feeding the soil regularly also makes the soil much healthier which means your plants are less susceptible to disease and bug attacks.
So whether you are growing tomato plants to win the county fair or just want the most delicious tomatoes for your table, using the right tomato fertilizer can make all the difference!
