Q. I was reading an older article from
Linn Mills about foliar fertilizing tomatoes. Linn was saying to spray tomato
plants with phosphorous. I read an organic article in which they use fish-seaweed
extract in your opinion which is better to use?
Linn Mills about foliar fertilizing tomatoes. Linn was saying to spray tomato
plants with phosphorous. I read an organic article in which they use fish-seaweed
extract in your opinion which is better to use?
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| High phosphorus fertilizers do not cause all vine and no fruit |
A. Great advice from Linn! You want to
give tomatoes a complete fertilizer at the time of planting. You can use
organic sources or conventional fertilizers. It will not make much difference
to the plant.
give tomatoes a complete fertilizer at the time of planting. You can use
organic sources or conventional fertilizers. It will not make much difference
to the plant.
These can be applied to the soil or to
the plant leaves if they are a liquid. After an initial
the plant leaves if they are a liquid. After an initial
application of a
fertilizer, phosphorus should be in abundance, not nitrogen, with further
applications.
The problem with organic sources like
compost added to the soil at the time of planting is that the fertilizers or
nutrients they contain last so long. This is because the nitrogen in the
compost is released slowly over a period of several months. This is not true of
organic foliar sprays like seaweed extracts.
compost added to the soil at the time of planting is that the fertilizers or
nutrients they contain last so long. This is because the nitrogen in the
compost is released slowly over a period of several months. This is not true of
organic foliar sprays like seaweed extracts.
An overabundance of compost added to
the soil will cause tomatoes to produce a lot of vine and delay flowering. This
is not necessarily true of their close cousins, peppers and eggplant. If
flowering is delayed in tomato and begins during the heat of the summer, it can
result in little to no fruit production.
the soil will cause tomatoes to produce a lot of vine and delay flowering. This
is not necessarily true of their close cousins, peppers and eggplant. If
flowering is delayed in tomato and begins during the heat of the summer, it can
result in little to no fruit production.
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| Example of a high phosphorus foliar fertilizer to stimulate flowers and fruit |
Inexpensive conventional fertilizers (farm
fertilizers) release its nutrients quickly. One big shot is released during the
first few irrigations and the amount of fertilizer available to the plant
diminishes quickly after that.
fertilizers) release its nutrients quickly. One big shot is released during the
first few irrigations and the amount of fertilizer available to the plant
diminishes quickly after that.
These quick release or conventional fertilizers,
at least the nitrogen component, lasts four to six weeks and 80% of it is gone.
Quick release fertilizers, applied at planting time, are perfect for tomato
growth and fruit production.
at least the nitrogen component, lasts four to six weeks and 80% of it is gone.
Quick release fertilizers, applied at planting time, are perfect for tomato
growth and fruit production.
Foliar fertilizers, fertilizers applied
as a liquid to the leaves and stems, act very similarly to quick release
fertilizers applied to the soil. Liquid fertilizers applied to leaves last a
very short time; 2 to 3 weeks.
as a liquid to the leaves and stems, act very similarly to quick release
fertilizers applied to the soil. Liquid fertilizers applied to leaves last a
very short time; 2 to 3 weeks.
Foliar fertilizers need to be applied
more often than fertilizers applied to the soils. Foliar fertilizers should
always contain a wetting agent to help that fertilizer gain entry inside the
plant.
more often than fertilizers applied to the soils. Foliar fertilizers should
always contain a wetting agent to help that fertilizer gain entry inside the
plant.
We want tomato plants to gain size
quickly for about four weeks before they set fruit. If nitrogen is released in
large amounts after that time, it will likely cause a delay in flowering and put
on leaf and stem growth instead.
quickly for about four weeks before they set fruit. If nitrogen is released in
large amounts after that time, it will likely cause a delay in flowering and put
on leaf and stem growth instead.
.JPG) |
| Example of a 1:1:1 fertilizer |
If you are foliar feeding, you should
have at least two different types of foliar fertilizers, maybe even three. The
two which are most important are a high nitrogen content (highest first number)
fertilizer and the second is a foliar fertilizer with high phosphorus content
(highest second number).
have at least two different types of foliar fertilizers, maybe even three. The
two which are most important are a high nitrogen content (highest first number)
fertilizer and the second is a foliar fertilizer with high phosphorus content
(highest second number).
If you get a third one then make it a
fertilizer in a 1:1:1 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Whenever
possible make sure the third number, potassium, is also high in all three
fertilizer in a 1:1:1 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Whenever
possible make sure the third number, potassium, is also high in all three
fertilizers or make sure it is applied to the soil and available to plants.