One of the most important tasks a farmer can do when growing tomatoes is to apply fertilizer. This will give the growers the most delicious fruit and the most important amount of tomatoes. However, not everyone knows the right way to fertilize their tomato plants.
The evolution of tomatoes through four stages of growth: seedling, vegetable, flowering and fruit. Depending on the growth stage of your tomato plant, you will apply fertilizer in a different way.
After years and years of growing thousands of tomatoes in my garden, I am sure that my How-To-Guide will help you. I also made a list of the best fertilizers for your tomatoes to help me improve all aspects of growing tomatoes. And don’t skip my professional tips!
Fertilization of the Seedling Stage
Understanding your soil composition is important before applying fertilizer during seedling growth. A soil test will give you a complete understanding of the unique nutrients in the soil your tomatoes will be growing in. After getting the results of your soil and understanding the nutrients you need, you can apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer with 20-10-10 npk. measure your tomatoes during seedling growth.
Instructions
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Mix the potting soil with a slow-release organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen
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Plant your tomatoes in a planting container. Fill the rest of the hole with your potting mix. Water for 15 – 30 seconds
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Sprinkle a small amount of slow-release granular fertilizer 3-4 inches around the base of the plant (avoid fertilizing the stem or leaves of the plant). Water for 15 – 30 seconds after that. Repeat after 2-3 weeks.
Vegetative Stage Fertilization
As your tomato plants grow, you should plant them indoors or in container gardens in your garden. At this point, you will need to fertilize your tomatoes differently, with a ratio of 10-20-20 NPK. Throughout this process, you should keep testing your garden soil to make sure it is between a pH of 6.0 and 7.0. This will help prevent over-fertilization that leads to excessive plant growth with loss of fruit formation.
Instructions
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Mix garden soil with a slow-release organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen
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Peel your tomatoes. Fill the rest of the hole with your garden soil mix. Water for 15 – 30 seconds.
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Apply a liquid fertilizer or a water-soluble mixture rich in phosphorous near the base of the plant two weeks before your tomato plant begins to flower. Water for 15 – 30 seconds after that.
Flower Phase Fertilization
As your tomato plants grow and develop flowers, you will need to continue to provide phosphorus fertilizer, just not at the same rate as during the vegetative period. Usually, farmers will switch to a balanced fertilizer of 10-10-10 NPK ratio. Too much or too little fertilizer will prevent flowers from producing fruit.
Instructions
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Apply a fast-release liquid fertilizer or a water-soluble mixture containing phosphorous near the base of the plant 2 weeks after your tomato plant begins to flower. Water for 15 – 30 seconds after that.
Fruit Fertilization
When fruit begins to develop on their plants, many novice gardeners make the common mistake of stopping their fertilization process. Applying a fertilizer with a ratio of 5-10-10 NPK is important to have a very healthy fruit that can stay on the tomato plant for a very long time.
Instructions
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Apply a liquid fertilizer mix high in phosphorus and potassium near the base of the plant two to three weeks after your tomato plant begins to bear fruit. Water for 15 – 30 seconds after that.
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Once the fruits begin to grow, reduce the application of liquid fertilizer to once a month. If the leaves turn yellow or the fruits remain small, apply fertilizer weekly until growth improves.
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At the end of the growing season, reduce the liquid fertilizer application to every 6 weeks if healthy tomatoes remain on the plant. If the plant is healthy, the leaves are wilting, or late season rot starts to develop on the tomatoes then apply a liquid fertilizer mixture weekly until you pull the tomato plants out of the ground.
Expert Tips
Several complementary gardening techniques can be used during fertilization, increasing the likelihood of a large harvest of delicious tomatoes.
Growers can use 1/2 inch of organic mulch around tomato plants when transplanting/planting. This will help conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and contribute to soil organic matter build-up as it breaks down, potentially reducing the need for additional fertilization.
Another great breeding method is to apply 1/2 cup of worms around the base of the tomato plant every month. This will provide an additional energy source with low emissions that will help produce strong and productive tomato plants.
Not only that but according to University of California, “worm particles contain rich microbiological colonies that help fight soil-borne plant diseases and repel insects.” It should be noted that this is very compatible with composting because it will not lead to excessive nutrient build-up that prevents flower and fruit formation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The above instructions will apply to all types of tomato plants as well as cordon and bush tomatoes.
It will depend on the specific type of fertilizer you use during fertilization. Always read the instructions on the back of the label. Other factors include plant size, soil type, and stage of growth. Too much fertilizer can damage or kill your plant.
It is recommended to fertilize tomato plants in the morning while dew or moisture is still on the surface of the soil. This will prevent your plants from sunburn or heat and allow nutrients to penetrate the soil during the day.
Read more about Tomatoes
While understanding how to fertilize tomato plants is important to tomato growing success, you can check out my other articles on important tomato fertilizer information to help increase your chances of success:
- Best Tomato Fertilizer
- The best NPK ratio for tomatoes
- 7 Nutrients Tomatoes Need
And you can’t fertilize tomato plants without learning first How To Grow Tomatoes From Seeds!
Take away
Understanding how to fertilize tomatoes during the growing season of each plant is important to the overall health of the plant and the ability to produce fruit. A tomato plant will grow strong and healthy by using the correct method of applying compost during each stage. Expect an abundance of flowers, fruits, and delicious food to come.
The post How to Fertilize Tomato Plants appeared first on Gardening Dad.
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