Feeding tomatoes with manure
Such organic fertilizer as manure has been used from ancient times in horticulture. It can significantly improve the fertility of depleted soil. And give all the nutrients for the growth of crops. Feeding tomatoes with manure at different stages of development gives a good result and can completely eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers.
Feeding tomatoes with manure
Manure as organic fertilizer
Popular fertilizer in vegetable gardening. Organic food, consisting of the waste products of domestic animals (cows, horses, goats) is ideal for a personal plot. The bulk of humus is water, organic matter and nitrogen. The amount of nitrogen in the composition is in the range from 0.5 to 0.8% of the total mass. And also there is a large amount of potassium 0.5-0.6%. Phosphorus and calcium are less, on average about 0.25%.
It is used both fresh and rotted. For tomatoes, as well as for other vegetable crops, it is better to use rotted droppings. Since the fresh contains weed seeds, as well as fungal spores and bacteria that can harm plants.
Storage method: lay the fertilizer on a concrete deck and cover it so that it comes into contact with atmospheric moisture as little as possible. In this state, the manure must be re-heated for at least 4 months. Only then is it ready for use.
This type of organic feeding is able to provide good nutrition for tomatoes, enriching the soil with a complex of macro - and microelements. Contributes a large amount of carbon dioxide, which is necessary for the nutritional processes of tomatoes. It also activates the soil microflora, which favorably affects the development of vegetable crops.
Cow dung
The most widespread and frequently used species in gardening. In addition to nutrients, the composition contains a high level of nitrates, so it is necessary to monitor the dosage.
Percentage composition:
- nitrogen 0.35%;
- potassium 0.29%;
- phosphorus-0.30%;
- calcium-0.14%.
It is recommended to fertilize up to 10 kg per 1 sq. m. depending on the depletion of the soil.
Horse dung
Fertilizing tomatoes for greater efficiency should be horse manure. It contains more nutrients than cow. Percentage composition:
- nitrogen 0.47%;
- potassium-0.35%;
- phosphorus-0.38%;
- calcium-0.20%.
Easily provide plants with all the necessary substances for stable growth. Stimulates fruiting and increases plant resistance under unfavorable conditions. Fertilizing tomatoes requires half as much as a cow's.
When tomatoes are fertilized with manure
Fertilizer can be used at any stage of plant growth.
It is added to fertilize tomatoes at different stages of the preparation of the tomato beds. And also in different periods of the growing season.
Tomatoes are fed:
- in the fall when digging the soil;
- in the spring when laying the beds;
- during the period of growing seedlings;
- after landing in the ground.
When feeding tomatoes, not only the method of application will be important, but also the dosage.And this will depend on how and at what time the fertilization will be carried out.
Fertilizing tomato beds
In the fall, fertilizer is applied by spreading it over the surface of the garden bed, followed by embedding in the ground. Horse manure is brought into the soil by 3 kg per 1 sq. m., cow - 5-6 kg per 1 sq. m. Autumn application allows you to use it even fresh. Until spring, the manure will have time to overheat, release excess nitrogen, and nutrients are activated and will provide tomatoes for the entire growing season. Partially washed out with melt water, which will protect against overdose. It should be borne in mind that cow dung loses up to 30% of its effectiveness until spring. And often gardeners bring it in in the spring.
An important rule of spring feeding tomatoes is to use only well-rotted fertilizer. It has already freed excess nitrogen, and all harmful microorganisms have died. The humus is evenly distributed over the soil using a rake. 3 kg is enough for one square meter. After a few days, digging the beds is carried out. And only then can tomatoes be planted.
Top dressing of seedlings
They also use this organic fertilizer to feed tomato seedlings in case of an obvious nitrogen deficiency, which will be evidenced by the appearance of the plants. Fragile seedlings, yellowish leaves, stems thin and curved, no growth.
For cooking, you should take a liter can of cow dung and fill it with a bucket of water, mix thoroughly. Leave in the open air for a few days to ferment properly. For watering seedlings, use 250 ml of slurry diluted in 10 liters of water. For one bush, 100 ml of such a solution is enough. Similarly, horse manure-based top dressing is prepared, only the proportions differ. For 10 liters of water, 200 g of fertilizer is enough. You can fertilize plants with it only once throughout the entire period of growth and fruiting. It is efficient and fast-acting.
Top dressing of tomatoes in the garden and in the greenhouse
Often, already grown bushes need to be fed additionally, especially during the period of active growth. Manure is rich in nitrogen and it is advisable to apply it under tomatoes 14-21 days after planting seedlings in the ground. Used as a slurry. To do this, 400 g of mullein or 200 horse rotted udder are poured with 10 liters of warm water and left to ferment for 5-7 days, sometimes stirring. A glass of the finished mixture is dissolved in a bucket of water and the garden is watered. This procedure is best done in the evening. Watering is carried out carefully, feeding is poured under the bush at a distance of 20-30 cm from the stem, avoiding contact with the leaves and stems. And you can also shed the aisles with such fertilizer. A groove is made between the rows, a solution is poured into it. The rate is calculated based on the number of bushes, 1 liter of solution is enough for one plant.
Additives
Many gardeners practice the technique of adding droppings to such top dressing as herbal tea, which is used to fertilize tomatoes throughout the season. For cooking you will need:
- water 25 l;
- manure 2 kg;
- compost 2 kg;
- green grass (weeds, nettle, dandelion) 5 kg.
All ingredients are mixed and infused for a week, sometimes you need to stir. Before use, 1 liter of tea is diluted with 10 liters of water. Top dressing of tomatoes with such fertilizer is carried out 3-4 times per season.
Conclusion
Manure, as a fertilizer, has proven itself well in organic farming. Allows you to provide tomatoes with nutrients without resorting to chemical fertilizers. The main thing is the correct application technology and dosage compliance. Then feeding will be for the good and will not harm the plants and soil.