Potassium sulfate application for tomatoes
In order to be proud of their harvest, gardeners know how important it is to use top dressing for plants and fruitful trees. Tomatoes are no exception, so they also need fertilization. One of the best options is potassium sulfate for tomatoes. This substance does an excellent job of providing tomatoes with everything they need for fruiting.
Potassium sulfate application for tomatoes
Potassium sulfate and its benefits for the crop
This substance means potassium sulfate, which dissolves easily in water. It has a bitter-sour taste and crystalline structure. Outwardly, potassium sulfate resembles an ordinary powder, but its properties make it possible to appreciate this substance. With a sufficient amount of this top dressing, tomatoes:
- grow and develop better;
- become larger;
- become juicier and get a more refined taste;
- protected from diseases and parasites;
- better withstand weather changes and disasters.
But the benefits of using potassium sulfate fertilizer for tomatoes are not limited to this. This substance also promotes uniform ripening of vegetables, helps to avoid dry fringes on foliage, poor harvest, premature wilting of plants and many other problems that a lack of potassium leads to.
How to avoid excess potassium when fertilizing tomatoes
The use of potassium sulfate, despite its invaluable benefits, must be strictly according to the rules, otherwise the crop may suffer. Moreover, this applies not only to tomatoes - an excess of the substance will negatively affect potatoes, carrots and other crops. The main signs of excess potassium use are as follows:
- interveinal chlorosis appears on the foliage of the plant, and the leaves themselves become thinner;
- the upper leaves turn brown and gradually die off;
- the lower leaves become shriveled, dark spots form on them;
- the root system weakens and loses the ability to grow into the ground.
In order for tomatoes to bring a generous harvest, potassium sulfate must be used with caution, not forgetting about the dosage and frequency of use. As a rule, the calculation should be done based on the footage of the site. For each m², no more than 20 grams is taken. substances. This is how you can avoid over-fertilizing your tomatoes.
Methods for applying potassium sulfate to tomatoes
For tomatoes, the use of potassium sulfate as fertilizer can be done in a variety of ways. First of all, dry. It is simply thrown into the soil when digging or into already plowed land. This can be done both before planting and during winter.
Another way is to fill the plants with fertilizer while watering. For this, the required amount of the product is dissolved in water and applied under the root of the tomatoes.At the same time, the concentration of the substance, as a rule, is high enough (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water) so that not only the root system, but also the entire plant receives the necessary nutrition.
There are 3 ways - foliar, in which potassium sulfate is applied by spraying fruits and leaves. It is quite effective and is not inferior to the first 2, but it has its own nuances. The fact is that the leaves, in contrast to the root, have a more fragile structure, so it is easy to burn and damage them if the concentration is exceeded. That is why you need to dilute 2 g of potassium sulfate in 1 liter of water.
Apply fertilizer with care
It should be noted that this drug is not dangerous for humans and does not lead to health problems, whatever the method of processing tomatoes. At the same time, an excess of potassium sulfate can cause allergic reactions or disorders of the digestive system, so the use of such fertilizer is good in moderation.
How to apply fertilizer correctly
Having decided on the method of using top dressing, you need to take into account a number of nuances that are also important when using potassium sulfate for tomatoes. First of all, you need to pay attention to the fact that feeding is best done at the stage of forcing seedlings. When tomatoes are planted, the importance of fertilization increases, since it is during this period that active growth and development of plants begins. At the same time, the conditions in which tomatoes will be grown play a huge role. When it comes to greenhouses, the amount of dressings, especially foliar dressings, should be minimal, especially if there is increased moisture. In case you are thinking of growing tomatoes outdoors, it is important to take into account the weather conditions. For example, with a large amount of precipitation, top dressing can be washed out by rains, and the plants themselves will begin to rot and hurt due to the development of pathogenic flora.
If you have chosen the root method of using this substance, it should be borne in mind that fertilization and watering are carried out at the same time. In this case, the dosage of water should be different, depending on the place of planting the tomatoes. On the open ground, abundant watering is required, but in a greenhouse it is better not to overmoisten the soil.
How many times is it recommended to apply fertilizer
Experienced gardeners agree that it is very important to apply at least 4 root dressings in order to feed the tomatoes well. Potassium sulfate fertilizer application for tomatoes is recommended for:
- immediately after planting young seedlings;
- before flowering;
- as soon as the first ovaries are formed;
- during the ripening period of tomatoes.
In addition, you can fertilize tomatoes even more often if they bear fruit during the rainy season. In this case, they usually add a couple more dressings with potassium sulfate to make sure that the fruits receive everything they need for development.
How to apply fertilizer without harming your own body
Taking care of the yield of tomatoes, it is important to remember the safety measures when using potassium sulfate. Experienced gardeners know that it is important to avoid skin contact with this substance. For this reason, you will need mandatory protective equipment: gloves, mask or respirator, special suit. Inhalation of potassium sulfate fumes can develop allergic reactions, as well as inflammatory processes, as a result of which lung function may be impaired.
It is important to remember the timing of the application of fertilizers - they must be used no later than two weeks before picking the tomatoes. Otherwise, potassium sulfate will not be absorbed so well as not to harm the human body.
There is also a serious point that should be taken into account. This substance cannot be mixed with other types of fertilizers - urea, chalk, etc. An exception can only be acidic soil, for which you will have to mix potassium sulfate with a small amount of lime. In other cases, it is recommended to apply different types of fertilizers at separate intervals.
In order for the substance to bring only benefits, and you can enjoy a rich harvest of tomatoes, all the nuances should be taken into account, and in this case the fertilizer will become a real source of nutrition and health for your favorite tomatoes.