Feeding tomatoes in a greenhouse: what fertilizers and when to use

The choice of fertilizer for tomatoes in the greenhouse must be approached very carefully. After all, the productivity of the crop depends on it. To solve this problem, each farmer uses his own recipe. Therefore, there are a lot of feeding options. But it should be borne in mind that the purpose of top dressing is to improve the soil and supply the plant with all the elements. So, how to feed tomatoes in a greenhouse, as well as what fertilizers and when to use?

Soil features

Before choosing fertilizers, it is worth considering the characteristics of the soil. This will allow you to choose a substance that will eliminate all its shortcomings. What are the features of the soil in the film covering:

In greenhouses and other film coverings, it is difficult to adhere to the rules for the rotation of certain crops. If you grow only tomatoes in a greenhouse, then they are planted every year in the same place. As a result, the soil is depleted. Every year, the plant takes the same elements from it.

Also, film coverings are distinguished by a small amount of soil mass. Of course, this problem is relevant in the case of bulk areas or boxes. In the open ground, natural migration of certain substances occurs. As for the greenhouse, such processes are practically excluded in it. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the soil.
To control pests and diseases in the greenhouse, various chemicals are used. Their disadvantage is that as a result of their use there is a risk of harming the microflora of the soil. As a result, its fertility is greatly reduced.

To create optimal conditions for the normal development of plants, you need to seriously think about how to increase the fertility of the soil. There are several ways to solve this problem. Among the main ones worth highlighting:

The first option. In the greenhouse and other film coverings, a complete replacement of the soil used is carried out. And this means that if plants have already been planted in it, then it is not worth reusing it, since it is poor in nutrients. As a result, this will negatively affect yields.
Second option. The essence of the method is the introduction of certain fertilizers into the soil. This will saturate it with all the necessary nutrients, which as a result increases its fertility. This method is used in both small and large-scale greenhouses.

The application of fertilizer for tomatoes can significantly increase yields. Of course, in order to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to correctly approach the choice of substance. So, what to feed the tomatoes in the greenhouse?

Popular organic fertilizers

When choosing a substance for feeding tomatoes after planting in a greenhouse, there is no need to focus on only one method. Today on the market there is a large selection of drugs that are used for complete soil fertilization. But, experienced farmers recommend paying special attention to popular organic fertilizers. So, how to feed tomatoes:

Litter of sheep and cattle. It is a universal fertilizer, which contains a large amount of organic matter. To protect the greenhouse plant, it is pre-composted. Manure can be used a year after being added to the compost heap.

Interesting: Cow dung is very popular. But, if an early culture is being grown, then it is better to opt for horse droppings. It generates quite a lot of heat, which allows you to heat the soil and protect the plants from hypothermia.

Chicken manure. It is a rich effective fertilizer. Poultry droppings contain potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Top dressing of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is best done with dried manure, which was previously subjected to high-temperature processing. This allows you to destroy the eggs of helminths, as well as the seeds of various weeds.
Peat. The fertilizer contains a sufficient amount of organic matter, and also has good moisture-regulating properties. Humidity is also very important. Therefore, peat is simply indispensable. The only drawback is that the use of a large amount of the substance can lead to an increase in the acidity of the soil. This negatively affects growth as well as plant yields.
Siderates. In this case, we are talking about mowed grass, which is grown directly on the site, and after mowing, it is dug up along with the ground.
Other substances presented as wood shavings, sawdust and fluff. With their help, you can ensure the cultivation of he althy and developed plants that will give a fairly good harvest.

Today you can find organic substances from various manufacturers on the market. They consist of humic and fulvic acids, which are found in natural soil. Growth stimulants and various bactericidal substances are used as additional components. Complex fertilizers are especially popular, which contribute to the recruitment of phytomass, as well as the development of the root system.

Inorganic drugs

Inorganic substances are also widely used for feeding a tomato. These fertilizers are rich in macro- and microelements. They are simply necessary for the formation of he althy fruits. It is possible to fertilize tomatoes in a greenhouse with the following substances:

Phosphoric substances. First of all, this applies to phosphates and superphosphates. As the name suggests, they contain phosphorus, as well as superphosphate and other trace elements that are needed for the normal development of bushes and the formation of fruits. They are included in the comprehensive care of the culture.

Important: experts recommend using superphosphate in granules.

It is, of course, a little more expensive, but very convenient to use.

Potash fertilizers. Often used during fruit ripening. With their help, you can improve their taste. Among the popular options are monophosphate and potassium chloride. Such an element is found in wood ash, which is formed after burning needles.
Nitrogen fertilizers. The substance is presented on the market in a wide range. It must be used very carefully.In sufficient quantities, fertilizer stimulates plant growth, but if applied in large quantities, it will lead to increased soil toxicity. As a result, excess nitrates can form in the fruit, leading to serious food poisoning.

Inorganic fertilizers can be bought at almost any garden store. Read the instructions carefully before using them. This is especially true for substances that contain nitrogen in their composition. Otherwise, top dressing can harm both the plant and the quality of the fruits.

How to fertilize tomatoes

Top dressing of tomatoes in the greenhouse is carried out in accordance with some rules and recommendations of experts. This will depend on the yield. You need to start work with soil preparation.

Soil preparation

Before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, experts recommend soil preparation. This process is carried out in the following sequence:

Enrichment of soil with organic matter. The earth in the greenhouse is dug up. After that, compost, ash and superphosphate are added to it. In this case, it is necessary to accurately observe the amount of fertilizer. So, for top dressing 1 m^{2 you will need about 4 kg of compost.}

If tomatoes are grown in boxes, then manure is used for fertilizer, as well as peat. Experts recommend watering with a solution of nitroammophoska. For 2 liters of water, add 1 tsp. substances.

After a few weeks, another batch of fertilizer is applied to the ground. For this, a mixture of nitroammophoska and a weak solution of potassium permanganate are used. With the help of potassium permanganate, high-quality soil disinfection is performed.
Picking. This process negatively affects the growth of young plants. Therefore, it is necessary to support them. To do this, a week after the picking, potassium sulfate, as well as superphosphate, are added to the ground.
Planting bushes in the prepared ground. Top dressing is also carried out at the time of planting seedlings in the ground. Growth promoter is added to each well. It has a positive effect on the root system and improves its development. Also, along with this, superphosphate and a solution of s altpeter are used.

Thus, the soil is being prepared in the greenhouse. When all the work is done, you can start planting seedlings.

Fertilize during growth

Tomatoes need to be fed during their growth. The process is carried out according to the following scheme:

The first dressing of tomatoes after planting is done in a week and a half. To do this, the soil around the stem is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
After 14 days ammonium nitrate solution is applied. Here, 15 g of the substance is added to a bucket of water.

If we are talking about growing an early variety of tomatoes, then in order to get a good harvest, they are fed with a solution that includes superphosphate, urea, and also potassium sulfate. To prepare it, add 10 g of each substance to a bucket of water.
During the flowering period, plants carry out root feeding with mullein. You also need to periodically apply potash fertilizers or a concentrated solution of the same mullein.

Important: you need to breed the mullein correctly. This will prevent burns. This process is best done in two steps.

At the final stage, the root dressing of the tomato is carried out in the greenhouse.It is carried out during the formation of the fruits of tomatoes. For this, potassium sulfate and other substances are used. 10 g of these substances are added to a bucket of warm water. Ash is also added to the solution. The mixture is used in 500 ml under each bush.

This feeding scheme will ensure a high yield of tomatoes from the greenhouse.