Ash helps my tomato seedlings to take root properly, activates their growth and development.
Ash composition
It contains such important trace elements for plants as:
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- calcium.
Potassium seedlings need more than an adult plant. Especially in the first 15 days after germination. I judge its lack by the formation of small leaves with a tuberculate surface. On older leaves, a yellow border appears around the edges. Gradually, all leaves may turn yellow and twist, the ovary will begin to fall off. Also, with a lack of potassium, I noticed a slow growth of seedlings.
With a deficiency of phosphorus, I observed a color change on the leaves of the plant: the veins of the leaf plate became purple. Brown patches appeared on the lower part of the leaf. With insufficient phosphorus, tomatoes will bring little harvest, their seeds will not germinate in the future.
Calcium has a beneficial effect on the rooting of tomato seedlings, contributes to the growth of the green mass of the bush. It protects the plant from harmful bacteria and fungi. With a lack of calcium, the top of the plant begins to turn yellow. Pale yellow spots appear on young leaves, old ones become dark green.
To compensate for the lack of these elements, I use ash.
I want to remind you that the content of one or another element depends on the material used in the combustion:
- For potassium deficiency, I use sunflower stalks or buckwheat straw.
- Birch or pine wood, wheat straw will give an ash with a high phosphorus content.
- Birch and pine wood also contain a lot of calcium.
- From spruce firewood and rye straw, I get complex fertilizer.
Feeding methods
I apply ash fertilizers at all stages of tomato development, from seeds to mature plants:
- To disinfect and activate tomato seeds, I soak them in a solution: 1 teaspoon of ash per liter of water. I use melted or well-settled water. First, I insist the solution itself during the day. Then I put the seeds in it for 5-6 hours before sowing.
- I add ashes to the soil for sowing. It neutralizes the acidity of the soil, promotes plant growth, and nourishes future seedlings. I mix 1 tablespoon with a liter of water.
- I use for feeding seedlings a week after the first shoots. I prepare a solution at the rate of 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per liter of water. I defend the solution for about a day, filter it and carefully water it under the root of the plant. The second top dressing I spend in a week.
- For spraying, I boil a solution of 300 g of ash filled with water. I do this on low heat for 20-25 minutes. I filter the resulting broth, add it to 10 liters of water and process the seedlings with it. The decoction serves not only as a good fertilizer, but also as a protection of plants from pests and diseases.
In order for the resulting mixture to better hold on the leaves of the tomato, I put 50 ml of liquid soap in it.
When picking plants, I also use ash. I bring it in 2 tablespoons into a previously prepared hole for each bush. Mix with soil and water well.
I dust seedlings with ash at any time. I carry out the procedure every 1.5-2 months.
This prevents the appearance of slugs, snails, gray rot, black leg on plants. Repels Colorado beetles.
I do dusting early in the morning, when dew is still preserved on the plants. The dew helps the ash adhere better to the tomato leaves.
I like to use environmentally friendly and effective fertilizer for my seedlings. You may also have tried using ashes as a fertilizer and protection against disease. I would like to know how useful it seemed to you.
Read also: Universal fertilizer: ash and its proper use in the garden and vegetable garden
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