When growing tomatoes, many gardeners use various organic and mineral fertilizers that stimulate plant growth and improve the quality of the fruit. Baking soda for tomatoes can be a good top dressing, since it contains a number of useful substances that not only contribute to the development of plants, but also protect them from pathogenic microorganisms.
How to use baking soda when growing tomatoes
Sodium bicarbonate can be used for both root and foliar feeding. The first time the tomatoes are treated with liquid a few weeks after the seedlings are planted in the ground, and the second and third - the composition is applied at intervals of 14-15 days.
Seed and soil treatment
When preparing for planting, it is necessary to dissolve 5 g of soda in 0.5 liters of water and keep the seeds in the solution for 2-3 hours. Then rinse with warm water, dry a little - and you can plant it in the ground.
To disinfect the soil, it is necessary to dilute 10 liters of warm water with 35 g of the substance and shed all the beds well. The work is carried out 2-3 days before moving the seedlings into open ground.
Protection against diseases and pests
Young tomato bushes need protection from ticks, midges, spiders and other garden pests, as well as from powdery mildew and late blight. Therefore, 2 weeks after planting the plants, it is necessary:
- dissolve 150-175 g of soda and 50 g of grated alkaline soap in 10 liters of water, mix thoroughly and spray all tomato bushes;
- dissolve 30 g of copper sulfate and the same amount of soda in 10 liters of water, mix everything well and irrigate the tomato planting.
To prevent infection with fungal infections in mid-May, all tomato bushes can be sprayed with a solution prepared from 10 liters of water, 100 g of sodium bicarbonate and a small amount of manganese. This composition should have a light pink color.
Top dressing of tomatoes in the ground
To get healthy and juicy fruits, you need to dilute 5 liters of warm water with 10 g of soda and add 1 liter of solution under each bush. In July, the plants are watered 2 times with an interval of 14 days, and in August 1 time. This top dressing can only be used on those beds where the soil has a low pH level, i.e. a high degree of acidity. You can also add 25-30 g of potassium sulfate or 8-10 drops of iodine to this composition.
Tips for using baking soda
Correct use of sodium bicarbonate can bring maximum benefit to tomatoes, while not adhering to the dosage can cause chemical burns of plant leaves.
Soda usage rules:
- The concentration of the substance in root and foliar dressings should not exceed 5%.
- Spraying should be done early in the morning using a spray bottle with a fine sprinkler.
- Plants can be processed no more than 1 time in 10 days.
If the soda solution has caused the leaves to wilt and turn yellow, feeding must be temporarily stopped. Such a reaction can be caused by a high alkali content in the soil or an excess of the concentration of bicarbonate in the prepared composition.
Soda is an auxiliary substance that is used in growing tomatoes, so it must be combined with other mineral and organic fertilizers.
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