Fertilizer For Tomatoes
Most plants need a boost in their growth via the application of fertilizers. One of the key ingredients of food in any part of the world is tomato. Tomatoes require fertilizers for optimum and healthy yield. If one desires to grow tomatoes that not only look big and beautiful but are tasty as well, then it may be essential to give Mother Nature a little help with the right kind of fertilizer. |
Fortunately, tomato fertilizers can conquer poor soil, increase yields and provide the support that America's garden planters need to produce award winning tomatoes.
Tomato plants the right amount of calcium, magnesium and other micronutrients to increase plant growth and yield. Nourishment could be offered to the plant in the form of organic or chemical fertilizers. In terms of organic fertilizers, dried and rotted manure can be mixed with bone meal to obtain a proper nutrient balance. Many organic tomato growers like this combination of nutrients to grow good tasting and champion tomatoes.
When using chemical fertilizers, one must keep in mind that tomatoes need a proper balance of nutrients that include nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Therefore, while procuring the fertilizer, one must purchase the packaged fertilizer that includes on its label the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium ratio of 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 respectively. For best results, one must stick with these numbers; as a deviation from the stated numerical format like 20-5-5, which has excess amounts of nitrogen will create tall, very green, leafy tomato plants with little or no tomatoes.
The fertilizer mix should be sprinkled approximately one foot from the base of the tomato plant, encircling the entire plant. Direct contact of the fertilizer with any part of the tomato plant has to be strictly avoided as chemical fertilizers have the potential to burn the plant or create other negative problems. Thereafter, one should cover the mix with 2 inches of top soil and then place a light covering of grass cuttings or hay over the fertilizer mix and soil. Finally, the area is to be soaked. The main aim is to always keep the soil moist in order to avoid big problems such as Blossom End Rot. The cut grass or hay covering is added with the objective of keeping the soil moisture at a constant. The plant requires to be fertilized every 15 to 21 days, as per the package instructions and methodology. Repetition creates a layering process, which results in a nice hill build-up of soil, mulch and nutrients encircling the plant.
These days, a plant food by the name of Tomatoes Alive! Plus from Gardens Alive! is gaining immense popularity with tomato growers. This product is so formulated that it gives the tomato plants the exact nutrients they need. Tomatoes Alive! Plus is a perfect blend of fast and slow release natural nutrients that provide the necessary nourishment to the plant for healthy growth and abundant yield.
In garden trials, plants grown with Tomatoes Alive! Plus produced 150 percent more tomatoes by weight than plants grown without any fertilizer. It is believed that with just two feedings per season, the plants produce more blossoms and set more and larger fruit. A one pound package of Tomatoes Alive! Plus is adequate to feed seven plants for an entire growing season and is priced at $7.95. The three-pound package costs $18.95 and the large seven-pound size costs approximately $34.95.
The choice of the specific brand of fertilizer or whether to use an organic or a chemical product is purely individualistic. Whatever the preference may be, the bottom line is to nourish the plant with additional nutrients for better yield with respect to quality and quantity.
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