How to infuse ash fertilizer and feed tomato seedlings at home?

Plant or wood ash, which contains a full range of chemical elements necessary for plants, is added to the soil for tomatoes. Ash is used as a fertilizer not only in the garden, but also at home, as a fertilizer for seedlings. Ashes are added to the soil mixture in dry form, or diluted in water to obtain liquid fertilizer. Even a one-time use of ash fertilizer gives a noticeable effect.

Ash for tomato seedlings

Ash is a unique fertilizer due to the presence of phosphorus and potassium in a form easily digestible by plants.It also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfur, and zinc. The exception is nitrogen, which volatilizes during combustion. But at the initial stage of formation of the root system and stem, tomatoes need a sufficient amount of phosphorus and potassium.

1. With the emergence of seedlings, phosphorus plays a decisive role, promoting intensive root growth. A complete root system will ensure further successful growth, earlier flowering and accelerated ripening of fruits.
2. For full development, young tomatoes need potassium, which is involved in the process of stem formation. Traditionally used nitrogen-potassium fertilizers. But an excess of nitrogen at the initial stage of growth leads to fattening of plants, delaying fruiting and increasing the chances of diseases.
3. Each element in the composition of ash fertilizer affects the development of tomatoes. Copper improves the breathing process, enhances protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Manganese affects the absorption of carbon dioxide. Calcium participates in metabolic processes, affecting its speed. According to scientists, the valuable product contains about half of the elements included in the periodic table.

Using ash for fertilizing, you do not have to worry about an excess of chlorine and the consequences associated with its influence. Ash does not contain chlorine. The impact of fertilizer in general has only a positive effect.

Attention! The best composition is considered to be ash obtained from burning sunflower tops, buckwheat plants, pine and birch wood.

Types of fertilizers for seedlings

Fertilizer application begins at the stage preparing soil for tomato seedlings. If you prepare the soil substrate yourself, then the ash will add the necessary nutrients to its composition. Its presence will make the earth looser.In addition, ash has an alkaline reaction, bringing the acidity of the soil to neutral values.

Use the following recipe, which is suitable for use at home and when growing seedlings in a greenhouse.

To do this, mix:

• peat 60%;
• humus 30%;
• river sand 10%.

To 10 liters of the mixture add superphosphate - 30 g, urea and potassium sulfate - 15 g each; and 1 cup of wood ash. Such a substrate will provide the plants with complete, comprehensive nutrition until they are transplanted to a permanent location.

If it is not possible to prepare the soil yourself, then the plants are fed twice during the seedling period. The first feeding is carried out two weeks after emergence. The second is 10 days before transplanting tomatoes to a permanent place. The purpose of fertilizing is to provide plants with a set of nutrients during periods of stress.

Ash is poured into cups for plants or diluted in water and applied to the soil as a liquid fertilizer. The gardener chooses how to feed the seedlings himself.

Important! Ash is a light and bulky product. 500 g of ash powder is placed in a 1-liter jar, 250 g in a half-liter jar, 100 g in a faceted glass, and 6 g in a tablespoon.

How to prepare liquid fertilizer?

Preparing an ash solution for tomato seedlings is quite simple. The ash is sifted to remove foreign matter. It is advisable to use soft water. Ash powder is poured into a container and filled with water. 100 g of fertilizer will require 5 liters of water. The solution is stirred, left in this state for 3–4 hours and used for watering. Consumption depends on the size of the container in which the seedlings are planted:

• pour 1 tbsp into 200 ml cups. l. solution;
• pour 2-3 tbsp into 500 ml pots. l. ash fertilizer;
• for liter pots you will need 4-5 tbsp. l. solution.

The soil must first be moistened. After applying fertilizer, the surface is mulched with a 0.5–1 cm layer of soil. Liquid fertilizing is very effective, quickly absorbed into the soil and becomes accessible to plant roots.

Is excess ash dangerous?

It is quite difficult to accurately determine the composition of self-prepared fertilizer. The percentage of chemical elements varies and depends on the composition of the raw materials from which the ash is obtained. In any case, there is no need to worry that the plants will receive excess nutrition.

Tomatoes remove a lot of nutrients and minerals from the soil. Even with a full soil composition, you have to feed the plants additionally. If the fertilizer was purchased in a store, the manufacturer indicates the composition. In this case, it is easy to calculate the norm.

Oversaturation threatens plants only if several types of fertilizers are used at once. Using ashes as an independent fertilizer, you should not worry about too much mineral nutrition.

Fertilizing tomatoes during the growing season

Ash for tomatoes is used throughout the growing season. So that plants can make the most of valuable fertilizer, it is used in the following ways.

1. Ash is added when preparing the soil for digging. Add from 700 g to 1.5 kg, depending on the acidity of the soil.
2. When planting seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground, ash is introduced directly into the hole. Under one bush add 3 tbsp. l. ash powder, which is sprinkled on top with 5 cm of soil.
3. As a regular fertilizer, the consumption varies between 100–150 g per square meter. meter of area.Ash powder is scattered onto moist soil, followed by loosening and watering.
4. Tomatoes respond well to liquid fertilizer, which is prepared at the rate of 100 g of ash powder per 10 liters of water. The solution should be infused for 3–5 hours and used in a proportion of 0.5 liters per tomato plant.
5. A solution infused with ash can be used for foliar feeding. To do this, planed laundry soap is added to it.

There are many ways and they can be used for feeding tomatoes in protected or open ground.

Methods of application

When growing tomatoes, ash is used not only as fertilizer:

1. At the initial stage, the seeds are kept in an aqueous solution infused with ash powder. This allows you to saturate the tomato seeds with a supply of microelements.
2. Due to its strong alkaline reaction, ash is used to alkalize acidified soil and to improve its structure, increase looseness and breathability.
3. Ash is also credited with protective properties by applying the powder to moistened plant leaves. Taking ash powder, tobacco and laundry soap in equal proportions (50 g each), prepare an aqueous solution in 10 liters of water, which is sprayed on the green parts of the plants. This product protects tomatoes from pests and even powdery mildew.

But it is still wiser to use a valuable product as a fertilizer. Its unique composition will provide tomato plants with the necessary mineral nutrition.