Tomatoes are heavy feeders and produce optimally when supplied with enough nutrients (both macro and micro nutrient elements) throughout the crop season. Proper tomato nutrition can be achieved through basal and foliar fertilizer application.
Basal fertilizers, e.g. DAP are absorbed by the plant majorly through the roots while foliar fertilizers, e.g. OPTIMIZER, are taken up through the plant’s foliage.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION SCHEDULE
Early growth stage
This refers to the stage while crop is at the nursery, transplanted and just before it begins to vigorously grow.
- When raising seedlings in the nursery, proper nursery management should be ensured. Drench soil with OPTIMIZER 20ml/20l. This helps in breaking seed dormancy, promoting uniform germination as well as providing nutrients to the young plants.
- To overcome transplanting shock, seedlings are sprayed with OPTIMIZER 10ml/20l 1-2 days before transplanting.
- Newly transplanted seedling are sprayed with GOLDCHANCE SUPER START 50g/20l, or LAVENDER 20ml/20l or PLANT SOUL 40ml/20l, in the second week. These provide Phosphorous, among other nutrient elements, highly required in root formation and for early crop development.
- During this development stage DAP is applied in order to majorly also provide Phosphorous. Depending on the levels of organic matter in the soil, manure should be applied.
Vegetative growth stage
This is the stage when plant begins photosynthesis and is actively growing. It is during this time when the plant accumulates enough resources for use during flowering and fruit development.
- Spray crop with GOLDCHANCE SUPER GROWTH 50g/20l or LAVENDER 20ml/20l. These are rich in Nitrogen among other elements like Magnesium, Iron etc. which promotes vegetative growth.
- Top dressing using CAN is essential. Other basal fertilizers like N.P.K 23.23.0 can be applied at this stage in order to ensure the crop gets sufficient amounts of Nitrogen among other elements.
Reproduction stage
At this stage, crop begins flowering and subsequently fruiting.
- During this stage, the plant requires Potassium in much higher amounts than other elements. Therefore, spraying the crop with GOLDCHANCE SUPER FLOWERS & FRUITS 50g/20l or DIMIPHITE 20ml/20l or LEGENDARY 40ml/20l is recommended.
- To prevent Blossom End Rot, spray FERRARI GOLD 60ml/20l which supplies enough Calcium to the crop, before the fruits form.
- Spraying VITABOR GOLD 30ml/20l also improves the quality and size of the fruit.
- BIODISTINCTION XTRA 700CS gives an effective protection to the crop against a wide range of infections.
- Basal fertilizers like N.P.K 17.17.17 should also be applied.
Tips!
- Nitrogen should not be supplied in large quantities because this may lead to lush, green tomato plants with very few fruits.
- Potassium is required throughout the growth season as it helps in maintaining the ionic balance and water status within the plant. Too much of it however restricts uptake of other elements.
- Optimizer 10ml/20l should be sprayed at any stage of growth and development in order to help boost the crop’s immunity, manage stress and improve the general performance of the crop.
- A repeat of foliar spray should be done on weekly basis while still monitoring the crop performance.
- All basal fertilizers and manure should be mixed with HUMIPOWER at the rate of 1kg Humipower into 50kg fertilizer or 1 ton of manure. Humipower helps to improve on the nutrient uptake by the crop, stimulates growth, and improves soil structure, among other benefits.
- Whenever doing foliar spray of the fertilizers, always mix the foliar feed with INTEGRA 3ml/20l. This is a sticker, spreader and penetrant which improves on the absorption of the fertilizer by the foliage of the crop.
- Fertilizer should be applied at the right time and right rate, considering the growth stage.
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