No harvest at all: how not to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes are a popular vegetable among gardeners, but growing them requires quite a bit of effort. The plant is very sensitive to external conditions and is susceptible to a large number of diseases and pests. Therefore, an inexperienced gardener can ruin the harvest with their own unsuccessful actions.

OBOZREVATEL explains what common mistakes can be made when growing tomatoes and how to avoid them. It also explains which fertilizers are best not to use for this vegetable.

Wrong choice of seeds

Experience often suggests choosing time-tested tomato varieties. However, old variants become more vulnerable to disease over time, while newer breeds are improving not only in terms of resistance but also in terms of nutritional properties.

Mistakes in choosing a place to grow

Tomatoes need a lot of sunlight, so it is wrong to choose a shaded area of the garden for them. Plants should be planted away from trees and shrubs, as well as from any tall crops such as corn or sunflowers.

Planting too early

Tomatoes are also sensitive to low temperatures. If the plant stays at 10-15 degrees Celsius for a long enough time, it can lose its flowers or ovaries and not produce at all. Therefore, tomatoes should be planted outdoors only when the temperature is stable. You should check the weather forecast for the coming weeks and make sure that no significant cold snap is expected.

Improper fertilization

Tomatoes don't respond well to all types of fertilizer. Certain types of fertilizers and methods of their application can severely harm the plants.

For example, excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilizers can cause chemical burns to tomato bushes. This will halt their growth, damage the leaves, and can destroy unripe fruit.

In general, excessive fertilization is very harmful to tomatoes. At best, it stimulates excessive growth of green mass and has a negative effect on the ovary and the number and size of fruits. At worst, it will cause irreparable damage to the plants. This applies to both mineral and organic fertilizers. Therefore, when applying them, it is better to slightly reduce the recommended dose and, in no case, exceed it.

Similarly, a lack of fertilization can lead to the fact that plants do not have the strength to form fruit. Experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing tomatoes three times per season. When choosing a fertilizer, it is important that the nitrogen content is lower than the phosphorus and potassium content. An example of a good combination includes 15 grams of ammonium nitrate, 50 to 60 grams of superphosphate, and 30 to 40 grams of potassium chloride per 10 liters of water.

Of the micronutrient fertilizers, tomatoes are most in need of boron and magnesium. The first substance should be applied under the bushes regularly, and magnesium fertilizers - when the plants bloom. Boron will work better in the form of spraying. To prepare it, you need to dilute 1 gram of boric acid in 1 liter of water. The plants should be treated with this solution in the afternoon, ideally at sunset so that the liquid does not evaporate in the sun.

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