Many gardeners are faced with a problem: tomatoes grow weak, the fruits are small, and the taste is watery and sour. Often the reason is too acidic and poor soil. You can fix this using dolomite flour. It is added to the ground before planting or under already growing bushes. This improves the soil composition and helps the plants produce large and sweet fruits.
What is dolomite flour
Dolomite flour is crushed carbonate rock. It contains calcium and magnesium – elements that plants need for normal growth and fruit formation.
According to agronomic recommendations and gardening reference books, dolomite flour helps:
- reduce soil acidity;
- improve soil structure;
- increase the availability of nutrients for plants;
- activate beneficial soil microflora.
Such properties make it a popular fertilizer for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other vegetable crops.
When and how much to deposit
Agronomists advise using dolomite flour primarily on acidic and moderately acidic soils. Before planting, it is usually dug up. The norms depend on the acidity level:
- for slightly acidic or almost neutral soil – about 100 g per 1 m²;
- with average acidity – approximately 300 g per 1 m²;
- in highly acidic soil – up to 1–1.5 kg per 1 m².
Such recommendations can be found in the materials of Russian agronomic services and horticultural publications.
Fertilizing for already planted tomatoes
If seedlings are already growing in the garden, dolomite flour can be used as an additional fertilizer. This method helps to gradually neutralize acidity and provides plants with calcium and magnesium.
Usually they do this:
— Apply 2–5 tablespoons of flour under each bush.
— Lightly loosening mix it with the top layer of soil. After this, the bed is watered.
With regular use of dolomite flour, tomatoes usually grow stronger and more resilient. The bushes bloom more actively, and the fruits form larger and brighter. Many summer residents also note that the taste of tomatoes becomes richer and sweeter. In addition, reducing soil acidity helps improve overall plant health and may reduce the activity of some pests.
To check how effective fertilizing is in your area, conduct a simple experiment. Apply dolomite flour only to part of the bushes, and leave the rest unchanged. Towards the end of the season, compare the size, yield and taste of the fruits. This will help you understand whether the fertilizer is beneficial.
