In order for the tomatoes to grow sweet and fleshy, it is important to properly fill the hole before planting the seedlings. Gardener Oksana Artemenko from the Krasnoyarsk Territory told how to do this correctly. She shared her secrets on her blog (12+).
What fills the bottom of the hole?
When planting tomatoes, it is recommended to use a special granular fertilizer mixture.
- A tablespoon of the drug is placed in each hole.
- A thin layer of earth is poured on top (it is necessary that the root system of the seedling does not come into contact with the granules).
- After this, the plant is placed, sprinkled with soil and spilled with water.
Immediately after planting, the beds with tomatoes are covered with a layer of mown vegetation or weeds pulled out by the roots.
This procedure has three positive effects:
- Moisture stays in the ground longer. The soil does not dry out for a long time – this is especially important for gardeners who are on the site only on weekends.
- Obstacle for weeds. The mulch layer prevents the growth of weeds.
- Food for ground biota. Organic matter serves as food for beneficial microorganisms. They quickly process plant residues into humus, which is easily absorbed by tomatoes. The earth becomes loose and light.
How to make tomatoes sweet
“I want to say that the sweetness of a tomato largely depends on the variety! Whatever you want, a pickled tomato will never compare in taste to a salad one, even if you pour sugar on it,” Oksana shares.
A correctly selected variety must be properly “developed”. Potassium is responsible for the accumulation of sugars in tomatoes. Towards mid-summer, tomatoes are fed with potassium compounds.
What you can feed:
Potassium sulfate: 20–30 grams (this is about 1.5–2 tablespoons, since approximately 15 g of the substance fits in one spoon) diluted in a bucket of water. A liter is poured under each root.
Wood ash (if potassium sulfate is not available):
- Dry powder is scattered under the bushes – the nutrients themselves will penetrate into the ground during irrigation.
- Or prepare an extract: pour 2 cups of ash into a bucket of water, leave for a couple of days, mix and pour half a liter at the root.
