To obtain a healthy crop of tomatoes, plants need to be fertilized. The best way is to use natural products. One of these options is feeding tomatoes with iodine, which replaces nitrogen substances.
The benefits of iodine for tomatoes
Iodine fertilizer for tomatoes is used as a preventive and therapeutic agent, fertilizer. Additionally saturates the soil with useful substances (with root application of solutions).
Iodine is a natural antiseptic, takes part in the processes of respiration, metabolism and photosynthesis of a plant. Promotes the production of amino acids, the suppression of pathogenic microorganisms. Its regular use eliminates the need for large doses of nitrogen components.
Topping tomatoes with iodine solution has the following effect:
- seed germination is accelerated;
- the immune system of the plant is strengthened;
- nitrates do not accumulate in the vegetable, as after the use of nitrogen fertilizers;
- more ovaries form;
- the degree of resistance to negative factors increases;
- bacteria are destroyed, especially fungal;
- diseases are eliminated;
- fruit ripening time is accelerated;
- resistance to frost and drought increases;
- productivity increases.
According to agronomists and gardeners, thanks to iodine, tomatoes acquire a more red and uniform shade, and external indicators (form) improve. The last factor is associated with the fact that the bushes are less exposed to diseases and pests.
How to understand that tomatoes lack iodine?
Among all vegetable crops, it is the tomatoes most in need of iodine, which they absorb from the soil, water, air. It is impossible to say unequivocally how much specific substance per day is required, so watch the plant.
Iodine deficiency is manifested by such signs:
- low productivity (if you are sure of the variety and seeds);
- small fruits;
- too slow growth;
- susceptibility to diseases and pests;
- fruiting time delay;
- thinness of stems;
- lethargy and pallor of leaves.
Features of application in the open ground and greenhouse
In greenhouse conditions, due to the lack of rain, it is important to carry out root dressing. In the garden, sometimes it is enough to spray the plants, since raindrops wash iodine from the leaves into the ground. When sprayed in a greenhouse, the substance is completely absorbed by the stems and leaves of the tomato. Consequently, foliar fertilizer is applied less often than in open beds (about 2 times).
In greenhouses, diseases often occur, since the territory is completely closed, therefore it is recommended to carry out air disinfection. What should be done:
- suspend a vial or other container with iodine on each bush support;
- set the container upright;
- open the covers.
Evaporating substance spreads through the air and is absorbed by plants. During this period, try not to visit the greenhouse often, since iodine in the volatile state can harm the human body.
In open ground, you need to feed tomatoes in the early morning or evening, as iodine contributes to burns in contact with sunlight. Foliar top dressing is carried out additionally if it has been raining for 12 hours after the procedure.
Disinfection and types of dressings
Effective nutrition of tomatoes is carried out by the root and extra-root method. But experts recommend disinfecting iodine and seeds, which will accelerate germination and germination, seedlings will be stronger, the plant will not hurt.
How to sanitize the seed?
It is customary to process tomato seeds before planting with manganese, but today it is almost impossible to purchase it in free sale. An alternative is iodine.
Disinfection Process:
- take 0.7 l of warm water (temperature + 23-25 ° C);
- pour 3 drops of iodine (5%);
- fill in planting material;
- stand for 10 minutes;
- drain the solution;
- rinse the seeds under water;
- dry the grains on paper towels.
Root treatment
Feeding is necessary when the root system is formed. Iodine is introduced in 3 stages. The first feeding of seedlings is carried out at a time when 2-3 full leaves are formed on the plant. Prepare an iodine solution based on 3 liters of water - 1 drop of the substance. Water should be warm. The fertilizer application procedure is as follows:
- moisten the earth around the seedling;
- pour from a watering can with a nutritious mixture at the rate of 0.3-0.5 liters per bush.
The second time top dressing is carried out during the formation of carpal ovaries:
- in 10 l of warm water dilute 3 drops of iodine;
- pour 0.7-1 liter of solution under each bush, depending on the variety (for undersized, less is needed).
The third root top dressing is carried out in the fruiting phase:
- bring the water to a boil;
- pour wood ash - a 3-liter jar;
- cover the container with a lid, leave for 1-1.5 hours to insist;
- add water to obtain 10 l;
- drip 10 ml of iodine;
- add 10 g of boric acid;
- mix, leave for 24 hours;
- dilute 1 liter of tincture in 10 liters of warm water;
- pour the tomatoes under the root (1 liter per bush).
Foliar fertilizer
Spraying the tops produced in the intervals between root dressings. For 1 square. m need 1 liter of 500 ml of solution, which is prepared as follows:
- in 1 liter of warm water, enter 5 drops of pharmacy iodine;
- add skim milk in an amount of 250 ml;
- use a spray gun to spray liquid onto the surface of the bushes.
Do not exceed the indicated dosages. Otherwise, tomato tops will get burned. Do not spray with this compound more than 3 times per season. Otherwise, an overdose will occur, as a result of which the fruits and hands are deformed.
Recipes for Combined Feeding
Feeding tomatoes with iodine implies the use of other components that are also necessary for plants. The main substance interacts well with other ingredients, thereby enhancing the healing effect of each.
Milk with iodine
A lot has been said about the benefits of iodine. What is milk good for? Scientists have proven that pests and pathogens do not tolerate lactose and milk sugar. Milk needs to be used natural (not store).
Thanks to milk-iodine solutions, fungi are destroyed, the fruits have a beautiful appearance, growth is accelerated. Dairy products contain a huge amount of amino acids, trace elements, phosphorus, potassium, which improves plant photosynthesis.
There are several effective recipes that you can use:
- Mix 10 liters of water with 1 liter of raw milk and 10 drops of iodine. Spray bushes with 0.5 l of solution for each. During the season, you can use 3-4 times, since the mixture is not very concentrated.
- Solution without water. For 1 liter of cow's milk, 15 drops of iodine will be required. Mix thoroughly, spray the bushes at the rate of 1 cup of mixture per seedling. Frequency of use - no more than 3 times per season.
Boric acid and iodine
Boron is a necessary substance for tomatoes during the formation of ovaries and flowering. Useful properties for tomatoes:
- root system formation;
- increase in the number of buds;
- strengthening immunity;
- sugar content increase;
- acceleration of the ripening process;
- tops development;
- Improving the absorption of other beneficial substances.
Boric acid does not have the properties of accumulation in the soil and tissue of bushes. For this reason, an overdose is excluded.
Recipes of boron-iodine top dressing:
- Lightly heat 10 l of water, add 12 g of boric acid, drip 5 drops of iodine. Use for foliar top dressing (per 1 sq. M - 1-1.5 l of solution).
- For 5 drops of boron, take 3 drops of iodine, 200 ml of fresh milk, 3 l of water. Under each bush, add 500 ml of the solution three times per season.
Not all tomato varieties need boric acid, so watch the leaves carefully. If they fade, stop feeding.
Serum with iodine
Sour-milk products contain bacteria of the same name that inhibit the development of pathogenic microorganisms. When spraying, the serum enters the tops and fruits, after which it forms a protective film. Additionally, the plant is saturated with microelements, which accelerates growth, improves the taste of the fruit.
Recipes:
- For root dressing, use a solution of 1 liter of serum, 15 drops of iodine, 4 liters of warm water. Pour 0.5-1 liter 2-3 times per season under the bushes.
- For foliar fertilizer, combine 2 liters of water with a glass of serum and 3 drops of iodine. Spray in the standard way.
Iodine with greenery
Diamond greens is considered an antiseptic with a high content of copper and other beneficial substances. It has the same effect on tomatoes as iodine. It is forbidden to abuse the mixed solution, as the plant will get burned.
Recipes:
- Root Mix fertilizers: a bucket of water, 20 drops of iodine, 40 drops of brilliant green. Water 0.5 liters per 1 bush.
- For spraying: for 10 liters of water - 10 and 20 drops (iodine / diamond greens). For 1 square. m need 1.5 liters of solution.
- If plants are affected by fungal diseases, make a concentrated solution: 1 tsp iodine, 2 tsp. greenbacks and water. Dampen the stem in the basal area (maximum 10 cm from the ground). Perform the procedure 3 times every week.
Iodine against pests and diseases
Since iodine is an antiseptic, it is used against pathogenic microorganisms. Tomatoes are most often exposed to fungal pathologies, so the drug is used for prevention and treatment.
Late blight recipeswhich nightshade crops often get sick of:
- The fungus manifests itself on the leaves and fruit of the plant - dark spots form, so the tops of irrigation are required. In a bucket of water, take 40 drops of iodine, 1 liter of sour milk or whey. To speed up the healing process, add 15-20 ml of hydrogen peroxide. Spray 4-5 times a week.
- For prevention, dilute 10 drops of iodine in 10 liters of water. Spray a couple of times a month.
- To improve the effect, add chopped garlic or salt to the treatment solution.
Powdery mildew characterized by yellowing of leaves, white coating. For the fight, such means are used:
- Rub 20 g of brown laundry soap on a fine grater, drip 10 drops of the drug, add 1 liter of sour. Spray on tops every day for a week.
- Mix 8 drops of iodine with 0.7 liters of milk and 6 liters of water. Spray like the previous method.
With cladosporiosis (brown spotting) the pathogen is localized on the leaves, first manifested during flowering of the bush. Foliar treatment is carried out as follows:
- in warm water (10 l), enter 40 drops of iodine;
- add 30 g of potassium chloride;
- spray the plant every other day.
Prevent infection with gray rot fungus can be as follows:
- chop 0.5 kg of garlic cloves;
- add 30 drops of the drug;
- process seedlings.
Tobacco mosaic not treated, but it can be warned:
- dilute 1 liter of fresh milk in a bucket of water;
- enter 10 drops of iodine;
- treat tomato seeds or seedlings before planting.
From Fusarium such a solution will help:
- in 1 liter of warm water add 2 drops of iodine;
- chop 1 large head of garlic;
- add to the solution;
- spray the tops.
The culture is attacked by May beetles, aphids and weevils. You can deal with them in the following ways:
- For prevention, water the roots with a solution of 10 liters of water and 15 drops of iodine. 1 liter of solution is applied under one bush.
- For treatment, foliar treatment is used. Lightly heat cow's milk (200 ml), inject 1 cube of iodine from a syringe. Dilute 2 L of water.
Is it possible to store the finished solution?
Prepared solutions can be stored for 24 hours. This is due to the fact that iodine evaporates. Since mixtures are prepared in large quantities (basic recipes are designed for 10 liters of water), it is impossible to cover tightly.
Useful Tips
Experienced gardeners are advised to adhere to the following rules:
- Always add iodine top dressing to moist soil. So micronutrients are absorbed faster.
- Water for solutions should be warm and settled.
- When spraying, use the atomizer with the smallest grate so that the liquid gets into the tops in the form of fog.
- To enhance the action in solutions, you can add potassium salt (15 g) and superphosphate (10 g) based on a mixture with 10 l of water. In this case, no more than 500 ml is applied under the bush.
- In a standard iodine solution for foliar feeding of tomatoes, add a little urea or humate.
- Never use the solution if 10 days have not passed after planting the seedlings.
- To avoid an overdose, at the same time as iodine, add diluted aspirin (1 tablet per 1 liter of water).
- Never fertilize the tops and under the root at the same time. Between dressings, a minimum of 2 weeks should pass.
Reviews
Marianne, 32 years old. I use iodine for 10 years. I noticed that it is better to feed them when the soil is slightly dry. The fact is that when the soil is dry, you need to greatly moisten the earth, and so the effect does not manifest itself very much.
Victor, the farmer. I spray the iodine and water the tomatoes under the root. I make dosages less than in recipes, since the fields are large. But he noted an excellent result. Recommend.
Hide
Add your review
Topping tomatoes with iodine is a budget option for fertilizer. Plants develop faster, the fruits are large, have a presentation. Less exposed to disease and pests.