Not a single cultivated plant can grow normally without trace elements involved in the process of photosynthesis and fertilization. And tomatoes are no exception. Farmers do their best, using special fertilizer complexes to get the richest harvest possible. This is where calcium nitrate comes to the rescue, which optimizes the acidity of the soil. It is good as root dressing in the spring and foliar during the growing season. This is a kind of "building material" in the process of stem formation and active protection against many parasites and diseases. We will talk about its use for fertilizing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the garden later in our article.
Composition and purpose of the drug calcium nitrate
Calcium nitrate is an inorganic salt of nitric acid in the form of granules or crystals that dissolve easily in water. As is typical for salt, it is hygroscopic. That is why, for the safety of the fertilizer, it is recommended to ensure the tightness of the packaging material. This mixture is composed of 19 percent calcium and 13 percent nitrogen. It is a unique nutrient that is indispensable for normal nutrition or feeding of cultivated plants.
Most gardeners are mistaken in thinking that calcium is not as needed for the soil as phosphorus or potassium. However, they do not take into account that it is this component that contributes to the good assimilation of nitrogen, which is so necessary for the growing season. Even taking into account the fact that the fertilizer contains a huge amount of nitrogen, this does not affect the acidity of the soil. Therefore, such a nutritional complex can be used for any type of soil. In this case, the use of calcium nitrate will be simply a necessary measure to improve the composition of heavy podzolic or sod-podzolic soil with high acidity.
The main benefit of using this complex is calcium supplementation. This speeds up the ripening process of tomatoes, positively affecting the development of the root system.
On acidic land plots, saltpeter literally revives tomatoes, absorbing an excess of magnesium and iron, which has a depressing effect on the growing season.
Advantages and disadvantages of feeding for cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers
The positive qualities of fertilizer are as follows:
- acceleration of photosynthesis, which is actively reflected in the general condition of tomatoes;
- promoting the growth of greenery and accelerating the development of the bush in general. If you use such a nutritional complex, the yield of tomatoes will significantly increase;
- if you enrich the soil with calcium nitrate, the seeds will sprout much earlier;
- due to the active effect on the roots of the tomato bush, the plant will develop faster;
- increasing the resistance of tomatoes to various kinds of diseases and parasites;
- increasing the exposure of the cultivated plant to temperature extremes;
- improving the presentation of fruits and increasing their shelf life;
- improving the taste and aroma of tomatoes.
The main disadvantage of using calcium nitrate is considered to be the detrimental effect of fertilization directly on the root system or leaves of the bush. But this is only under the condition of incorrect or untimely use of the nutritional complex. If you follow all the recommendations for use, then there should be no such problems.
Instructions for use in the garden
According to the instructions for the use of calcium nitrate, it is recommended to use the fertilizer in the spring, when the land is being digged. It is not worth feeding the soil in autumn, because after the snow melts, nitrogen will be washed out, which means that calcium will not be absorbed. In addition, in the spring, fertilization is vital for tomatoes. If necessary, the composition can be used for foliar treatments in the first decade of the growing season.
It is worth paying special attention to the fact that spraying of tomatoes is carried out exclusively before their flowering. Therefore, you need to properly dilute the drug. The optimal time for a tomato is the first week after transplanting bushes into open ground.
If the land plot for planting cultivated plants is acidic, nitrate in granules can be poured directly into the hole for planting a seedling at the rate of one teaspoon of fertilizer for one bush.
Earlier we said that you need to water the fertilizer correctly, otherwise you can harm the plant. Moreover, at each stage of growth and development of a tomato has its own characteristics and the use of fertilizer. We will talk about this in more detail below.
How to use saltpeter for seedlings correctly
To get good tomato seedlings, the plant must be fed with calcium and nitrogen. The first component is needed for the normal development of the root system, and the second for better seed germination. And if these substances are not enough, then the plants will develop worse.
Given that tomato seedlings should be fed in a complex manner, it is best to use a solution as a top dressing. Moreover, saltpeter is easily soluble in water.
Calcium nitrate is essential for tomato seedlings... Moreover, the first feeding is performed after the appearance of the first three leaves of the plant. In this case, it is necessary to prepare the following composition: 10 g of calcium nitrate, 5 g of urea and 50 g of wood ash are taken for 5 liters of water. But this solution must be carefully poured under the root, if it gets on the surface of the leaves, they can get burned.
Fertilizing tomatoes after planting seedlings
In the process of planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse, the soil is actively fertilized with a solution by spraying. It is important to follow the instructions for use exactly, observing the dosage, otherwise you will damage the seedlings.
To create a solution, you must use 50 g of nitrate per 5 liters of water. Such a composition will protect plants from various kinds of pests, for example, ticks and slugs, as well as diseases in the form of apical rot.
If tomatoes are to be grown in greenhouse conditions, it is recommended to use nitrogen-containing compounds before the flowering process itself.
The substances accumulated up to this time will create good immunity to the bush, even after the termination of feeding with calcium nitrate.
The composition is distributed evenly throughout the cultivated plant. This method of fertilization is called foliar feeding.
The primary use of nitrate is performed ten days after planting the seedlings, and then once every half a month until the ovary appears. Further, you should not use the composition, since nitrates can accumulate in the fruits. And this is very harmful to humans.
Safety measures when working with the tool
Calcium nitrate is not a toxic drug. It is absolutely safe for human health and life. Fertilizer does not cause allergic reactions. According to the classification, it belongs to the 4th group of low-hazard substances.
When working with calcium nitrate it is recommended to use generally accepted safety measures... In this case, rubber gloves to protect the skin will be sufficient. Although there will be no particular harm to touching the drug granules with bare hands. But it's better to play it safe and dilute the granules with gloves.
Calcium nitrate should be stored in a sealed package, away from flammable materials, alkaline agents, and heating systems.
Compatibility with other drugs (potassium and ammonium nitrate)
It is strictly forbidden to mix saltpeter with chalk, lime, dolomite, manure, phosphates, sawdust, straw and other organic components, as the mixture can self-ignite.
Simultaneously with the solution of nitrate, you can use urea and wood ash. These components combine well and will allow you to achieve the best result in the matter of fertilizing tomatoes. Potassium (potassium) nitrate is best used alone.
It is also not recommended to combine nitrate with simple superphosphate, including fertilizers that contain sulfur and phosphorus.
The main task of any gardener is to get a good and tasty harvest. But for this it is worth working hard, only then your efforts will be really rewarded. In this case, we are talking about fertilizing the garden with ammonium nitrate, which promotes the development of the root system, plant stems and protects the bush from many pests and diseases.
But here you need to strictly follow all the recommendations of the instructions for use. Although the substance is non-toxic, its incorrect or untimely use can harm the plant and human health. For example, if you use saltpeter after the ovary has appeared, the fruits can accumulate nitrates harmful to the human body. And non-compliance with the dosage of the drug can lead to burns on the surface of the leaves. Be careful and vigilant to use saltpeter solely for good.