Even fertile black soil becomes poorer over time. And sooner or later cultivated plants begin to experience a shortage of beneficial trace elements. Tomatoes are no exception. Potassium sulfate is a fertilizer that allows you to enrich the soil with potassium to optimize the development and growth of vegetables, to obtain a good harvest and tasty fruits.
Table of Contents
- Potassium Value for Tomatoes
- Composition and Characteristics of Potassium Sulfate
- Benefits and Disadvantages of
- Fertilizer Instructions for Use
- Other Potassium Fertilizers
Potassium Value for Tomatoes
Tomatoes are vital and they need to put them in their home. Especially it concerns the period of formation of the first leaflets on a sapling. Then this fertilizer is necessary to optimize the development of the root system, so that the bush will take root well in the new conditions. Soil enrichment should be done a week before transplanting. In the future, the component is necessary for the plant from the appearance of the first ovary to the completion of fruiting.
The desired concentration in the soil:
- contributes to the better development of the leaves and shoots of the bush;
- shortens the rooting of tomatoes after they are transplanted into open ground;
- leads to an increase in dry ingredients in fruits;
- affects the taste of the vegetable. It is potassium that adds sweetness to the tomato. Its lack will result in the vegetable being sour;
- will allow the plant to produce fruits on time;
- protects tomatoes from various diseases of bacterial and fungal origin;
- allows you to increase the security of the plant before low temperature readings and other adverse conditions.
All this suggests that it is impossible to get a good crop of tomatoes without potassium. It is recommended to enrich the soil every 15 days. Excessive concentration on the land plot is observed very rarely. At the same time, gardeners often encounter a shortage of this nutrient component.
Potassium sulphate - top dressing for tomatoes To diagnose a lack of potassium in tomatoes is possible according to the following external features:
- if dry rims appear on the leaflets. And over time, this color changes from light to dark. The leaf dries out from the tip, gradually spreading over its entire surface;
- poorly formed ovary on the bushes;
- uneven fruit ripening occurs;
- at the stalk itself often appear immature spots.
Shortage contributes to the termination of the normal growth of the plant, low fruiting of tomatoes, including poor preservation of the crop, not to mention the deterioration of the taste of vegetables.
A good gardener by the appearance of his plants should notice in advance the problem. We need to quickly fill up the lack of potassium using special fertilizers by spraying the whole bush or watering the tomatoes at the root.
Composition and characteristics of potassium sulfate
It is presented in the form of a yellow powder, which consists of small crystals. This is 44 percent potassium with oxygen. Granules are easy to dissolve in water. Also contain sulfur oxide, sodium, calcium, and iron oxide. These components increase the harmony of tomato growth and their yield. But the concentration of these substances is so insignificant that it is not worth taking them into account for the nutrition of vegetables.
This nutrient causes seedlings to accelerate the metabolism at the cellular level. It takes part in photosynthesis, causing the formation of acids of organic origin, and also ensures the normalization of nitrogen metabolism.
In order for top dressing to work with greater efficiency, it is necessary to additionally use nitrogen and phosphorous agents.
Type of fertilizer close-up Advantages and disadvantages of fertilizer
It is advised to use it preferably for acidic soils. Thanks to this component, the acid-base balance of the soil is optimized. It should also be remembered about the benefits of supplements for peat soil and sod-podzolic plots, which most often suffer from a shortage of beneficial trace elements. Although it is allowed to use fertilizer for all types of soil without exception, the main thing is to take into account soil features.
But, like any other fertilizer, the mixture has its drawbacks. In this case, it concerns the compatibility of individual fertilizer complexes. For example, it is forbidden to use it with urea and chalk. Mixing dressings with nitrogen content is performed before the mixture is used. The composition should not stand for a long time, waiting for its application. For acidic soils, fertilizer is best combined with lime.
Another negative aspect of the use of potassium fertilizers is that they contribute to the absorption of magnesium, calcium, manganese and other trace elements useful for plants.
The last use of top dressing should be made no later than two weeks before harvest.
An example of using fertilizer when transplanting tomatoes into open ground Instructions for use
Nutrients can be enriched with nutrients in a variety of methods, both dry and diluted. Moreover, the use of fertilizers can be used as a feed for attraction of the whole period of growth and development of a cultivated plant. Potassium sulfate, diluted in water to the desired concentration, can be sprayed directly onto the leaves and stems of the plant.
The application of top dressing for tomatoes with an integrated approach is good, but it is better to apply fertilizer directly to the soil. This will not only saturate the plant with mineral, but also contribute to optimizing the acid-base balance of the land.
The instruction how to apply is quite simple. First of all, it is recommended to scatter the fertilizer evenly throughout the site during the spring digging period. In this case, the crystals can be embedded directly in the ground, so that they dissolve and saturate it with potassium. The depth of this embedding should correspond to the approximate depth of the further planting of seedlings or seeds.
In the summer season, potassium sulfate is used for top dressing as a solution directly under the root.
Pre-mixing potassium sulphate with soil Other potassium fertilizers
Since tomatoes have a negative attitude towards chlorine, potassium-containing fertilizers are usually used for their normal growth. There are enough of them, and there are plenty to choose from. That is what we will continue to talk about. So:
- Potassium monophosphate is a combination of potassium and phosphorus. Complex will be the best option for feeding seedlings after their transplantation.
- Potassium nitrate is composed of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, which will enhance the growth of vegetables. The best way to apply top dressing until the ovary appears.
- Potassium magnesia is a combination of potassium sulphate and magnesium. This fertilizer will help fill the shortage of more magnesium. But using the complex constantly for feeding cultivated plants is not recommended. It is better to pay attention to other options.
Potassium Nitrate 
Potassium Monophosphate 
Potassium Magnesium 
Variety of Potassium Fertilizers for Tomatoes You can also use whole complexes that are purchased in specialized stores or are created by yourself. In this case, we are talking about potassium sulfate, humate, ammofosk and nitrophoska.
If you constantly use complex nutrition to improve the growth and development of vegetables, then you can significantly increase the yield and improve the taste of both tomatoes and cucumbers. This is especially true of depleted land, which lacks micronutrients. Signs of potassium starvation, about which we spoke earlier, should be a sure signal that special fertilizer cannot be avoided. Otherwise, the tomatoes will ripen for a long time and get sour and tasteless.
