With the approach of autumn, our tomatoes require special care. Let’s talk about what needs to be done now so that the plants do not get sick, all the green fruits hanging on them ripen — and we have collected a full harvest.
1. Protection from diseases
During this period, we are talking in most cases about late blight — this is the most insidious disease of August. In just a few days, it can destroy all the plants that we have been growing with love since March, or even since February.
At the end of August, an integrated approach is important — we process both leaves and soil. To spill the soil, it is good to use preparations based on trichoderma. The “Soil Sanitizer” also works great. We dilute 20 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water and spill tomato beds 1 time in 5-7 days.
Preparations based on hay sticks are well suited for spraying. This should be done at least once a week.
Such comprehensive and regular prevention works effectively and gives amazing results. However, it is important to start doing this even before the mass destruction of plants by late blight, otherwise biologics will not work. If the disease has already made itself felt, then we do not hesitate to use copper-containing products. It is important to choose those with a minimum waiting period.
2. Top dressing
Towards the end of the season, tomatoes need phosphorus and potassium, but nitrogen is no longer there. If you use a complex fertilizer, then take the one in which the nitrogen content will be minimal (up to 8-10%). Suitable, for example, monopotassium phosphate. Also, as a top dressing, you can take wood ash or ready-made organic fertilizer.
3. Stimulation of maturation
Often we see that tomatoes are full, but they are not in a hurry to blush. How to spur this process? There are several ways to speed up the redness of tomatoes. First, trim the tops and truncate the lateral shoots, that is, complete. Then the tomato will redistribute efforts and will not spend them on growth, but will “engage” in maturation.
The second trick is to remove the leaves in time. As soon as you see that the fruit brush is fully formed and filled (according to the variety), remove all the growing leaves nearby. At the very top, leave the last brush and 2 sheets above it. All stepsons are also removed. If you live in a hot and dry climate, then we do not cut off the foliage, but truncate it by about half so that the tomatoes do not get sunburn.
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