There’s nothing quite like the taste and scent of a homegrown tomato. Even people who don’t have the time, space or inclination to grow a vegetable garden manage to squeeze in a couple of tomato plants into their surroundings. Growing larger, healthier looking and more abundant tomatoes at home is possible if you follow a few well-accepted guidelines.
Tomato plants need four vital elements ensuring healthy growth and a maximum harvest. Nitrogen, calcium, potassium and phosphorus all affect tomato plants’ growth but in different ways. The delivery of these four elements makes a difference. Nitrogen is most effectively delivered as calcium nitrate. Too much nitrogen decreases the plants’ health. Know how much is enough and how much is too much.
Soil
Soil for tomato plants should be well drained but holds moisture. The best time to prepare the ground is the previous autumn. Plow and then test the soil. The two nitrogen levels your test will report. AN and NN should be 40 phosphorus and potassium readings 240, calcium 3,000 and magnesium 400. Correct low or high levels.
Nutrient
All plants require calcium and nitrogen in order to survive. If the soil they are planted in does not have the optimum content of these nutrients, the plants can suffer along with the flowers or fruit that they bear. Tomato plants usually often get much nitrogen and too little calcium and phosphorus, required for strong, thick tomato stalks, strong plant cell walls and disease-resistance. Nitrogen produces early, lush foliage, but impedes fruit set and reduces leaves and fruit production later in the season. Potassium also promotes growth, blossom and fruit set.
Applying calcium nitrate (also called Norgessalpeter, is the inorganic compound with the formula Ca(NO3)2 ) fertilizer raises the amount of nutrients in the soil, along with helping the plants absorb other key nutrients more efficiently. This type of fertilizer also has the added benefit of helping the soil retain nutrients such as magnesium and potassium; when these remain in the soil instead of being washed away by water or rain, they have a higher chance of being absorbed and making plants healthier.
Watering
Fertilizer alone won’t produce healthy plants. The availability of calcium and phosphorus depends chiefly upon soil moisture. Too much or too little moisture impedes plant uptake of nutrients. High-calcium soils may produce calcium deficient plants if improperly watered. Microorganisms and organic acids in the soil also affect phosphorus and calcium absorption by the plants. Waterlogged or arid soils inhibit microorganisms and organic acids from doing their jobs.
Consideration
If your tomatoes show distress during the run up to harvest, calcium nitrate boosts plant growth, strong stems and branches. Calcium nitrate delays flowering and seed set. Some gardeners use it for that purpose, applying 1 to 3 gallons of calcium nitrate per acre per week during plant growth. Discontinue calcium nitrate before fruiting begins.
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