The most delicious time of the year has arrived - ripe, juicy tomato season. Here's how to take care of your tomatoes in August so you can get an abundance of delicious fruit. Moisture, nutrition, shaping, and, of course, protection from pests and diseases are all especially important at this time of year. You will learn more about The August Tomatoes: How to Take Care, Water, and Fertilize of It by Bubgo article.
Fertilizing tomatoes on greenhouses and flowerbeds in August requires applying a liquid fertilizer in advance in a trench made between the rows. Fertilizer applied in the soil is better absorbed by the plants.
1. In August, tomatoes double their potassium requirements. You can fertilize them with a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer using the APK formula (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) of 3:11:38, or use other fertilizers with the high potassium content.
2. In addition, fertilize the plants with wood ash - 1 cup per 2.6 lbs (10 liters) of water or potassium humate as directed. The ash will provide immunity to the tomato plants, improve the flavor of the fruit, and extend their shelf life.
3. Foliar spray in August, in the open air, or in the greenhouse. Any foliar fertilizer containing trace elements will do.
Tip: Nitrogen should be kept at a minimum level and potassium should be twice as high as phosphorus during this period.
Try fertilizing tomatoes with ECO Cal-Mag-Bor. You'll notice how tomato yields increase and resistance to disease increases. It is especially recommended for soils that have been previously fertilized with nitrogen.
Use a modern water-soluble compound, such as Aquarine vegetable fertilizer, for mineral applications.
1. Apply the nutrient solution in the early morning, late afternoon, or on cloudy days.
2. Apply fertilizer up to five times per season - under the roots and on the leaves.
3. Plan the last feeding no later than 2 weeks before harvest.
The nutrients in Aquarine are in the form of chelates. For tomatoes, it is most beneficial to consume trace elements in this form. They are absorbed more quickly and are not fixed in the soil. This allows you to reduce the dose and ensure fast visible results.
Harvesting tomatoes early, when the fruit is just turning white or brown and glossy, has many benefits and gives the plant time to form fruit on the fourth, fifth or sixth rootstock. Harvesting on cold nights and before frosts also avoids the risk of phylloxera and other diseases.
However, tomatoes ripened at home certainly taste different than those ripened in a greenhouse, favoring the latter. They have time to absorb more sugars and nutrients.
During fruit set and ripening, tomatoes absorb more water. However, these plants do not need frequent watering in August (both outdoors and indoors). A good solution is to lay mulch over the flower beds. This helps balance the moisture content in the soil and prevents the fruit from cracking.
Tip: Tomatoes should only be watered at the roots. Sprinkling can lead to the spread of phylloxera, especially at night when temperatures are cooler.
August tomato care also includes pruning the tops of taller varieties and removing the stems and lower leaves. This will prevent the plant from using its last macro and micronutrient reserves and will help it reach technical maturity as soon as possible.
How to care for tomatoes in August.
1. Remove 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long stems regularly.
2. Look carefully at the condition of the leaves: remove any diseased or shriveled leaves, those that are touching the ground or shading the growing fruit. It is not necessary to remove the entire leaf, just cut off the damaged portion. A general rule of thumb is to remove the leaves below the brush only after the fruit has been removed.
3. In early August, the inflorescences and buds will no longer have time to produce crops in the open, so it is best to remove them.
4. If the tomatoes do not ripen in time, you can always pick the green ones and let them ripen.
5. In indeterminate tomatoes, you will need to pinch the top 2-3 leaves above the last ovary. This will speed up the ripening of small and late fruits.
Experienced growers reduce the number of flowers on an inflorescence to 2-3 to produce larger fruit.
Consider which pest and disease control methods are recommended for tomatoes in August.
The threat of this disease can come from above and below. Cold nights, rain, and fog in August all greatly increase the risk of phylloxera.
The phylloxera pathogen itself is in the soil, so drip irrigation and the use of mulch to isolate shrubs from the soil are considered effective methods of controlling the disease. Careless irrigation and spraying of spores onto plants can lead to outbreaks of phylloxera.
Tip: Various types of mulch can be used: grass clippings containing hay straw, cardboard, non-woven material, and film.
In order to prevent phylloxera, it is very important to monitor the temperature. Green fruits that have reached the desired weight should be removed before the temperature drops to 46-50 °F (8-10°C). Green fruit that has gained mass is removed before the temperature drops.
Tomatoes are removed with stalks in dry weather and immediately soaked in water heated to 140 °F (60 °C) for 1.5-2 minutes or at 104-113 °F (40-45 °C) for 4 hours.
Treatment with biological agents can also be used for prophylaxis. sporobacterin and trichodermin. can be sprayed using yogurt or iodine-containing serum. At the first signs of disease, fungicides can be used to treat plants and the top few inches of soil where the pathogen is located.
Film mulching also extends the growing season and protects plants from fungal diseases. The most effective way to get rid of phylloxera and forget about it forever is to plant disease-resistant varieties and hybrids.
Vertex rot is a non-infectious disease. It manifests itself as drying and subsequent rotting of the tops of unripe fruit. It occurs most often in dry, hot weather.
A lack of calcium in the soil contributes greatly to the appearance of the disease. The timely application of lime and regular irrigation can greatly help prevent root tip rot.
The use of yellow glue traps and tobacco (non-sulfur) smoke bombs will help control insects such as aphids and whiteflies.
Tip: Among the biological insecticides that target pests, fungicides are effective. The product has a short shelf life and is also completely safe for humans.
It is very important to make sure that there are no weeds during this period, as this is where pests and diseases accumulate. It is best to avoid loosening the soil as there is a high risk of damaging the root system. Wounds can allow various infections to enter the plant.
How do you take care of the tomatoes in your vegetable garden in August? Please share your experiences with other gardeners in the comments!
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