Tomato planting
The internet is full of very good-true horticultural myths. Nowhere is it clearer than in the wild and completely unbelievable answers to the common question, what should I put in my tomato planting hole?
We all want to give the best start when we transplant our tomato plants to their final home but is fish head really the way to do it? What about banana skins or eggshells? Will they give you a better harvest or will they hinder the growth and success of your plants?
The internet is full of very good-true horticultural myths. Nowhere is it clearer than in the wild and completely unbelievable answers to the common question, what should I put in my tomato planting hole?
We all want to give the best start when we transplant our tomato plants to their final home but is fish head really the way to do it? What about banana skins or eggshells? Will they give you a better harvest or will they hinder the growth and success of your plants?
4 things you need to put in your tomato planting hole
1. Fertilizer
Every gardener understands the benefits of fertilizer for all areas of the garden, including your tomato beds.
Compost enriches the soil and provides the nutrients your plants need. This reduces the need to apply chemical fertilizers and adds beneficial microorganisms to the soil around your plants. After all, it is completely free and at the same time helps the environment. You can not go wrong.
Given the comprehensive list of benefits of fertilizer, it is not hard to believe that this is a great material to add to your tomato planting hole. Many gardeners recommend mixing compost in the soil before planting, but a few fruiting shrubs at the base of the planting hole will give the roots a good start needed to grow healthy plants.
2. Bone meal
Bone meal is a powdered material commonly made from the bones of cattle and poultry. It is high in phosphorus and contains some calcium and nitrogen. These properties have made bone meal a commonly recommended organic fertilizer in the horticultural world.
Does it help your tomato plants? Possible, yes.
Phosphorus in a bone meal helps in flowering and fruiting. As it is released slowly over time, it will get into the soil when your plants need it.
However, the use of bone meals is not without its drawbacks. If the soil is not deficient in phosphorus, adding too much bone meal will harm your plants. If not used properly, it can harm pets, people, and local water sources. Always follow the instructions on the packaging and use only what is needed.
2. Eggshells
The use of eggshells in the garden is a topic plagued by controversy, myth, and intrigue. Some claims have an ounce of truth, others nothing. Fortunately, when laying eggshells in the planting hole, it was earlier.
Eggshells are made of calcium carbonate crystals. Tomato gardeners know that tomatoes are good sources of calcium. Adding eggshells to your planting hole will give the plants a boost of calcium over time as the eggshells decompose.
Unfortunately, this decay takes an incredibly long time (which is why some gardeners say the move is ineffective). However, there is a way to speed up the process. After the eggshells have been boiled and cleaned for a minute or two, grind them into a fine powder using a food processor or pesticide and mortar. Then, spray this powder on the planting hole. It's so easy.
3. Epsom salt
Another common recommendation, the most common of all, is to add a sprinkle of Epsom salt. Epsom salt is another name for the magnesium sulfate compound, and it comes with a variety of benefits for your tomato plants.
Studies show that Epsom salt improves the taste of your tomatoes, enhances nutrient absorption, and enhances growth. If you find yellow leaves on your tomatoes, adding Epsom salt to foliar spray can also fix the problem. These benefits come from the high magnesium and moderate sulfur content of Epsom salt - both of which are essential nutrients for tomato plant health.
However, these benefits come with a big caveat. Your soil must be low in magnesium for any of them to work.
When the soil is low in magnesium (or sulfur), the use of Epsom salt can restore the amount of these nutrients in the soil. The use of Epsom salt in magnesium-deficient soils can cause micronutrient imbalance, which can lead to root problems or harm the surrounding environment.
Before sprinkling Epsom salt in your tomato planting hole, do a soil test to determine if it is absolutely necessary.
4. Worm castings
Any gardener who is well versed in earthworm compost production can take advantage of the amazing benefits of worm molding. When the worms digest the manure you eat, they leave a substance called worm mold (another name for worm manure).
Worm molds are a wonderful fertilizer that is packed with beneficial nutrients. They also act as an organic soil modifier to help improve its structure and retain water. Also, unlike other commercial fertilizers, if used excessively it will not burn the roots of your plants.
Worm molds are the best natural addition to your tomato planting hole for rapid growth and healthy plants.
Instead of throwing them in the pit before planting, always mix the molds with the soil at the bottom of the hole first. The layer of molds can create a barrier between the soil and the plant roots, making them more difficult to anchor and grow downward. Mix a cup of warm molds with the potting soil before adding to the planting hole, you will be fine to go.
Worm molds are the best natural addition to your tomato planting hole for rapid growth and healthy plants.
Instead of throwing them in the pit before planting, always mix the molds with the soil at the bottom of the hole first. The layer of molds can create a barrier between the soil and the plant roots, making them more difficult to anchor and grow downward. Mix a cup of warm molds with the potting soil before adding to the planting hole, you will be fine to go.
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