A Detailed Guide to the Latest Fertilization Methods for Greenhouse Tomatoes

When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, fertilization differs from open-field cultivation, because the greenhouse environment is limited and the soil solution concentration may be a bit higher, so there are some restrictions on fertilization. In open fields, more base fertilizer may be needed, but in greenhouses, fertilization may need to be reduced considerably. Specifically, it should be decided according to the effects on tomato growth and according to some external environmental conditions.

1. Fertilization Methods

During the seedling stage, more fertilizer should be applied, but the plants are also fairly tolerant of fertilizer; they are mainly growing vegetative plants, so they need more nitrogen fertilizer, along with potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer. After that, in the fruiting stage, they need to bear a lot of fruit, mainly requiring large amounts of potassium fertilizer, then a small amount of phosphorus fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer. In the late fruiting stage, more fertilizer is needed to ensure fruit set and then delay the fruiting period. Fertilization is mainly done by dissolving the fertilizer, which makes it easier to absorb.

2. Fertilization Amounts

Generally, about 500 jin of base fertilizer is applied per greenhouse. The first topdressing is during the seedling stage; at this time topdressing is needed, with dilute fertilizer water at about 50 to 100 jin per application. During the entire seedling stage, topdressing is done about 2 times. After the seedling stage, fertilizer can be applied once a month, at about 60 jin each time. If chemical fertilizer is applied, the amount can be determined according to the elements contained in the chemical fertilizer used.

3. Environmental Influences

In winter, when the outside temperature is low, a somewhat larger amount of fertilizer can be applied appropriately, and farmyard manure can provide insulation. If heavy rain affects the soil moisture content, you can wait until some of the water dissipates before fertilizing. High summer temperatures have the greatest effect on nutrition inside the greenhouse, and the soil temperature will rise, so it is necessary to cool things down before fertilizing, to protect the root system and promote absorption.

4. Precautions

Be careful not to apply excessive fertilizer. Excessive fertilization will raise the soil solution concentration, and the roots will not be able to absorb water and nutrients, resulting in fertilizer damage. Note that fertilization should be used together with watering, not alone, or you can also water after fertilizing, which gives better absorption. Fertilizer should be used according to the tomato's fertilizer requirements and also according to soil fertility. Do not apply too much fertilizer during the flowering period; mainly fertilize before flowering. Do not fertilize when the soil is too wet.

Fertilizing greenhouse tomatoes should also be based on your local environment and the varieties grown, as well as some influencing factors. Finally, when fertilizing, pay attention to weather influences and soil conditions, and then decide on fertilization. In practice, it should be used according to actual conditions.