Diseases or pests are not always to blame for the unhealthy appearance of tomato crops. In some cases, dry leaves, pale plant coloration and slow crop growth are the result of insufficient nutrients in the soil. Their deficiency must be urgently replenished and the development of tomatoes will continue in a normal rhythm. It is very important to understand which elements the plant lacks. The lack of a nutrient is determined by the appearance of tomato bushes.
Lack of nutrients in tomatoes
Potassium deficiency (K)
With a lack of potassium, new leaves on vegetable bushes begin to roll up, and old ones acquire a slight yellowness and slowly dry up, forming a kind of dry border at the edges of the leaves. Patches of yellow-brown tint around the edges of green foliage are a sign of a lack of potassium.
It is necessary to save tomato crops by watering and spraying with potassium content. Each plant should receive at least half a liter of potash. The solution for irrigation is prepared from 5 liters of water and 1 teaspoon of potassium nitrate, and for spraying - from 2 liters of water and 1 tablespoon of potassium chlorine.
Nitrogen deficiency (N)
The leaves on tomato bushes first dry at the edges, then turn yellowish and fall off. The bush stretches upward, the greenery looks lethargic and pale, the foliage slows down in growth, and the stem becomes unstable and soft.
It is recommended to add nitrogen-containing top dressing. Each tomato bush must be watered with a solution: 5 liters of water and 1 teaspoon of urea.
Zinc (Zn) deficiency
The lack of this element can be determined by brown spots on the leaves of plants, by leaves curling upward, by small yellow blotches on young small leaves that appear. After a short time, the foliage becomes completely dry and falls off. The development of vegetable crops is slowing down.
It is necessary to apply a fertilizer containing zinc. Required: 5 liters of water and 2-3 grams of zinc sulfate.
Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency
The color of green foliage gradually lightens and turns yellow. The edges of the leaves begin to curl, light yellow dots appear on their surface between the veins.
You will need to feed the cultures with a solution prepared from 5 liters of water and 1 gram of ammonium molybdate (0.02% solution).
Phosphorus (P) deficiency
At first, all parts of the bush acquire a dark green tint with a slight blue, and in the future they can completely turn purple. At the same time, the "behavior" of the leaves changes: they can twist to the inner side or rise strongly upward, tightly pressing against the rigid stem.
Liquid fertilizer containing phosphorus is applied during watering in the amount of five hundred milliliters for each plant. It is prepared from 2 liters of boiling water and 2 glasses of superphosphate and left to infuse overnight.Before use, add 5 liters of water for every 500 milliliters of solution.
Boron deficiency (B)
The leafy part of the bushes takes on a pale light green hue. The leaves located in the upper part of the plants begin to curl towards the soil, becoming brittle over time. Fruit ovary does not occur, flowers disappear en masse. A large number of stepchildren appear.
The lack of this element is the main reason for the lack of an ovary. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to spray vegetable plants during the flowering period. Required: 5 liters of water and 2-3 grams of boric acid.
Sulfur deficiency (S)
The symptoms of a lack of this element are very similar to those of a lack of nitrogen. Only with a nitrogen deficiency on tomato bushes, old leaves are first affected, and here - young ones. The rich green color of the leaves fades, and then turns into yellow tones. The stem is very brittle and fragile, as it loses its strength and becomes thinner.
It is necessary to apply a fertilizer consisting of 5 liters of water and 5 grams of magnesium sulfate.
Calcium deficiency (Ca)
Adult tomato leaves acquire a dark green color, while young ones have drying tips and small specks of a yellow tint. The top on the fruits gradually begins to rot and dries up.
In such cases, spraying is carried out with a solution prepared from 5 liters of water and 10 grams of calcium nitrate.
Iron (Fe) deficiency
The growth of culture is slowing down. The leaves gradually lose their green color from the base to the tips, first turn yellow, and then completely discolor.
It is necessary to feed the tomato bushes with fertilizer prepared from 3 grams of copper sulfate and 5 liters of water.
Copper (Cu) deficiency
The appearance of the plant changes completely. The stems become lethargic and lifeless, all the leaves are twisted into tubes. Flowering ends with the shedding of leaves without the formation of an ovary.
For spraying, a fertilizer prepared from 10 liters of water and 2 grams of copper sulfate is used.
Manganese (Mn) deficiency
There is a gradual yellowing of the leaves, which starts from their base. The foliage surface resembles a mosaic of different shades of yellow and green.
Plants can be grown together by fertilizing. Top dressing is prepared from 10 liters of water and 5 grams of manganese.
Magnesium (Mg) deficiency
The foliage on tomato bushes becomes yellow between the leaf veins and curls upward.
Spraying is necessary as an urgent measure. Required: 5 liters of water and 1/2 teaspoon of magnesium nitrate.
Chlorine deficiency (Cl)
Young leaves almost do not develop, have an irregular shape and yellow-green color. Withering occurs at the tops of tomato plants.
This problem can be easily solved by spraying with a solution of 10 liters of water and 5 tablespoons of potassium chloride.
For those who have chosen organic farming, it is recommended to use chicken manure or herbal infusion (nitrogen), ash (potassium and phosphorus), eggshells (calcium) as fertilizers with missing nutrients.
