How is spraying boric acid beneficial for tomatoes?

Boric acid is successfully used in medicine to treat various diseases. But this is not the only industry that uses this tool. Boric acid is also used when growing vegetables. Its solution is widely used by summer residents as an effective fertilizer for tomatoes. Do you want to know all the secrets of feeding tomatoes using boric acid? Then this article is for you.

What does boric acid do to tomatoes?

Many gardeners note that tomatoes respond well to fertilizers, responding to care with good fruiting. One of the best fertilizers for tomatoes is boric acid. It has been experimentally calculated that the yield of tomatoes when fertilized with boron increases by 20-30%. This is achieved by increasing flowering and increasing the number of ovaries on tomato bushes.

Boric acid not only saturates plants with an important trace element - boron, but is also considered a strong remedy against late blight.

Thanks to boron, the sugar content of tomatoes increases and their keeping quality improves.

Signs of boron deficiency in tomatoes

Boron, as a trace element, is necessary for tomatoes:

• to enhance calcium absorption;
• enhancing root respiration;
• synthesis of biologically active substances.

If plants lack boron, this immediately affects their appearance:

• the top of the plant begins to dry out (it may dry out completely, but the growth of side shoots does not stop);
• flowers fall off the plant;
• the fruits become covered with dry spots;
• the leaves curl and change color (lighten).

How to prepare a nutrient solution

You can feed tomatoes using other components useful for tomatoes in combination with boron:

• iodine;
• potassium permanganate;
• milk;
• ash, etc.

Let's look at the best recipes for preparing a boric acid solution for feeding tomatoes.

Whey with iodine and boron

A milk-whey solution applied to tomato leaves forms a film on the surface that prevents the development of diseases (including late blight). To increase the effect of spraying, boron and iodine are added to the solution. The composition is also suitable for root feeding.

How to water tomatoes with iodine and milk using boric acid? It is necessary to dissolve 0.5 tsp in 0.5 cups of hot water. boric acid (without slide).

When cool, mix with the following ingredients:

• 1 liter of whey (sour milk is suitable as a substitute);
• 20 drops of iodine;
• 4 liters of water.

This solution can be used to feed tomatoes growing in greenhouse, and in open ground. When watering, the solution consumption is 0.5 liters per bush.

Attention! Before applying fertilizer at the root, it is advisable to water the tomato bush with plain water.

Ash with iodine and boron

Tomatoes are very fond of boron-iodine cocktail with ash. It is prepared using stove ash or wood ash. Boil 2 liters of ash in 10 liters of water. After the mixture has cooled to 60-70 degrees, 1 tsp is dissolved in it. boric acid powder.

Then add 30 drops of iodine. The composition is suitable both for fertilizing plants at the roots - 0.5 liters per bush, and for irrigating the leaves - by generously spraying from a spray bottle. According to reviews, the best results come from foliar feeding.

Potassium permanganate with iodine and boron

Many experienced gardeners prefer this method of feeding.It provides disinfection, increased productivity, and protection against late blight.

Potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) is an effective antiseptic that can disinfect both the plant and the soil in which it grows. Its effect on tomatoes is manifested by strengthening the tops and disinfecting the entire plant. This is especially important for restoring a tomato bush after pinching. Let's look at how to treat tomatoes with boric acid, potassium permanganate and iodine tincture.

Experienced tomato growers advise feeding in 3 stages (with a break of 5-7 days):

1. Treatment of tomato bushes with manganese solution. 4-5 g of manganese are diluted in 10 liters of water. The solution is sprayed on tomatoes or watered at the root at the rate of 0.5 liters per bush.
2. Spraying with boron. Dilute 0.5-1 tsp per 10 liters of water. powder and treat the above-ground parts of the plants with a spray bottle.
3. Iodine feeding Processing is carried out sheet by sheet. A solution is prepared from 10 drops of iodine per 5 liters of water. Treatment of tomato leaves with the resulting composition is comparable in effect to nitrogen fertilizing (for example, saltpeter or urea).

Metronidazole with iodine and boric acid

Metronidazole tablets can be bought at the pharmacy. Their antibacterial properties are successfully used in medicine. According to the manufacturer's instructions, the drug inhibits the development of protozoa and some other microorganisms. On tomatoes it effectively fights late blight.

The use of Metronidazole gives good results in combination with iodine and boron. Recipe: 20 Metronidazole tablets are crushed into powder and dissolved in 10 liters of water, adding 20 drops of iodine and 0.5 tsp. boric acid powder (pre-dilute boron in hot water). The liquid is used to spray tomatoes.

Note. To enhance protection against late blight, you can add 5 g of brilliant green to the solution.

How often should fertilizing and spraying be done?

It is very important to use boron correctly. It is advisable to do 3 feedings per season (this can be either root applications or spraying on the leaves):

1. Before tomatoes bloom - during the period of growth of the green mass of the bush.
2. During flowering.
3. When setting fruit.

Reference. Most gardeners prefer to fertilize tomatoes using boron using a foliar method.

You should not feed tomatoes with boric acid more than 3 times per season. An excess of boron can negatively affect the condition of plants. For example, “extra” boron may cause dry spots to appear on the leaves or the tops of the plant to curl. If you allow an overdose of spraying during tomato flowering, the pollen on the plants may burn and there will be no ovaries.

Important! It is advisable to take a break between any feeding of tomatoes for at least 10-12 days. This will help avoid unpleasant consequences.

Important Rules

Many tomato growers (both beginners and experienced ones) often make mistakes when using fertilizing with boric acid. They can be avoided if you remember the basic rules for feeding tomatoes with boron:

• The water temperature to dissolve the crystals should be 50-70 degrees. Boric acid will not dissolve in colder water. The above-ground parts of plants can get burned;
• Do not prepare the solution in advance. It is better to do this immediately before use, since the usefulness of the solution decreases during storage;
• It is better to do foliar feeding with boron in dry, windless weather. Moreover, in the evening. This will ensure effectiveness and eliminate the risk of sunburn on wet leaves;
• When foliar treatment, the leaves are sprayed on both sides. Spray the solution from a spray bottle so that a drizzle forms near the bush. It is advisable to avoid visible drops on the leaves when processing.

Let's sum it up

Boric acid is a unique tool for increasing the yield of tomatoes. Spraying bushes with its solution helps to effectively fight late blight.

There are many recipes for feeding with boron. According to tomato growers, the best yields are obtained by spraying tomatoes with milk with iodine, boric acid and potassium permanganate. It is important to observe the proportions of mixing the components so that the tomato bushes do not get burned. If you follow all the rules, tomatoes will be reliably protected from late blight and will delight you with a good harvest.