Basic rules for processing tomatoes with boric acid: prepare the solution and spray it, avoiding mistakes

Tomatoes are an unpretentious crop that, if sowed correctly, does not require frequent fertilization. However, problems in growing tomatoes are often associated with an imbalance of nutrients in the soil.

One of the most valuable microelements for nightshades is boron. How to properly treat tomatoes with boric acid, how safe it is, what nuances should be taken into account when diluting the product - you will learn all this from the article.

What does boron give to tomatoes?

Boric acid is a colorless and odorless crystalline substance that dissolves well in warm water. The product has found application in vegetable gardens - it is used to feed seedlings. The substance does not accumulate in the soil, since plants actively consume it. To compensate for boron deficiency, gardeners from time to time enrich the soil with it.

The trace element plays an important role in the proper development of tomatoes: its deficiency negatively affects flowering and yield. Boron increases the flow of sugar to the generative organs, thereby increasing plant productivity and improving the taste of fruits. Vegetable growers have noticed that spraying with boric acid stimulates the growth of the root system and above-ground parts of the crop and protects against diseases.

Reference. Boron is also used to fertilize cucumbers, beets, potatoes, grapes, strawberries, apple trees and pears.

The product normalizes the synthesis of plant substances, stimulates metabolic processes and increases the chlorophyll coefficient. Thanks to these properties, the tomato bush becomes resistant to adverse factors and diseases.

Feeding with boron preserves the number of ovaries and promotes the formation of new plant points for the stems.

The benefits and harms of boric acid

Boric acid is considered the most economical, accessible and easy-to-use source of trace elements. This drug contains the form of the substance necessary for crop growth.

Like any fertilizer, boric acid has strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages:

• increases flowering;
• protects against the formation of barren flowers and shedding of ovaries;
• promotes the development of a powerful root system;
• protects the plant from rotting at high humidity levels;
• increases productivity by 20%;
• improves the taste of fruits;
• accelerates the ripening of tomatoes by 1-2 weeks;
• increases resistance to adverse weather conditions;
• improves the absorption of mineral and organic substances;
• reduces the risk of developing late blight, powdery mildew and leaf spot;
• destroys insect pests;
• has a low hazard class.

Flaws:

• high probability of plant burns if the dosage is violated;
• an excess of the substance causes deformation and death of the bush.

Excess boron in the soil can be determined by the appearance of the plants: the leaves take on an unnatural glossy appearance, their edges begin to curl inward, and the base of the plate bends into a dome shape.

The boron balance in the soil is normalized with the help of potassium. A week after applying the substance, it is recommended to feed the affected bushes with nitrogen fertilizers.

When is boron needed for tomatoes?

Tomatoes are fertilized with boric acid several times a season. Vegetable growers recommend treating seed material before planting, as this measure protects seedlings from diseases. Foliar treatment during the flowering period, it enhances the growth of flowers and prevents them from falling off. Fertilizing during the fruiting period protects fruits from spoilage, accelerates their ripening, improves taste and presentation.

Bushes are sprayed with boric acid when signs of substance deficiency appear.

How to determine shortage

Boron deficiency is typical for poor sandy loam or sandy soil. In such soil, the microelement does not stay long, so plants suffer from its deficiency.

Signs that the crop needs the substance:

• stems break easily and quickly;
• leaves are deformed, curled at the edges;
• the leaf blade loses color;
• the upper shoots dry out;
• the veins on the leaves become dry and turn yellow or black;
• brown or light spots appear on the tops;
• the base of the stem turns black or dries out;
• the plant blooms weakly;
• flowers and ovaries fall off.

How to prepare the solution

To prepare the mixture, boric acid is used, produced by manufacturers in the agricultural sector. The packaging of the product contains complete instructions for diluting the substance.

Important! Boric acid does not dissolve in cold water. To prepare the solution, warm liquid is needed.

It is important to ensure that the crystals of the substance are completely dissolved in water, otherwise this can lead to burns of the leaves. As soon as the solution has cooled, the bushes are treated with it.

The recommended proportions should not be overestimated, since an excess of boron has a negative effect on the growing season of tomatoes.Beginning gardeners often worry whether they have diluted the acid correctly. To prevent errors in the concentration of the substance, purchase an already diluted liquid mixture.

If you decide to prepare the solution yourself and are in doubt about the proportions, reduce the concentration of the microelement by increasing the volume of water.

Step-by-step processing instructions

Boric acid is used for several types of procedures: seed treatment, watering and spraying. If the leaves on the bushes curl, they need to be sprayed; if they begin to fall off, watering with a boron solution will help.

Seed treatment

Treatment of planting material with boric acid is a good preventive measure against many diseases. Procedure:

1. For 1 liter of warm water you will need 0.2 g of the substance.
2. The solution is poured into a container.
3. Gauze or cloth is placed on top of the liquid, and seeds are sprinkled on top.
4. Leave for 1 day.
5. Before direct planting in the ground, the procedure is repeated.

Before planting seedlings on a summer cottage, the ground is also treated with boric acid (2 g per 10 liters of water).

Watering

For root feeding, take 10 g of dry matter per 10 liters of water. Before adding boric acid to the soil, it is necessary to water the soil generously, otherwise the roots of the plants will be burned.

Important! When preparing the solution, calculate the proportions correctly so as not to harm the plants.

Moisten the soil with the resulting mixture near the bushes themselves and between the rows. For 1 m2 you will need 1 liter of solution.

Spraying

Foliar treatment with boric acid is considered more effective. The procedure is carried out using a fine spray. Spray all parts of the plant - leaves, flowers and ovary.

The procedure takes place in 3 stages:

1. The beds are treated with a weak solution of manganese.
2. After a week, use a boron solution.
3. A week later, treat with iodine solution.

If tomatoes are sprayed to protect against late blight, 1 tsp. substances are added to 10 liters of water. If boron is necessary to preserve flowers and ovaries, 10 g are diluted in 10 liters of water.

For foliar feeding, choose good weather. Optimal conditions are air temperature +25 °C with high humidity. If the temperature rises and the humidity decreases, the solution on the leaves will dry out quickly and will not give the desired effect.

When to process tomatoes and how often

Boric acid is an effective remedy. But for it to be beneficial, it is important to know the conditions for its use:

1. The pre-sowing method for processing tomatoes includes two stages: soaking the seeds in a solution for 1 day and adding the substance to the holes before planting the seedlings.
2. The soil is fertilized with boron solution once - during the flowering period of the plants. To fertilize the soil, take 10 g of the substance per 10 liters of water. Before planting seedlings on a summer cottage, the ground is also treated with boric acid (2 g per 10 liters of water).
3. They begin to spray the bushes in June. The first time is before flowering, when buds form. The second is during mass flowering. The third spraying is carried out at the beginning of fruiting.
4. Tomatoes are watered with boron until the ovaries appear. During the flowering period, root fertilizer is undesirable, as it can slow down the growth and development of bushes.

Treatment with boric acid can be unscheduled when the plant needs a trace element or there is a threat of late blight infection. The interval between spraying should be 10 days.

After planting the bushes in the ground, it is not recommended to use such fertilizer.At this stage, it is better to fertilize the beds with mineral complexes. There is a high risk that exceeding the concentration of the substance will destroy young shoots.

Use in open ground and greenhouse

Foliar treatment in open beds should be carried out on a windless day. The best time for the procedure is early in the morning or evening. If it rains after spraying, repeat the treatment.

Plants grown in greenhouses, hotbeds, and at home using hydroponics especially need boron. Tomatoes grow weak indoors. Treatment with boric acid strengthens the stem, helps tomatoes increase green mass and speed up flowering.

To increase efficiency, the substance is combined with urea and manure. In a greenhouse, the likelihood of developing diseases increases, therefore, for prevention, treatment is carried out once a month (2 g per 10 liters of water).

Reference. Boric acid gets rid of insect pests in closed ground (for example, hornets and ants).

Can the solution cause harm?

The product has a very low level of danger to humans. If the solution gets on your skin during treatment, you should not be afraid of burns. However, it should be taken into account that the substance accumulates in the human body and is excreted very slowly.

When working with boric acid, do not neglect personal protection: wear protective clothing, a gauze bandage and gloves.

High concentrations of the product are dangerous for pets. The substance can cause chronic diseases.

An excess of boron in tomatoes rarely occurs: the crop takes from the soil the amount of valuable elements it needs. However, excess substance accumulates in the fruits and can cause food poisoning in humans.Therefore, it is important to follow the dosage and monitor the condition of the plants.

Advice from experienced gardeners

When working with boric acid, it is worth considering the recommendations of vegetable growers:

1. Do not use cold water to prepare the solution. The liquid temperature should not be lower than the soil temperature.
2. Spraying should be carried out at an air temperature of +20…+25 °C with high air humidity.
3. Before treating all the plants, try the solution on one bush.
4. If after the first treatment the seedlings begin to look bad, you should stop using the product (the boron concentration may have been exceeded).
5. Do not exceed the dose of the substance specified in the instructions.

Reviews from vegetable growers

Farmers value the safety of the product and its effectiveness.

Anton, Kaliningrad: “I have been using boric acid for a long time; there is no better fertilizer for tomatoes. It is important to take into account the condition of the bush: if the leaves curl, spraying is necessary, and if they begin to fall off, it is better to fertilize the bush.”

Semyon, Krasnodar region: “I use boron fertilizer because it is the safest for children. The solution is not a harmful pesticide, which means that ripe tomatoes will not cause any harm to the body.”

Evgeniy, Moscow region: “I use boric acid only for treating adult bushes. For seedlings I use ready-made mineral complexes that include boron. This is much safer: young tomatoes will not suffer from increased concentrations of the substance.”.

Read also:

Instructions for treating tomatoes with phytosporin in a greenhouse and precautions when spraying tomatoes.

The secrets of experienced summer residents are spraying tomatoes with iodine.

Conclusion

Boric acid is an effective and affordable fertilizer for tomatoes.Increasing the ratio of the substance in the solution will not give the desired results - on the contrary, an overdose will lead to the death of the plants. Tomatoes are fertilized during flowering and fruiting. In an earlier period, it is better to use mineral complexes.

When used correctly, the substance allows you to get a large harvest, protect the beds from diseases, and reduce the cost of fertilizers and fertilizing.