At the end of July many large tomatoes already hang on the bushes, but part of them remains green for weeks. In such a situation it is not worth intensifying watering or feeding the plants with nitrogen. This will only cause the growth of new shoots and leaves, and the ripening of the harvest may be delayed even more.
Now tomatoes especially need potassium and phosphorus. They help the fruits fill, accumulate sugars and gradually acquire a saturated colour.
Simple feeding for the ripening of tomatoes
For preparing the solution monopotassium phosphate will be needed:
10 g of fertilizer; 10 l of water.
The powder must be completely dissolved in water. Under each adult bush approximately 0.5–1 l of the solution is poured. Before feeding it is desirable to water the soil a little with ordinary water so as not to burn the roots.
Such a feeding is enough to carry out once. If necessary it can be repeated in 10–14 days, but exceeding the dosage is not worth it.
Why exactly this feeding
Monopotassium phosphate does not contain nitrogen, therefore the bushes do not begin to intensively grow tops. Phosphorus supports the root system and metabolic processes, and potassium helps the fruits ripen more evenly and improves their taste.
After the feeding the tomatoes will not turn red in one day, however with warm weather and correct care the ripening process noticeably accelerates.
What else hinders tomatoes from turning red
Even a good feeding will not help if the bushes are strongly thickened. At the end of July it is worth gradually removing the lower yellowed leaves, as well as the leaves that completely cover the fruit clusters.
At one time no more than two-three leaves are removed from a bush. Too strong pruning will become stress for the plant.
It is also important to observe moderate watering. Excess moisture makes the taste of the fruits more watery, and sharp fluctuations of humidity often lead to cracking of the tomatoes.
Important point
At the end of July tomatoes no longer need infusions of grass, manure, chicken droppings and other nitrogen feedings. They can cause the appearance of new side shoots and delay the ripening of the already formed harvest.
It is better to direct the strength of the bush to those fruits that have already set. Then the tomatoes will ripen more amicably, acquire a beautiful colour and become sweeter and more aromatic.
This material was prepared by the editorial team using artificial intelligence tools. All information has been verified and edited before publication.