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Time to Read 5 Minutes.
Whether you have wood heating or a fireplace, you will need to clear the ash periodically in the winter season. You’ll be collecting a couple of cubes of ash every week in no time.
Wood ash, pruning leftovers, and weeds may all be used in various ways. They are mineral-rich and provide several nutrients for tomato plants.
In fact, rather than dumping wood ashes into the trash, use them to increase your tomato soil fertility organically. For organic tomato gardeners, wood ash is a good fertilizer. This article will teach you what to do with the ash.
In This Article:
Wood Ash nutrient level.
Wood ash is a high Calcium, potassium, prosperous, and low nitrogen fertilizer. Generally, wood ash contains 23.29% of calcium, 5.42% potassium, around 0.37% phosphorus, 2.68% magnesium, sodium, and aluminum (source).
Furthermore, it contains trace minerals that allow tomato plants to thrive in relatively small amounts, such as boron, copper, molybdenum, sulfur, and zinc. Wood ash has a 13pH level, and it is a high alkaline material.
Is wood ash good for tomatoes?
Wood ash is an excellent low-grade fertilizer for tomato plants, and it is rich in many micro-nutrients required for tomato plants to thrive. All types of ash contain calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, aluminum, and sodium. Because of its high calcium content, wood ash may also be used as a liming agent. The absence of nitrogen in ash makes it perfect for tomatoes.
The tomato soil mix should be slightly acidic (6.2 to 6.8pH), and this is an excellent source for changing the potting mix’s acidic level. Wood ash is an excellent fertilizer for, fix calcium deficiency in tomato plants, but an excessive amount can burn the plant because of its salt.
How to use wood ash for Tomato plants.
There are numerous ways that we can use it as a fertilizer, pest controller, soil amendment, prevent tomato blossom end rot, and prevent crops from frost damage. Excessive usage and incorrect usage can kill your plant, and therefore you have to use this organic tomato fertilizer more carefully.
- Fix calcium deficiency in tomato plants.
Wood ash can be used as a fertilizer to improve the soil nutrient level. Since ash is high in calcium, this organic fertilizer can fix calcium deficiency in tomato plants. Tomatoes require a high amount of calcium, especially in the fruiting season. Like eggshell tea, ash can quickly enhance the soil mix calcium level.
Wood ash can be added to the surface soil layer, and add it to a thickness of half an inch. Carefully mix the ash with the soil using a trowel.
The main symptoms of tomato calcium deficiency are blossom end rot, tomato cracking.
- Change tomato soil’s acidic level.
Tomato plants thrive on slightly acidic soil. Wood ash is an excellent material for quickly raising the soil pH level. The best time to apply wood ash is when making the tomato soil mixture, and 1 pound of ashes can be used per 50 square feet of soil as a starting point. Wood ash can change the soil pH level quickly than other liming products on the market.
Tomatoes prefer slightly acidic (6.2 to 6.8pH level). If your garden soil pH level is over 6.8, do not apply wood ash, and over 7pH level is not suitable for tomatoes to thrive.
- Organic tomato pest repeller.
Dry fresh wood ash is an excellent organic pest repeller for tomato plants. Creating an ash circle around plants susceptible to snails and slugs can help prevent invasions of these animals. The fresh ash has a strong disinfectant effect and also destroys pathogens. Also, it can limit tomato leaf miners’ activities.
Worms that eat tomato leaves and fruits include hornworms, armyworms, cutworms, and loopers. Tomato plants can be protected from worms by sprinkling wood ash on the leaves and stem of the tomato plant, which is wet with dew in the morning.
When ashes are dry, they work as a tomato pest repellent, and they lose their effectiveness when wet. Be sure to repeat this spreading regularly because rain or dew weakens this protective wall.
- Increase soil potassium and magnesium.
Firewood ash is high in potassium and has low nitrogen organic fertilizer. Tomatoes are a relatively high potassium-consuming plant. Also, tomato plants require magnesium to grow successfully, and wood ash provides enough potassium and magnesium.
- Prevent frost damage to tomato plants.
In extremely low temperatures, tomato plants can save from ash. Sprinkle ash on tomato foliage will protect against tomato frost damage, and ash acts as a protective cover on the leaves.
Frequently asked questions about the use of wood ash
Are all ashes good?
No. Untreated wood should be used only (ashes from the fireplace, from the woodstove). Coal ashes are highly hazardous to plants and should never be used. If there are significant bits of charcoal left, or if you wish to produce an ash mixture for your fruit trees, sift the ashes.
Best time to spread ash for tomato plants?
Yes, During the spring and summer is the best time. If you do it during the rainy season, the ash will wash off quickly. It is preferable to sprinkle the ash over mulch rather than straight on the ground.
It is recommended to spray ash on the tomato plants at night when the sun goes down. It can prevent the leaves from burning in the sun and is more effective at controlling pests such as snails, slugs, and worms when they are active.
How to use wood ash for tomato plants.
Mainly we can apply wood ash as a powder or a liquid form. When using power form, it can sprinkle the plant and soil. Some of the gardens use ash treatment as a liquid form, and this method is suitable for protecting tomato plants from worms and pathogens. To do this, prepare a solution of 5oz (150g) of ash and 2.6 gallons (10l) of water and spray or sprinkle it on the plant and soil.
The above ash liquid recipe should not be carried out more than once every two weeks, and it is recommended to boil the ash for 30 minutes.
Can I put ashes in compost?
Yes, But in limited quantities. Its fine texture and high limestone concentration make it difficult for the compost to aerate adequately, slowing bacterial activity and, as a result, the correct element decomposition. A few scattered handfuls now and again are plenty.
Which type of wood ash is good (hardwoods or softwoods)?
Hardwoods produce more ash than softwoods, and hardwoods contain more nutrients. Burning oak, walnut, maple, woods produce more nutrient-rich wood ash.
How much wood ash for tomato plants.
It should not exceed 1 pound (500 grams) of ash per 10 square meters per year. If you use ash liquid it 2.3pound (100g) of ash for every 2.6 gallons (ten liters) of water is enough. Excessive wood ash increases the soil’s acidic level, lye and salty, and the high amount of lye and salt burns the tomato plants.
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