How to Make Organic Tomato Fertilizer

Organic compost provides essential nutrients for tomato plants.

Tomatoes need special attention to grow and produce well. One of the main requirements of tomato plants is that they have lots of water. In addition, they need to be fertilized frequently because they absorb a lot of nutrients from the soil. If the nutrients are missing, the plant will not produce well. Although chemical fertilizers are available, it is better for the earth and the people who eat the tomatoes to use organic fertilizer. Fortunately, common household waste can be used to provide important nutrients for tomatoes. In addition, using these items regularly reduces the amount of waste going to a landfill.

Things You'll Need

• Hair Eggshells Coffee grounds Tea leaves Epson salts Water Aquarium water Molasses Rabbit or chicken manure Compost from kitchen scraps and lawn clippings Bucket

Instructions

1. Collect human and pet hair from brushes and combs. Line the holes with it before planting tomato seedlings. You can also put a layer of hair on the ground around more mature tomato plants in your garden to provide sulfur and nitrogen to the plants.

2. Collect and dry eggshells, crush them and sprinkle them around the tomato plants. Egg shells are a good source of calcium for the tomatoes.

3. Save used coffee grounds and tea leaves and let them become dry. Spread the grounds around the bottoms of the tomato plants. Dried coffee grounds and tea leaves can also be combined with crushed egg shells then sprinkled on the garden.

4. Dissolve a tablespoon of Epsom salts in a gallon of water. Use the solution once a month to water the tomato garden to provide the plants with magnesium.

5. Collect the water from cleaning an aquarium and use it to water your tomato plants. The fish waste and other natural nutrients in the waste water helps nourish the tomatoes.

6. Combine a few tablespoons of molasses with a gallon of water and use it to water the tomato plants.

7. Mix rabbit or chicken manure with a little water and spread around the tomato plants.

8. Start a compost pile. Add green lawn clippings and leaves. Also add vegetable peelings and other organic matter from the kitchen, stirring the compost regularly. Use this compost as fertilizer for the tomatoes and other garden plants.

9. Fill a bucket with water and put in a handful of compost. Let the bucket sit in the sun for several hours, stirring occasionally. Use this water for watering your tomato plants.

References

• Botanical Journeys Plant Guides: Organic Tomato Fertilizer
• Gardening Tips Idea: Homemade Tomato Fertilizer