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Why experienced gardeners do not throw away tomato tops: 4 reasons
31.07.2024 00:30
Many novice gardeners always throw away tomato tops.
But experienced gardeners preserve this green mass. Such people understand that the collected stems and leaf blades can be used.
And the most interesting thing is that tomato tops can be called a “multifunctional gardening tool.”
Based on this green mass, you can prepare fertilizer, a pest control agent, and a mass for improving the condition of the soil cover.
Let's take a closer look at each option for using tomato tops.
Part of the compost
Tomato tops can be safely sent to a compost pit or compost bin.
True, before adding to this mass, the stems and leaves must be crushed.
As the tops decompose, they will significantly improve the quality of the organic fertilizer.
Separate fertilizer
To turn tomato tops into a source of substances and microelements important for garden crops, it is not at all necessary to send this green mass to compost.
It is enough to pour crushed leaves into a deep container and fill it with plain water. For one volume of plant component there should be five volumes of liquid.
After a few days, the resulting infusion must be passed through a filter surface.
The result will be a liquid that needs to be watered at the roots of the plants. The chances of a good harvest will clearly increase.
Pest control agent
Tomato tops repel gastropods. Simply chop up the green mass and spread it around the vulnerable plant.
A decoction prepared from tomato tops is also an ideal remedy against uninvited "guests" of the beds. It is enough to simply pour drops of this liquid over the garden crops.
Mulch
Tomato tops can also act as mulching material.
Cover the soil with this green mass - and the soil cover will remain sufficiently moist for a long time. And over time, the soil will become more fertile.
In addition, using tomato tops for mulching helps prevent the appearance of weeds.
