If you are looking for a great organic source of phosphorus for your garden, bone meal might be a good choice for you. It can help support the health of your tomato plants and promote fruiting. Like most things, however, you can have too much of a good thing, so care should be taken when applying bone meal. Here are some common questions and answers about bone meal for tomatoes.
What is bone meal?
Bone meal comes from the byproducts of poultry and livestock that we eat. Companies steam the bones and then ground them into a powder or granular. Finely ground bone meal has a texture similar to baking flour.
Why is bone meal beneficial for tomatoes?
Tomatoes often need added fertilizer in order to thrive because they are heavy feeders and draw a lot of nutrients out of the soil. When tomatoes are lacking in phosphorus, they will show stunted growth, weak and spindly stems, and dark leaf veins with purple or blue-green leaves. Bone meal is high in phosphorus and also contains moderate levels of calcium and a small amount of nitrogen. Bone meal can be used to amend the soil and give the plants a needed boost. While synthetic fertilizers are available, they tend to require multiple applications and are more of a risk for burning your plants. Bone meal breaks down more slowly, so one application is usually enough.
What are the risks of using bone meal?
Bone meal can be helpful, but it also has some downsides. Phosphorus can accumulate in the soil, causing an imbalance of nutrients. This can harm beneficial microbes and decrease the overall health of your soil. Phosphorus can also leach into rivers, streams, and groundwater, harming aquatic life and causing an overgrowth of algae. Top dressing your plants with bone meal may also attract animals like dogs and raccoons, so it should be well incorporated into your soil. If you decide to use bone meal, you should have your soil tested, so you can apply the appropriate amount.
What is the best tomato fertilizer?
Bone meal has its place as a natural way to increase phosphorus and calcium, but excessive use can be detrimental to the soil, plants, and animals. Instead of using straight bonemeal, a better option would be to choose a natural fertilizer that contains a balance of macro and micronutrients, as well as trace minerals. Natural fertilizers work to build up the soil, which in turn supplies nutrients to the plants. Dr. JimZ Tomato Secret is the result of 4 generations of expert tomato gardeners and is the best tomato fertilizer on the market today. Tomato Secret is made with a superior blend of natural ingredients and will produce healthier, higher yielding, and more delicious tomatoes. The secret to amazing tomatoes is Tomato Secret.
Photo Credit
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