Just like other vegetables, tomatoes need to be regularly trimmed with unwanted tops. Otherwise, it will draw out the nutrients that are needed to increase the yield. After such events, a large amount of unnecessary tops is formed. Many gardeners simply destroy it or throw it away, but better use can be found for it.
Pest control
During the season, many fruit crops are attacked by various pests that severely harm the upcoming harvest. Tomato tops contain a substance that will help fight many pests.
Freshly cut tops should be finely chopped, filled with warm water and left to brew for several hours. After that, put the resulting composition on fire, and keep under a lid, over medium heat, for half an hour. The resulting broth must be slightly cooled, then strain and dilute with cool water with a ratio of 1 to 4. To stick the resulting poison, add soap to the composition.
Such processing should be carried out once a week, not more often. Otherwise, you can harm the crop.
How to make compost
Tomato tops are an excellent material for making high-quality compost. The collected tops are placed in a compost box, covered with earth, and urea is added to improve decay. In about a year, great compost will be ready.
Use as liquid fertilizer
It takes time to prepare good quality compost. Fertilizer from tomato tops can be done in a faster way. Various weeds are placed in the barrel, mixed with the tops of tomatoes, water is added, and the barrel itself is covered with a film on top. It is necessary to make holes in the film so that there is air circulation. After about 2 weeks, the fertilizer will be ready. For use, you need 1 liter of the resulting solution, dilute with 10 liters of water.
Ash preparation
One of the best and fastest uses for haulm is to make ash from it. It is also convenient because the ash can be cooked immediately after harvest. The pre-harvested tops must be dried within a few days. After drying, it must be burned, and the resulting fertilizer must be used immediately.
As you can see, tomato tops can be used profitably and not thrown away in a landfill. The yield will increase with the help of extra tops. And at the same time, you don’t have to make any special efforts to recycle it.
