Tall tomatoes need shaping and pinching. The procedure is carried out throughout the summer, during which time many broken off side shoots accumulate. Many people throw them away, however, there are better uses for tomato shoots.
Fertilizer
Tomato tops make a nutritious fertilizer for many crops. It contains large amounts of potassium and nitrogen. To create the fertilizer, you need to take a container, fill it 2/3 with tomato shoots, and pour clean water on top. Cover the infusion and leave for 2 weeks. The resulting solution is diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10 with water. The fertilizer is suitable for cucumbers, cabbage and tomatoes.
An effective remedy against garden pests
Tomato tops contain a strong toxic substance called solanine. It effectively fights insects that chew leaves and stems of plants. At the same time, the tart smell repels small rodents such as voles and moles.
To prepare the solution, chop 2 kg of tops with a knife (it is more convenient to use a meat grinder), add 5 liters of water. Heat the resulting solution and boil for 1 hour over low heat. Spray the plants once every 1-1.5 weeks. The liquid can be used to repel cabbage moths from cabbage.
Plants should be treated every week, except during the flowering period of trees and shrubs, in order not to harm the crop with harmful solanine.
Mulch
Instead of sawdust and hay, you can use tomato side shoots. This mulch protects the soil from drying out, retains moisture and helps fight weeds. And after the side shoots rot, they turn into nutritious fertilizer for plants.
As a natural septic tank
7 ideas for what to do with tomatoes if you have enough pickles
Rid your home of blood-sucking insects
In the warm season, an invasion of mosquitoes and fleas is a real disaster for owners of country houses. Harmful chemicals can harm the health of household members and cause the death of pets, so many people are looking for folk methods of dealing with unpleasant insects. Tomato tops will help to cope with blood-sucking pests.
Plucked tomato side shoots can be distributed on window frames and laid out in the corners of the room. This will scare away mosquitoes and fleas.
Side shoots plucked at the beginning of summer will turn into a late tomato harvest in September. This method works effectively for the southern regions of the country. This method is called cuttings. Plucked side shoots must be planted in the ground, thoroughly watered, and after rooting, use nutritious fertilizers. In the first half of autumn, you can collect an additional harvest of late tomatoes.
