Tomato plants need a steady diet of feeding to produce the juiciest and most flavourful fruit – and there’s one common kitchen scrap that contains all three important nutrients
Tomatoes require a consistent supply of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to yield the most succulent and flavourful fruit.
Experts reveal that coffee grounds, a common kitchen waste item, are rich in these nutrients. Jim and Mary Competti from the I Grow Tomatoes blog explained that the majority of fertilisers consist of what’s commonly known as the “big three” nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients work in harmony to foster “strong and healthy tomato plants”.
Nitrogen plays a crucial role in promoting the growth and development of the foliage of tomato plants, enabling the leaves to convert sunlight into nutrients. Phosphorus is vital for tomato plants to produce buds and flowers. Without it, tomato plants would find it challenging to set flowers, thus “greatly reducing yields”, reports the Express.
Potassium is needed by tomato plants to “help improve the quality of the fruit produced” and to “reduce the chance of tomato plants succumbing to disease”. Moreover, potassium is critical during the flowering stage to assist plants in producing and ripening fruit.
Thankfully, spent coffee grounds “contain all of the ‘big three’ vital nutrients, but they also contain trace elements of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron – all nutrients that tomato plants also use to “grow and produce the best fruit that’s full of flavour”. But the power of coffee grounds goes beyond just being used as a fertiliser.
They can actually be used to help improve the soil as well, allowing tomato plants to “grow stronger and push out a more extensive root system” – a root system that can “improve harvest totals dramatically”. For the benefits of added nutrients, it’s best to add used coffee grounds at the time of planting.
This initial boost of nutrients and the additional moisture can be vital to help transplants quickly establish and produce strong early root growth. To do so, mix two to three tablespoons of coffee grounds into the planting hole before adding the tomato plant. Be sure to plant your tomatoes deep to give them the best chance at soaking in nutrients.
When mixing in grounds, only use spent coffee grounds as fresh grounds contain acids that can change the soil’s pH and be “harmful to tomato plants”. Using spent coffee grounds doesn’t just stop at planting time though. You can use them to top-dress tomato plants all throughout the growing season.
Jim and Mary said: “Every three to four weeks, sprinkle on a few tablespoons around the base of each tomato plant. This helps to provide plants with a low and steady stream of nutrients every time it rains or you water. The grounds on top will also help to loosen the soil and add structure as they break down. So not only are the coffee grounds adding nutrient value to your plants, they are improving the soil at the same time.”
