The answer is no, but if composted properly, it won’t hurt the plants.
We share everything you better know about using coffee grounds for tomato plants in the garden.
But,scattering coffee groundson the top of the soil or even working it in slightly is not effective.
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The caffeine residues in the used coffee grounds can actually suppress germination and slow the growth of some plants.
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Should You Use Coffee Grounds to Fertilize Tomatoes?
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Coffee grounds shouldnotbe used as the sole fertilizer for tomato plants.
Tomato plants can tolerate slightly acid soils, as low as pH 5.5.
But plants are the healthiest and most productive when the soil pH is 6.0 to 6.8.
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Suppose you use organically rich soil (that can contain some composted coffee grounds).
Most tomato plants benefit from theapplication of a balanced NPK fertilizera few times throughout the growing season.
Appropriate levels of potassium and phosphorus have positive effects on fruit sugar and acid content.
Proper fertilization also produced tomatoes with more health-promoting carotenoids and red lycopene beneficial to human nutrition.
Adequate plant nutrition is important in producing tasty tomatoes with better flavor and appearance.
A sprinkling of coffee grounds mixed into the soil before planting tomatoes will not harm the plants.
However, no additional coffee grounds should be added to the soil during the growing season.
The caffeine in coffee grounds can also harm some herbs and geraniums.
Once broken down over many months, their nutrients enrich the soil.
Tomatoes Growing Guide.Cornell University.
Fertilizing Tomatoes for Delicious Fruit.University of Missouri.
