Thanks for all the great answers.

"DigitalVinyl" wrote in message
...
"GarlandGrower" wrote:

Most BER is supposedly water related, not actual calcium deficiency,
but without good soil testing it is hard to know for sure. The fact
that the peppers are suffering but tomatoes aren't is probably a key
symptom--something is affecting one and not the other. Any differences
in position of the peppers, near a rock/house wall (greater heat),
overhang of house, trees shading tomatoes more? Was the tomato soil
given any more preparation or used in previous years?

The tomato soil may have had more fertilizer in it, but all planting holes
were prepared the same with manure, Tomato Fertilizer from Gardens alive and
later (Jobes Spikes were pounded in all), Water Crystals, I mean I put
everything but the kitchen sink in there. I prepped all the holes before my
seedlings went in. Soil test the second year indicated P and K were
extremely high, but N was somewhat low. The soil our there is inherently
low in N and high in Iron and minerals. We have NOT sidedressed much this
year. We had the foliar spray, but Dad forgot to use it after the rains.
We used it last weekend, but I've since found out what some of the posts
indicate, the sprays will not help. The problem is with the fluctuation of
water and the rains and even if the calcium is in the soil and/or in the
plant, it does not get to the fruit correctly. The foliar sprays do not
work on the fruit, because the fruit can not absorb the spray like the
leaves can.


No harm leaving the egg goop, except perhaps smell. I collect the
eggshells, especially during winter. I microwave them dry, toss in a
metal can and shake to break em up. I toss them in the holes I dig for
tomatoes and peppers. I should proably do it for eggplants too... same
family, although I've never heard of BER mentioned with eggplants.

I've not seen it on either of my two White Eggplants they are producing
abundantly
We had it on two or three Watermelons, all of the Peppers and a few tomatos.

I don't know how quickly the shells will break down-they may not
affect this season. My thought is I'm at least replenishing what they
are taking out. You can buy a BER foliar spray, so the nutrients get
quickly
absorbed by the leafs.

Yes, the eggshells are a "long term" kind of ammendment.





DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
3rd year gardener
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/royalf...=/2055&.src=ph