On 6/19/2010 1:24 AM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
"Jeff wrote in message
...
Jeff Thies wrote:
Paul M. Cook wrote:
So I added calcium to the soil, I used fish emulsion fertilizer

I don't think this is the right fertilizer for tomatoes (although it is
what I in my ignorance used), it has too much nitrogen. It's something
like 511.

I found this:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...ing_plus/73178

So, the fish fert may not be your cause, but it does not help and may
indeed hurt.

Jeff

and I
sprayed the leaves with calcium water.

http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubs/PDF/C938.pdf


Although some people believe foliar sprays can correct Ca deficiency in
developing fruits, research is very inconclusive on this issue. What is
well known is that Ca only moves in the plant via the xylem and moves with
the transpirational water flow from the roots, up the plant and into
developing leaves. Calcium has no ability to flow from the leaves via the
phloem to the developing fruit. In addition, once fruit has grown to golf
ball size, the waxy outer layer has developed and is believed to be quite
impermeable to water. Therefore, it is recommended that all Ca supplied to
fruiting vegetables be applied via the irrigation water so as to maximize
uptake by roots


Sigh. I was using the fish emulsion as it was recommended. I posted
earlier about using the foliar spray as irrigation water and was told it was
less effective that way. So what the heck, I will add it to the irrigation
water. I try to keep the soil from drying out. My pots get a gallon of
water a day and if I do not water in the morning I get a little wilt by
afternoon. This whole uniform water has me puzzled. I mean those plants do
grow in the wild and surely a consistently moist soil is not something they
enjoy. I can see BER is more of a challenge in container gardening.

Paul


Think I am doing the same as you except I add a handful of pelletized
limestone mixed in before planting and fertilize with a mixed garden
fertilizer. When BER showed up several years ago, the limestone cured
it. I also water a lot but pots will drain from bottom container if
excessive, like a big rain.

It's still early in the season here and correction of problem could save
rest of crop.