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Paul M. Cook 21-03-2011 08:52 AM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul



David Hare-Scott[_2_] 21-03-2011 10:45 AM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato
crop this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed
coral. How good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in
pots, 22 inch pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a
large quantity of either into my planting soil. I did pretty good
last year using a liquid calcium supplement but it was kind of
expensive tedious. Hoping to do something cheaper and easier this
year.
Paul


I think not very good unless it goes into the mix months beforehand and even
then it's doubtful. The chunks will be too large and not dissolve
sufficiently to have much effect. Have a look at the thread on soil
amendment without digging up the yard for a detailed explanation.

David


Paul M. Cook 21-03-2011 01:12 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato
crop this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed
coral. How good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in
pots, 22 inch pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a
large quantity of either into my planting soil. I did pretty good
last year using a liquid calcium supplement but it was kind of
expensive tedious. Hoping to do something cheaper and easier this
year.
Paul


I think not very good unless it goes into the mix months beforehand and
even then it's doubtful. The chunks will be too large and not dissolve
sufficiently to have much effect. Have a look at the thread on soil
amendment without digging up the yard for a detailed explanation.


Yeah that was what I was thinking, they would take a long time to degrade
into the soil. I'll probably do what I did last year. Seemed to work
pretty well but expensive. Or maybe I'll try a milk/water spray or even
sheet rock powder in water.

Paul



zxcvbob 21-03-2011 05:29 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul



You could put some oyster shells in a plastic bucket of water and add
a little muriatic acid (or a bunch of vinegar.) Stir it up and let it
sit for a few days. The shells will neutralize the acid, and the
liquid will be loaded with of soluble calcium++. Pour it around the
plants. HTH :-)

Bob

Frank 21-03-2011 06:10 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
On 3/21/2011 3:52 AM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


I grow my tomatoes in pots too. Start of season, I'll work in a handful
of limestone as used for the lawn. That 50 lb bag will last for the
rest of my life but it was cheap.

Paul M. Cook 21-03-2011 08:28 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...
Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato
crop this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral.
How good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22
inch pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of
either into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid
calcium supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do
something cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


You could put some oyster shells in a plastic bucket of water and add a
little muriatic acid (or a bunch of vinegar.) Stir it up and let it sit
for a few days. The shells will neutralize the acid, and the liquid will
be loaded with of soluble calcium++. Pour it around the plants. HTH :-)


Good idea.

Paul



Paul M. Cook 21-03-2011 08:30 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 

"Frank" wrote in message
...
On 3/21/2011 3:52 AM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato
crop
this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of
either
into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid
calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


I grow my tomatoes in pots too. Start of season, I'll work in a handful
of limestone as used for the lawn. That 50 lb bag will last for the rest
of my life but it was cheap.


See that's why I didn't buy a bag. I couldn't find them in a small
quantity.

Paul



Bill who putters 21-03-2011 08:47 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
In article ,
"Paul M. Cook" wrote:

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...
Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato
crop this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral.
How good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22
inch pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of
either into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid
calcium supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do
something cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


You could put some oyster shells in a plastic bucket of water and add a
little muriatic acid (or a bunch of vinegar.) Stir it up and let it sit
for a few days. The shells will neutralize the acid, and the liquid will
be loaded with of soluble calcium++. Pour it around the plants. HTH :-)


Good idea.

Paul


I use vinegar as a herbicide. I'd make sure your saturated solution is
heavy on the shell side.

--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden






EVP MAN 21-03-2011 10:03 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 

Just place a few TUMS in the soil around your plants.

Rich


Paul M. Cook 21-03-2011 10:35 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 

"EVP MAN" wrote in message
...

Just place a few TUMS in the soil around your plants.


I asked about that once. How about a couple of those 600 mg dietary calcium
tablets?

Paul



zxcvbob 22-03-2011 12:05 AM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
Paul M. Cook wrote:
"EVP MAN" wrote in message
...
Just place a few TUMS in the soil around your plants.


I asked about that once. How about a couple of those 600 mg dietary calcium
tablets?

Paul



Why do that if you have oyster shells???

-Bob

songbird[_2_] 22-03-2011 01:36 AM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. How
good of a calcium supplement would these make?


both are fine as longer term amendments.


I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.


IMO 22 inch pots are not big enough
for some varieties of tomatoes. the
rest of your troubles (with nutrients
and moisture) is because of this.

when you do your new plantings
use bigger pots.

you'll find it will be a help.

check the pH before adding calcium.
you might be pushing the pH too high
and that can also reduce how many
nutrients are available to the plants
(and many other things too).


songbird

Paul M. Cook 22-03-2011 01:52 AM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...
Paul M. Cook wrote:
"EVP MAN" wrote in message
...
Just place a few TUMS in the soil around your plants.


I asked about that once. How about a couple of those 600 mg dietary
calcium tablets?

Paul



Why do that if you have oyster shells???


General knowledge. I actually have not bought them yet but I found a feed
store that sells them.

Paul



beecrofter[_2_] 25-03-2011 08:34 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
On Mar 21, 3:52*am, "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. *I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. *I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. *How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? *I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. *I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. *I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. *Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


Oyster shell could make up a good third of your potting mix and
provide calcium and pore space and drainage.

But for calcium to thwart BER a foliar drench of about a gram of
calcium chloride in a gallon of water or a few tablesppons of wood
ashes on the surface of the soil will work.

beecrofter[_2_] 25-03-2011 08:37 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
On Mar 21, 3:52*am, "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. *I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. *I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. *How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? *I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. *I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. *I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. *Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


Liquid calcium supplement ? it is calcium chloride in water. a 40lb
bag of ice melt at under 20$ will make a swimming pool full.

Frank 25-03-2011 10:58 PM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
On 3/21/2011 3:30 PM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
wrote in message
...
On 3/21/2011 3:52 AM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. I am going to double my tomato
crop
this year. I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of
either
into my planting soil. I did pretty good last year using a liquid
calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


I grow my tomatoes in pots too. Start of season, I'll work in a handful
of limestone as used for the lawn. That 50 lb bag will last for the rest
of my life but it was cheap.


See that's why I didn't buy a bag. I couldn't find them in a small
quantity.

Paul


Depending where you live you could take out a few pounds and lime your
lawn with the rest. Any source of calcium will do.

I also have a 40-50 lb bag of 5/5/5 fertilizer for the pots.

To me, part of growing your own is to save money although main reason
for planting tomatoes is you just can't buy as good as you grow.

Billy[_10_] 28-03-2011 07:46 AM

Calcium supplements for tomatoes
 
In article
,
beecrofter wrote:

On Mar 21, 3:52*am, "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
Well, planting season is almost here. *I am going to double my tomato crop
this year. *I have ready access to oyster shells and crushed coral. *How
good of a calcium supplement would these make? *I grow in pots, 22 inch
pots - 1 plant per pot. *I'd like to just mix in a large quantity of either
into my planting soil. *I did pretty good last year using a liquid calcium
supplement but it was kind of expensive tedious. *Hoping to do something
cheaper and easier this year.

Paul


Oyster shell could make up a good third of your potting mix and
provide calcium and pore space and drainage.

But for calcium to thwart BER a foliar drench of about a gram of
calcium chloride in a gallon of water or a few tablesppons of wood
ashes on the surface of the soil will work.


Other than that, BER is usually caused by infrequent watering. When the
soil is dry to the depth of an inch, water.

If you like weekends, thank a labor union.


Bush's 3rd term: OBAMA

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