Calcium for your tomato plants

claudiamedic Sun 20 May 2012 - 11:13

I've been told that tomato plants like calcium. I bought some cheap antacid tablets at the Dollar Store and put a few in with my tomato plants. So far, they seem to like it. Anyone else tried this? happy2

**walshevak** Sun 20 May 2012 - 11:22

It was mentioned by a posted last year. Another posted says she puts a tablespoon full of powdered milk and a bit of epsom salts in the hole before planting her tomatos. I did that this year.

Kay

yolos Sun 20 May 2012 - 18:31

I tried crushed egg shells this year. Don't know if it will do any good but read somewhere that you should put some in the hole before planting the tomato.

philct Sun 20 May 2012 - 19:24

I put a cup of bone meal and a cup of kelp meal in the hole before planting.. I'll keep you posted

**camprn** Mon 21 May 2012 - 4:08

I use the bone meal when prepping the bed, a small handful of Epsom salts, a handful of powder milk and just the smallest amount of wood ash in the hole, stir it in and plant the tomato deeply. In the long run a bit of Gypsum is a good source, but your pH need to be balanced to allow the uptake of the calcium.
Here is an interesting discussion about it. Consulting the Extension service in your area would yield some good advice.

Lavender Debs Mon 21 May 2012 - 5:27

For what it's worth; I like a nice balanced soil with happy worms. I hate dumping ingredients that make for micro-climates that are super rich in any one element.

I have been saving home-grown egg shells (crushed and lightly baked) that I scatter through the boxes when the chickens are tractored in them. That sort of calcium has a slow release (or break-down).

The only obvious signal I know of for low-calcium is blossom end rot. IF I come across a case of BER I grind up a calcium tablet, sprinkle the powder on the surface of the soil around the stem and water it in.

I've seen pic's of Camp's gardens. They are beautiful, so I may have to give her way a go.

Debs……who does not live in tomato country.

**rowena___.** Mon 21 May 2012 - 6:54

i do as Lavender Debs does, except that i don't have chickens of my own. i save eggshells in the freezer and powder them as needed to sprinkle in the garden. they serve so many useful purposes that it is worth the trouble, and the fact that they are slow release suggest to me that they are enriching the growing medium rather than just treating a problem.

Sponsored content

Calcium for your tomato plants

Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants

Re: Calcium for your tomato plants


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.