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Post by wheelgarden1 on Apr 10, 2019 15:08:52 GMT -5
When using substitutes (calcium tablets, rock phosphate, and aspirin), what is the ratio for the mix?
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Post by Mumsey on Apr 10, 2019 16:03:17 GMT -5
wheelgarden1, I don't have a clue. I wonder how much calcium is in the powdered milk portion? Maybe figure it out from there. I don't think you could overdo it.
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Post by Mumsey on May 8, 2019 5:14:48 GMT -5
I'm not buying powdered milk this year. So I went and got calcium tablets. 500 mg with magnesium and zinc. I crushed up a bunch and put 1/2 tsp in each planting hole, that equals about 1 1/2 tabs. I used the other ingredients, just didn't put the calcium in the bucket with it. Figured the measurement of the calcium would be more precise if I added that separately. A cup of un-reconstituted powdered milk is 1178 mg calcium, or thereabouts. I'm no scientist and actually hated Chemistry.......
Stay tuned. We'll see what happens!
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Post by Wheelgarden on May 8, 2019 20:00:08 GMT -5
I used the tablets too for the first time, although not with the magnesium and zinc, at about the same measure.
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Post by desertwoman on May 8, 2019 21:12:26 GMT -5
I still have some powdered milk (this is the only thing I use it for) left over, but I'm listening to this discussion, for next year.
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Post by Mumsey on May 9, 2019 4:28:25 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, I only got that particular calcium because it's the only one at the Dollar Store here in our little town. Figured it couldn't hurt.
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Jul 4, 2019 4:30:16 GMT -5
If you want an inexpensive calcium source (to replace powdered milk), wood ash's primary ingredient is calcium carbonate. It also has potassium, a somewhat lesser amount of phosphorus, and trace minerals. People are sometimes averse to using it because it might change the soil pH, but that's precisely because of the calcium (most other calcium sources can raise soil pH, too). If you want a pH-neutral calcium source, try gypsum (calcium sulfate). It's supposed to be good as a calcium source for plants (but it's more known for other things wherein it's efficacy has been challenged, unfortunately; the few people I've read about who used it for BER in tomatoes, however, liked it). I've never tried gypsum, though, but I've used wood ash lots of times (and tomatoes seem to like it, so long as you don't use too much). If I had some gypsum, I would use it, though.
Plain old garden lime is a calcium source. I've heard of people using it on tomatoes for BER, but I haven't read about it often. It does raise soil pH (and that's what it's well-known for). I've never tried it for any purpose.
Rockdust is high in calcium, too. I've tried basalt rockdust, but tomatoes like wood ash a whole lot more, in my experience. I don't recommend basalt rockdust for BER (but if you do try it, maybe use a kind with humic acid added, or else compost it first; I've never done either, but it's supposed to make the rockdust work better).
If you want more food-based sources of calcium, carob has a fair amount of it. I've never heard of anyone giving carob to their tomatoes, though, but I'd be curious to know how they like it. Carob does not spoil easily, even exposed to the air, in my experience (and I love lots of it in vanilla ice cream with a little cinnamon added).
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Post by tom π on Jul 4, 2019 5:38:33 GMT -5
Plain old garden lime is a calcium source. I've heard of people using it on tomatoes for BER I use calcium nitrate. It's not organic, but I have found no BER this year. I also use wood ashes.
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Post by emmsmommy on May 23, 2020 5:59:15 GMT -5
Mumsey, have you ever used crushed egg shells in place of the calcium tablets/powdered milk?
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Post by Mumsey on May 23, 2020 6:52:34 GMT -5
emmsmommy, No, but go for it! Experiment! My eggshells go in the compost. I have given tomatoes a drink of watered down milk about a month after they are planted. I have some expired cans of evaporated milk that will get used that way this year.
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Post by emmsmommy on May 23, 2020 9:28:54 GMT -5
Mumsey, thank you! I totally forgot to add anything to the holes when I planted my Romas last week. Pulled back the mulch and top dressed with bonemeal and epsom salt mix as the only cornmeal I have is in a mix. Added a handful of crushed eggshell and an antacid tablet to each plant.
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Post by chignikbounty on Aug 22, 2020 15:19:12 GMT -5
Hey gardeners, I have a question. My plants need potassium (I think). The only fertilizer I have been using is aged chicken manure and very aged fish emulsion tea. But the leaves on my beans are yellowing. And also on the cucumber plants. I researched this and found out it could be a lack of potassium. I have an expired bottle of potassium pills for human consumption. Would it be ok to put on pill in each pot?
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Post by tom π on Aug 22, 2020 16:03:10 GMT -5
My plants need potassium (I think). Judging from "potassium deficiency beans" images, your problem may not be a potassium deficiency. A potassium deficiency makes the leaf yellow from the outer edge inward.
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Post by Mumsey on Aug 23, 2020 3:26:15 GMT -5
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Post by chignikbounty on Aug 23, 2020 10:07:17 GMT -5
Ok, thanks for the come back guys! A handful of Epsom salt should take care of it than?
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