Calcium for tomatoes and the need to use it
Content:
Calcium is essential for a tomato. Tomato is a vegetable crop that is almost impossible to grow without the use of fertilizers. Without the use of top dressing, you cannot get a good and rich harvest. Complex fertilizers are best suited as top dressing. But there are situations where there is a shortage in a particular substance. For tomatoes, it is the calcium deficiency that is relevant. Calcium for tomatoes is very important for development and growth, so calcium deficiency is immediately felt. You can find a large number of fertilizers containing calcium in stores, but the problem is that they are slow to act. And when there is a problem of lack of calcium in tomatoes, then it is necessary to act promptly. But, fortunately, there are tools that have already been tested by many gardeners in practice.
Indicating a lack of calcium in tomatoes
Tomatoes are in great need of this trace element. Without it, the full development of tomatoes is impossible. Tomatoes need calcium already at the moment when the seeds begin to germinate. If you notice that the seeds sprout slowly, then this may also indicate a calcium deficiency. If tomatoes are deficient in calcium, then the roots may suffer in the first place. Also, calcium for tomatoes is necessary for the development of fruits and shoots. If you notice that the bud is starting to fall off, this may indicate a lack of calcium. Calcium has the ability to eliminate the negative effects of iron, aluminum, manganese. These elements can be found in acidic soil, and their excess can negatively affect the full development of the tomato.
What fertilizers contain calcium for tomatoes
Unlike other crops, tomatoes are slightly more deficient in calcium. When calcium deficiency is just beginning to appear, it can be expressed in the fact that the top of the tomato bushes begins to acquire a brown or gray color. Moreover, such spots can more and more spread to the tomato itself. This is not considered a disease, so the tomato shows that it lacks calcium. If you do not correct the problem, then the lack of calcium may continue to manifest itself. Tomatoes begin to slow down in growth and development. The leaves begin to change their shape, begin to curl. And in the end, the top of the shoots completely dies and necrotic spots begin to appear on the leaves.
Here are some fertilizers that contain calcium. It can be limestone flour, ground chalk (capable of neutralizing the acidity of the soil 100%), dolomite flour (using this fertilizer, you add not only calcium, but also magnesium to the soil), slaked lime (it contains only calcium). In addition to the above fertilizers, there is a fertilizer that, due to the fact that it can be dissolved in water, is suitable for foliar feeding. This fertilizer is called calcium nitrate. This substance has the appearance of snow-white granules. Let's dissolve in water of any temperature. Store in dry places in sealed packaging.
This fertilizer has a number of advantages:
- Accelerates the process of growth and development of fruits, so you can harvest faster.
- When applied, the yield increase will increase by 10-15%.
- Helps tomatoes easily tolerate temperature fluctuations.
- Good for the taste and appearance of tomatoes.
- Increases resistance to diseases and pests.
When you are planning to plant seedlings with tomatoes, you can simply put the fertilizer granules in the hole. Each bush should take about 20 g. In addition to calcium nitrate, we will well dissolve calcium chloride in water, which is suitable for foliar feeding. Prepare a spray solution at the rate of 100 g of product per 10 l of water.
Folk remedies that contain calcium
Among folk remedies, wood or straw ash can be considered the most popular in order to water tomato bushes at the very root. To prepare the desired solution for one bucket of water, take one glass of ash. Then the bushes should be watered with the resulting solution, approximately 1.5-2 liters per tomato bush. An infusion made from eggshells has also proven itself well. Take 1 liter of water and crushed eggshells of 3 eggs. This mixture is required to be infused for several days. Then, when a characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide appears, the infusion can be used for its intended purpose.
Calcium Chloride for Tomato