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Hamilton, MT

Ok, so I've bought 3 different Calcium products now after having had someone scare me away from using the 1st two. Would someone clarify to me which of these products is safe to use and when to use them, or why I should not use any of these.

#1 - $14 for 80lb sack of 15.5-0-0 Calcium Nitrate, granular form, water soluble.

#2 - $17.65 for 1 gal of Fert-All Calcium 12 shipped from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, is Calcium Chloride, advertised as "chelated" but doesn't mention it on the label. Is there a problem with the Chloride element?

#3 - $16.60 for 2.5 gals of Nutri-Cal from biggerproduce.com, 6-0-0, 10% Calcium, hasn't arrived yet.

Can I feed the leftovers to my kids? LOL

8/25/2004 11:19:13 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Nutri-Cal....no-brainer for foliar, drench, or wraps
I use it heavily for a couple of years now.

8/25/2004 11:22:18 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

#1 is popular for pre-planting. It might be considered too hot for in season use.

#2 is used on apples & tomatoes. I wouldn't apply it to my pumpkins. List the entire list of ingredients from the "nutrients derived from" statement & I can figure out if it's really chelated or not.

#3 looks like a typographical error. Distributor cost is a whole lot more than $16.60 for real Nutri-Cal. Jeepers the UPS shipping charges for a 2.5 gallon jug is $15.00 from CT to ME!?!?!?!?

I checked the website you mentioned & I found a 16 oz bottle for $9.99. Is that what you got?

If #3 really is Nutri-Cal, then that's the preferred item for in-season foliar or fruit application.

8/25/2004 11:35:46 PM

Cologne / Germany

How funny, looked for Nutri-Cal over here and you will easily find it - as a food additive for pets! -) Concerning ferts I must be living in the back of beyond here.

8/26/2004 6:45:25 AM

Utah

I've used #2. as a drench with out any problems. as a foliar spray it can burn your leaves if you don't dilute it enough. I've also sprayed it directly on fruit once with out any problems.
This year I used it but I just added it in the spring before planting.

8/26/2004 8:55:11 AM

Hamilton, MT

Thanks for the input everyone!

I'm trying to figure out if there is a use for each of these so I don't have to throw them out - perhaps the veggie garden?

Anyway, what I'm hearing is -
#1 - Pre-season soil ammendment...I'll wait til my soil results come in to gauge it's use.

#2 - "Derived from Calcium Chloride and Citric Acid." Relegate this jug to the tomatoe patch?

#3 - Is being shipped today. I called the 800# from Doeski's post 800-247-2480 a while back...I believe the cost and volume is correct above. I look forward to using this product exclusively.

I appreciate everyone's input.

8/26/2004 10:29:37 AM

Utah

nice to see that my opinion carried some weight ! lol!
... don't worry no offence taken...

8/26/2004 12:58:39 PM

Hamilton, MT

Hey g1t - I value everyone's input here, especially when it confirms what I have been using is ok - like you. I'd like to hear anyone's opinion whether good or bad.
Your opinion carries weight - don't worry!

8/26/2004 11:36:10 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I used nutri-cal last year and thought that I might have seen some changes in the color of the pumpkin. This was mostly seen as dark splotches on the surface. This was not anything injurious but it tended to take away from the beauty of the pumpkin. Anyone else notice this?

10/24/2004 10:57:37 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Heavy rates + Warm weather + young fruit = spots.

Like you I found them to be non-injurious. Just ugly.

I switched to wrapping the fruit in beach towells soaked in a 3% solution this year & didn't get spots.

Keep in mind that as a liquid spray lands on the fruit it usually beads up. As the water in those droplets evaporates, the concentration rises sharply. It seems the towels stay wetter longer & don't allow the formation of droplets.

I'm not convinced the tranference of Calcium is as good though.

Next year I think I'll go back to spraying the fruit. But I'll also add an Organo-silicone surfactant to prevent the beading. In trails I did in 2003 it seemed to work very well. But this year was the "towell trial".

10/24/2004 4:46:09 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Steve I believe Graig L has stated this also. Agro k is now recommending spray to the fruit. Ca could be transferred back into the towel.

10/24/2004 7:46:53 PM