From

Location

Message

Date Posted

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

Does anyone feed their seedlings calcium solution or do they wait until the plant bears fruit?

Dave

5/15/2005 2:09:15 PM

Somers, CT

I am trying it this year as a foliar from the beginning in my rotation. I am also planning on applying it on the fruit as well either by wet towel or spray.

5/15/2005 7:53:16 PM

Chico, Ca

I applied it to my 7 day old starts with a spray bottle.....

5/16/2005 2:09:53 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Dave, Calcium demand by the plant during early growth up to fruit set is moderate. The roots are able to keep the supply pipe full......IMHO....

If your soil testing reveals that Calcium levels are 3000ppm or better and the ca to mg ratio is 7 to 1 or lower, than you most likely do not need a supplemental supply during the first 2 or 3 months of growth.

However as the fruit develops and cool nights move into your region, absisic acid builds in the leaves. Calcium is used by the plant to nutralize this acid concentration. Ca is then drawn firstly from the roots but the supply line soon runs dry. At this point it becomes beneficial to apply foliar and to the fruit. This helps to re-establish Ca availibilty and delays the ripening of fruit which also extends storage life by thickening the fruits celluar walls and thereby suppressing ethylene production.

Remeber to use Chelated Calcium. Such as Calci-Max or Nutri-cal

http://www.nutriag.com/FABs/calcimax.htm

http://www.nutri-cal.com/products.htm

5/16/2005 10:35:43 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Once my plants start vining, I use it bi-weekly. Also use it on the fruit as well. Been a staple of my feeding program for 3 years now.

5/16/2005 11:25:18 PM

Walkerton Ont

i mixed granular chelated calcium and it helped out alot

5/17/2005 1:22:08 PM