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Grittyville, WA

That's like what happens to the tomatoes... The only difference is the tomatoes turn black. Blossom end rot, basically. I'd venture to say it's a calcium issue.

8/21/2026 5:04:08 PM

Germany

I can see your point, and without a tissue test I cannot tell whether it is relevant or not. However, as my soil had been rich in calcium over the past years and my pumpkins grow in essentially the same soil, a calcium issue would (in my opinion) mean that this particular plant must have had troubles with calcium uptake.

8/22/2026 5:07:20 AM

Grittyville, WA

I'd say half the calcium issues are an nutrient uptake or a distribution conflict. I could have 6,000 ppm in the soil but still BER a tomato... Other growers have had similar experiences. Calcium is an active transport molecule. So it depends a lot on root health not just soil quantity. Other than root health, throwing in some chelating molecules (amino acids, humic/fulvic etc) could have a major impact on calcium uptake? I'm not sure what the best chelator is but I know it makes a big difference for those who have figured it out.

[Last edit: 08/22/26 11:23:49 AM]

8/22/2026 11:21:34 AM