Using Calcium in the Garden for Healthy Soil

Have you ever added Oyster Shell Fertilizer to your soil?  Wondering WHY we add calcium?  Well here ya go!

Calcium is a component of plant cell walls, and it’s needed for enzyme formation and nitrate uptake. Oyster Shell is ground up into a powder and used as a natural and organic source of Calcium!  Organic calcium can also be used to help neutralize excessively acidic soils, which is especially important when you’re growing green, leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach, or cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale.

KALE in the garden

Calcium carbonate is used to help prevent the spread of various diseases, such as powdery mildew, black spot, and blossom end rot. Other benefits of calcium include, protection from heat stress, increases metabolic functions in plant cells,  leading to a greater intake of other nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.  Natural, organic source of calcium is used to correct Ca deficiencies and raise pH in acidic soils.

RADISH!  If you grew spindly radish or your radish did not form a "bulb," that usually means that your soil in calcium deficient.  This is an indicator that other plants might be suffering as well.

Organic calcium sources include dolomite lime, calcite, ground oyster shell (oyster shell flour), and crushed eggshells.

We eat eggs here but not near enough to supply our gardens with calcium.  So we substitute with Ground Oyster Shell.

TOMATOES

If you experienced issues with "Blossom End Rot" then adding calcium to your coil might greatly improve your harvest!  Blossom End Rot: "This funky-sounding plague is a disease in tomatoes due to a calcium deficiency (or a watering issue). It manifests itself as a watery spot near the blossom end (the bottom, the butt, etc) when the tomato has begun to develop. Eventually, the spot will spread like a cancer. And it will be game over for that fruit."

The black spot will spread, eventually rotting the entire tomato

SQUASH can also be affected by calcium deficiency.

PEPPERS

Calcium plays a pivotal role in the development of cells in plants. Bell pepper plants need calcium to produce fruits that have thick, sturdy walls. The thick walls are good for the health of the plant, as they are better able to resist rot and other diseases. Well developed peppers are also good for you, as the fruit has a better taste and flavor.

Blossom End Rot is a sign of calcium deficiency in Peppers as well.

Are you seeing the pattern here?  Instead of waiting until you see a sign of distress in your plants, Plan ahead and boost your soil health.

Oyster Shell flour

Applying Oyster Shell Flour to you soil

For new container gardens, add 1 tablespoon per gallon of soil. 

For new gardens:

2 lbs /100 sq ft, depending on soil analysis and crop. Repeated applications may be needed to fully adjust pH and Ca levels.

Adjust down if you have already applied calcium to soil or if you are using additional amendments with calcium included.

How to Apply

Mix into top 4-6" of soil for planting preparation

Side-dress around single plants or along plant row for established plants, 2-4" from plant stem; lightly scratch in to soil (maximum soil contact)

Water in after application

I hope you have enjoyed another educational article and video.  Please share so that we may help more people grow their own organic food!

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Feeding Your Plants - Organic Nutrients Update

We've had quite a few questions about soil nutrients and amendments this past week.  If you have additional questions after reading through our articles please send us an email.

It's FALL in the garden!  Happy Planting!

FREE SEEDS with purchase of Coconut Coir Pellets

Mary's Heirloom Seeds Exclusive Fall Savings! SALE on SOIL AMENDMENTS thru 10/10/15 Mary's 3-4-4 AZOMITE GREENSAND *Huge sale on*  HUMIC ACID *excellent to boost soil health*  Recent Articles If you're growing a veggie garden or you've ever grown a garden then you probably know that nutrients are very important.  Sun and soil (and SEEDS) are also important. Nutrients play an integral role in plant health. Plant Nutrients-Getting Started   HUMATE (humic acid)  Most "all-in-one" type of fertilizers have an "NPK" rating.  NPK stands for Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium(potash).  What does each nutrient do?  In addition to other properties, Nitrogen helps plant foliage to grow strong. Phosphorous helps roots and flowers grow and develop. Potassium (Potash) is important for overall plant health. Minerals are VERY important to healthy plant growth. For that reason we have added several NEW options ORGANIC AZOMITE  Azomite rock dust is a naturally mined volcanic rock composed of over 70 minerals and trace elements that are essential for optimal plant health. The rock formation in Utah from which Azomite is mined was formed when volcanic ash merged with sea water an estimated 30 million years ago. This mixture of volcanic ash and sea water created a unique source of trace minerals and elements that moist soils are void of. Just like humans, plants require many minerals to reach peak health and vigor. Re-mineralize your soil with Azomite and your plants will thank you and reward you! ORGANIC GREENSAND  Contains potash and other minerals from natural marine deposits. Excellent soil conditioner. Greensand is a mined mineral rich in soil conditioning glauconite. BOTH of these plant nutrients are important for "heavy feeders" such as Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Pumpkins and Squash Mary's Organic Plant Nutrients 3-4-4    A complete plant food with all 15 essential nutrients Originally developed for professional gardeners Complex blend of natural organics provide complete and balanced feeding of all 15 nutrients Environmentally safe No sludges, hazardous or toxic ingredients  Blood Meal (Nitrogen) 12-0-0   Easy to use   Works in gardens, yards, lawns, and soil beds Perfect for revitalizing soils that have been heavily worked Scent serves as a deterrent to common garden pests such as rabbits and deer Also helps accelerate composting breakdown of carbon based composts such as leaves and straw Bone Meal (Phosphorus) 4-12-0  Phosphorus is involved in many plant processes, including:   Energy transfer reactions Development of reproductive structures Crop maturity Root growth Protein synthesis We carry VEGAN ALL-IN-ONE PLANT FOOD  Very important to mention, ingredients are derived from organic, non-gmo sources.  All-Purpose VEGAN plant nutrients.  Formulated to contain no animal products or animal by-products A blend of excellent medium to long term nutrient sources Add in combination with good organic compost to nourish your plants, improve the soil structure and encourage gardening Ingredients include soybean meal, rock phosphate, alfalfa meal, langbeinite, humic shale ore, azomite, Acadian kelp meal and greensand 3-2-2 formula    NEW - Humic Acid  Humate is a generic name for humic materials -- salt forms of humic acid. They are most commonly low grade lignite coal. Humates regulate water-holding capacity, have extremely high ion exchange capacities, and reduce soil erosion by increasing the cohesive forces of the very fine soil particles. Very low concentrations of humates have been shown to stimulate seed germination and root growth. They have also been shown to stimulate desirable soil microorganisms.  NEW SEED ANNOUNCEMENT! Savoy Cabbage, Perfection Drumhead Catalogna Puntarelle Dandelion  If you have additional questions please feel free to ask. Happy Planting! Mary Mary's Heirloom Seeds

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FALL Seed Combo Pack

FALL Super Seed Combo Pack 

"Flower Power" Herb Combo Pack 

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