A note of caution for calcium nitrate feeders

pumpkins,
   If you tank mix and use a fertilizer injector, do not tank mix CaNO3 with
other water soluble plant foods. A precipitate will form and clog up your
filters and microsprinklers. Either broadcast on the granular type, or
dissolve the greenhouse grade of calcium nitrate and shoot it on as a separate
batch. If your calcium levels in the soil are O.K., I wouldn't put any CaNO3
on until after fruit set. CaNO3 is 15% nitrogen so over usage will make your
plant too green. If your Magnesium levels aren't overly high, you can balance
the calcium doses with a little water soluble magnesium....Epsom salts that
you soak your feet in, can be found at any grocery store. Epsom Salt is
Magnesium Sulfate. Someone had mentioned that you can have Calcium problems in
times of wet weather. The normal form of calcium in the soil comes from CaCO3
(limestone) which is not easily water soluble. If the soil is saturated with
extra water, in effect diluting what little calcium is there anyway. I would
think that the water and minerals that are taken up would have a lower
percentage of calcium in it during wet times. I'm pretty sure the people who
grow grapes run in to a similar problem with sugar content in grapes if they
have a wet spell just before harvest...there is more juice with a lower sugar
content % wise. The lack of sun would contribute to the sugar levels, but if
you have a set amount of sugar in the grape and then add extra water , the %
of sugar in the juice goes down. Back to pumpkins, calcium nitrate is good in
moderation.
                                                pumkinguy
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