04/11/2016
Building a Better Tomato
Blossom end rot is common problem in tomatoes, but it can be found in other vegetables like peppers, cucumbers and eggplants. Developing fruit have a calcium deficiency in the tissue which appears as a soft dark spot on the end of the fruit. The problem is easy to prevent, but hard to cure. Calcium is not readily available in soil with a low pH and adding dolomite lime will raise the pH and add calcium. Removing crops from the garden can deplete the soil of calcium and other elements. Potting soil has little if any calcium. Young plants can absorb calcium better than older plants, so it is best to add calcium at planting time. If your pH is good, you can add Gypsum to your soil instead of lime. Gypsum is a natural mineral form of Calcium sulfate. I recommend, when planting vegetables in the garden, mix 2-3 tablespoons of gypsum in the planting hole. For potted plants, add about ¼ cup of gypsum to 3-5 gallons of potting soil. Keep in mind that Calcium and other minerals are moved through plants with water and drought stress will also cause blossom end rot.
Gypsum is like duct tape for gardeners – it can fix a number of problems in the garden cheaply.
Gypsum also adds essential mineral sulfur along with calcium to the soil. Adding Gypsum will not change the soil pH.
In heavy clay soils, adding gypsum will loosen the clay and improve drainage.
Gypsum will displace salt and will help heal problems caused by pet urine in lawns. Just sprinkle about 1 cup around the affected area and water it in.
In garden ponds, gypsum can help settle clay and dirt particles, making the water clearer.
In case you were wondering, gypsum is used in construction to make plaster. The ancient Egyptians used gypsum to cover the walls inside the pyramids. However wasn’t till 1769 that a German scientist, Johann Friedrich Mayer, discovered that gypsum made a great fertilizer.
