Hi--I am a newbie to gardening in Earth Boxes. Do I need to use the package of dolomitic lime in all the Earth Boxes, or just the ones that I am planting with tomatoes? I plan on using several veggies: peppers, eggplant, squash, more tomatoes, melons, and sunflowers!
Thanks in advance,
Emily
Do I use dolomitic lime in ALL my Earth boxes?
Emily,
It wouldn't hurt because most soil mix has a rather high ph. It is also supposed to help with blossom end rot, not sure how well it works. Even some of my in-ground plants get blossom end rot on the earlier tomatoes.
Red
Hey Red,
Is there anything I can do to stop the BER on my maters? It stopped for awhile, then it started raining again and it's back again. And I don't have it on all the maters. It's only on the Black Krims. I read somewhere to put some calcium (Dolomite?) in the reservoir. Do you think it would help? It's rained so much here...
Most container soils have a fairly LOW pH, actually. They normally run from 5-6, with soils based on a high % of peat, even lower. If you need a Ca (for BER) source for soils you wish to remain low in pH, use gypsum. If you think want to raise the pH, use dolomitic lime as your Ca source. Dolomite also supplies Mg, and gypsum contains sulfur. If you have indication your soil is lacking Mg, an occasional dose of Epsom salts will fill the requirement.
Al
Al, you're right, my mistake, it is a LOW pH.
Gymgirl, if you're getting a lot of rain, not much you can do for BER. Some varieties are much more prone to BER than others, Black Krim being one of them.
Red
Thanks Red and Tapla. We're having rainstorms today, as I type...
Took inventory on the plants this a.m. before the skies opened. Here's what I've observed so far. Comments appreciated:
EVA PURPLE BALL (clusters). Good projection and leaves good. No BER. Many, many clusters of fruit and many new blooms on top growth.
PRUDEN'S PURPLE: Yellowing bottom leaves. Thinning foliage, but many blooms toward top. Many small fruits.
BLACK KRIM: BER. Big fruits, many new blooms at top.
PERSIMMON: Thick leaves, but yellowing and pale toward the bottom toward the inside of the plant. Few fruits. Some BER. Many new blooms toward top.
CHEROKEE PURPLE: Huge fruits, but very few (6-8). Thinning leaves and not many blossoms toward the top.
AZOYCHKA: In distress. Pale, yellowing leaves almost halfway up the plant. Many medium fruits toward the top. No BER.
STUPICE: Many Many clusters of fruits. Very little BER (many 3 fruits). Leaves starting to yellow on bottom. Many new blooms.
ARKANSAS TRAVELER: Good overall leaf color, however beginning yellowing on leaves in the back. Small fruits; Some blooms.