Should I Feed My Tomato Plants Calcium?

As a tomato grower, you want to ensure that your plants are healthy and produce a bountiful harvest. One of the questions that arise when growing tomatoes is whether or not to feed your plants calcium. Calcium is an essential nutrient for tomato plants as it plays a crucial role in cell development and the growth of the plant.

Why Do Tomato Plants Need Calcium?

Calcium is responsible for the development of strong cell walls in tomato plants. When a tomato plant receives adequate amounts of calcium, it produces healthier foliage, fruits, and roots. Also, calcium helps to improve soil structure, which enhances water and nutrient absorption by tomato roots.

How Do I Know if My Tomato Plant Needs Calcium?

One of the signs of calcium-deficiency in tomato plants is blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is a disorder that causes the bottom of the tomato fruit to turn black and leathery. Insufficient calcium uptake in tomato plants leads to weak plant cell walls that cannot support the growing fruit resulting in blossom end rot. Other symptoms of calcium deficiency include stunted growth, yellowing of leaves, and wilting.

How Do I Feed My Tomato Plants Calcium?

There are several ways of providing your tomato plants with calcium to overcome calcium deficiency. The primary method is to add calcium-rich soil amendments such as dolomite lime or gypsum. When adding calcium amendments, ensure that you follow the recommended application rates to prevent over-fertilizing, which can damage the plants. Additionally, you can apply foliar sprays containing calcium to tomato plants to promote absorption through the leaves. Foliar sprays are beneficial when calcium uptake from the soil is inhibited.

What Other Nutrients Do Tomato Plants Need?

Although calcium is essential for healthy tomato plants, other nutrients are also vital for growth and production. These nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen aids in the development of healthy foliage, phosphorus promotes root development, and potassium is crucial for fruiting and ripening. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that tomato plants receive appropriate amounts of these essential nutrients to maximize production.

Conclusion

Feeding your tomato plants calcium is essential for healthy growth and production. With calcium, tomato plants develop strong cell walls and can fend off blossom end rot. Ensure that you monitor your plants and provide the required amount of calcium to prevent deficiency. However, remember to supplement other essential nutrients required for optimal plant growth and fruit production.