Calcium nitrate meal (not snack)?

sjamesNorway · June 8, 2015

My indeterminate plants are in 17 gallon containers in a greenhouse. I've used a mix which is 3 parts pine bark fines, 2 parts compost, 1 part peat and one part perlite, plus greensand, lime, and other amendments. The problem is, I think the "pine bark fines" weren't composted much, and are "stealing" nitrogen. A home test shows the nitrogen to be low, and the pH is around 6. (Phosphorous "medium", Potassium "high") I want to add calcium nitrate as a quick fix, but searching the forum hasn't yielded a good indication as to what amount to use. (I also have blood meal, but I understand this will take some time to be available to the plants.)

The plants seem to be healthy, and are growing well.

Any advice?

Steve

AKmark · June 8, 2015

4 ounces per 100 gallons for seedlings, 8 ounces per 100 gallons for plants after flowers.

sjamesNorway · June 8, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKmark

4 ounces per 100 gallons for seedlings, 8 ounces per 100 gallons for plants after flowers.

Thanks for the info., Mark. I've been following "Alaska 2015 Tomatoes", and have been mightily impressed by what you achieve in the far north. Compared to you, I'm growing on a minuscule scale.

Your numbers convert to 230 grams per 380 liters (or 23 grams per 38 liters on my scale) for plants.

Steve

GreenFarmer · June 8, 2015

230g/380L sounds average

amideutch · June 9, 2015

What does you current feed consist of?

Ami

sjamesNorway · June 9, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

What does you current feed consist of?

Ami

Hi again amideutch. I've been relying on the compost lasting a while, and thought it would supply plenty of nitrogen. I haven't added anything yet. I don't know what things are like in Germany, but here in Norway we don't have any good fertilizers specific for tomatoes. I've planned to top dress with "Algomin Professional Garden", which is 4-5-11 plus 8,6 sulfur (purchased at Bauhaus). Now I think I have to try to find something else, since my mix is already high in Potassium.

Steve

wormgirl · June 9, 2015

Maybe a water soluble fertilizer? Here in the US we have things like "Miracle-Gro," which happens to be higher in Nitrogen than the other two elements.

Tracydr · June 9, 2015

What about fish emulsion or kelp?

sjamesNorway · June 9, 2015

Thanks for the tips. Calcium Nitrate is 15.5-0-0 and water soluble. I found one source of fish emulsion at $13 a liter (34 oz.) which is off budget. I could maybe make some myself, but wouldn't it smell bad in the greenhouse? I found no place to buy kelp as a fertilizer, and we don't live near the ocean. So I'm back to the Calcium Nitrate.

wormgirl · June 9, 2015

Seems like a reasonable plan, then. Making fish emulsion would make the greenhouse smell terrible; I would not want to try it myself. Seems better to put some fish trim in your compost pile.

I am also growing in a bark based mix, and haven't seen any problems yet, except that a tuberous begonia does not seem to like it. However, that's the only plant I have that's doing poorly in the mix. The tomatoes seem to LOVE it! It is very interesting to hear about the results of your soil test. Please keep us updated, and post pictures if you can!

zeuspaul · June 9, 2015

I have had issues with bark based mixes and nitrogen. I think adding some calcium nitrate is a good idea.

sjamesNorway · June 10, 2015

I've used "pine bark fines" which, according to what I've read in threads here, are the right size - 0-10 mm. They looked almost black when I made the mix, and I assumed they were partially composted. When the mix started to dry out, the bark became much lighter in color. That's why I did the soil test.

At any rate, I don't think I can get composted pine bark fines in Norway. I'm now adding these fines as the main carbon source to my own compost, which I will use next year.

It was time for a watering yesterday, so I used the calcium nitrate solution recommended by Mark. I'll keep those who are interested posted here(with photos when I find the time).

Steve

Tracydr · June 10, 2015

What about you P and K? Calcium nitrate doesn't have any. Can you find a balanced fertilizer that's used for other vegetables or general gardening?
A liter of fish emulsion goes a long way. And kelp you may be able to gather if you're near the ocean.

sjamesNorway · June 10, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

What about you P and K? Calcium nitrate doesn't have any. Can you find a balanced fertilizer that's used for other vegetables or general gardening?
A liter of fish emulsion goes a long way. And kelp you may be able to gather if you're near the ocean.

Hi Tracydr. In post 1 i wrote from the soil test: (Phosphorous "medium", Potassium "high"), so I'm OK with P and K.
If I buy fish emulsion, won't it result in a bad smell in the greenhouse? We're not near the ocean.

Next year I'll probably use (organic) blood meal in my mix, but this time I felt I needed a quick fix, and calcium nitrate seemed like the best solution.

Steve

RayR · June 10, 2015

Steve, you would want fish hydrolysate, not fish emulsion. Hydrolysate doesn't usually have as strong a smell. I don't know how long the scent would be noticeable in a greenhouse, but outside it disappears pretty quickly in the soil.
Is it really hard to find liquid or soluble kelp powder in Norway? I mean Ascophyllum nodosum, the most common species of kelp used for plants is also known as Norwegian kelp

June 8, 2015	#1
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	Calcium nitrate meal (not snack)? My indeterminate plants are in 17 gallon containers in a greenhouse. I've used a mix which is 3 parts pine bark fines, 2 parts compost, 1 part peat and one part perlite, plus greensand, lime, and other amendments. The problem is, I think the "pine bark fines" weren't composted much, and are "stealing" nitrogen. A home test shows the nitrogen to be low, and the pH is around 6. (Phosphorous "medium", Potassium "high") I want to add calcium nitrate as a quick fix, but searching the forum hasn't yielded a good indication as to what amount to use. (I also have blood meal, but I understand this will take some time to be available to the plants.) The plants seem to be healthy, and are growing well. Any advice? Steve

June 9, 2015	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	What does you current feed consist of? Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

June 9, 2015	#7
wormgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 245	Maybe a water soluble fertilizer? Here in the US we have things like "Miracle-Gro," which happens to be higher in Nitrogen than the other two elements. __________________ Jenn

June 9, 2015	#10
wormgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 245	Seems like a reasonable plan, then. Making fish emulsion would make the greenhouse smell terrible; I would not want to try it myself. Seems better to put some fish trim in your compost pile. I am also growing in a bark based mix, and haven't seen any problems yet, except that a tuberous begonia does not seem to like it. However, that's the only plant I have that's doing poorly in the mix. The tomatoes seem to LOVE it! It is very interesting to hear about the results of your soil test. Please keep us updated, and post pictures if you can! __________________ Jenn Last edited by wormgirl; June 9, 2015 at 03:04 PM.

June 10, 2015	#12
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	I've used "pine bark fines" which, according to what I've read in threads here, are the right size - 0-10 mm. They looked almost black when I made the mix, and I assumed they were partially composted. When the mix started to dry out, the bark became much lighter in color. That's why I did the soil test. At any rate, I don't think I can get composted pine bark fines in Norway. I'm now adding these fines as the main carbon source to my own compost, which I will use next year. It was time for a watering yesterday, so I used the calcium nitrate solution recommended by Mark. I'll keep those who are interested posted here(with photos when I find the time). Steve Last edited by sjamesNorway; June 10, 2015 at 11:04 AM.

June 8, 2015	#2
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	4 ounces per 100 gallons for seedlings, 8 ounces per 100 gallons for plants after flowers.

June 8, 2015	#4
GreenFarmer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: under my greenhouse Posts: 40	230g/380L sounds average

June 9, 2015	#8
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	What about fish emulsion or kelp?

June 9, 2015	#11
zeuspaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: North County, San Diego Posts: 419	I have had issues with bark based mixes and nitrogen. I think adding some calcium nitrate is a good idea.

June 10, 2015	#15
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Steve, you would want fish hydrolysate, not fish emulsion. Hydrolysate doesn't usually have as strong a smell. I don't know how long the scent would be noticeable in a greenhouse, but outside it disappears pretty quickly in the soil. Is it really hard to find liquid or soluble kelp powder in Norway? I mean Ascophyllum nodosum, the most common species of kelp used for plants is also known as Norwegian kelp