Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deficiency .jpg) Calcium deficiency is a disorder that is common in acidic soils and on plants growing in containers where water supply is erratic. Susceptible Plants- Apple, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, celery, tomato, and most large fruits Symptoms- Calcium deficiency causes curling of young leaves or shoot tips, poor growth. Calcium deficiency can also cause roots of the plants to become stunted, translucent, and bulbous with dead tips. Apples develop ‘bitter pit’, pitted fruit skins, brown spots in the flesh. Large fruits are particularly susceptible. The symptoms may develop in storage. Brussels sprouts and cabbage develop internal browning, Calcium deficiency in carrot causes oval spots on roots to develop(“cavity spot”). Cracks and craters develop which may allow organisms to invade, which may cause rapid root rotting.
Calcium deficiency in celery causes central leaves to become blackened and the plants growth is stunted. Tomatoes and peppers develop blossom end rot from calcium deficiency. A dark brown/black patch appears on the blossom end of the developing fruit. Not all fruit on a truss or all trusses on a plant need to be affected.
Prevention and Control- A true calcium deficiency is rare, although it can occur on some acid soils. Symptoms are more commonly the result of disruption in the supply of calcium. This may be caused by the shortage of water which slows the transport of calcium to the plant and also by excessive use of potassium or magnesium rich fertilizers. Before appling any soil treatments a soil test should be conducted.
Add Lime or Hydrated Lime Improve Soil Structure- A simple but highly affective method to build soil structure and restore depleted minerals is to make sure your soil has enough Earthworms
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