Gypsum in its natural form.
Calcium deficiency can be a problem in agricultural crops and the home garden. Signs of calcium deficiency in vegetables include cavity spot in carrots, blossom end rot in peppers and tomatoes, internal tip burn in cabbage and blackheart in celery. On ornamental plants, it manifests in chlorotic, strap-like leaves and growth tips that fail to develop. It is relatively simple to add calcium to the soil to correct calcium deficiency. Calcium is available in several forms for whatever type of plants you are treating.
Instructions
1. Send a soil sample to a lab or to your local extension service for pH testing. Use the type and amount of calcium recommended in the results. Use lime for acid soils and gypsum for alkaline soils.
2. Spread the recommended amount of calcium on top of the soil from the trunk to the drip line of the plants. Use a turning fork or rake to spread and turn it into the top of the soil. Turn the calcium in as deeply as possible to ensure it does not run off during watering.
3. Water the calcium into the soil well. Check the pH after 14 days to be sure it is within the limits recommended on the soil test and add more calcium if needed. Determine the desired pH by the requirements of the plants you are growing. For example, azaleas and tomatoes thrive in acid soil, where lilacs and clematis prefer alkaline soil.
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