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A Healthy Cucumber Crop |
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Bio-Tech Organics has worked with greenhouse growers in the Virginia district for over 16 years and have developed a system for improved production and high quality yields in tomato, cucumber, capsicum and zucchini crops, which are predominately grown in the district.
Greenhouse crops need plenty of calcium for increased flower and fruit set as well as strong cell division in the early stages of fruit development.
Most growers use calcium nitrate, however, high calcium nitrate inputs generally result in less fruit development in favour of increased vegetative growth, which can dramatically reduce yields.
There are several calcium products we favour. These include Calcium Fulvate, Calcium Shuttle, Trio, Cal-Tech and phos-Life. Liquid lime and liquid gypsum are sometimes used where these are required.
Calcium nitrate can be used sparingly in the early plant development stages combined with small amounts of Fulvic acid.
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Poor fruit set (blossom end rot) is the result of low calcium uptake. This can be caused by high soil sodium, potassium or magnesium or low soil calcium or a combination of all four.
Soil testing prior to planting is vitally important in this regard as the balance of these major cations relate directly to soil pH and the availability of essential elements for plant growth and fruit development.
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| Blossom End Rot = less $ returned |
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