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Pataskala,OH

When do I start using calcium towels for my pumpkins? I have some foli cal to soak the towels in , How much should I use?

7/14/2008 12:11:59 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Towels to early may freckle the skin. That said, most folks use 1-2 oz per gallon. What percent is the material you have?

7/15/2008 8:38:08 AM

Pataskala,OH

30%

7/15/2008 9:58:14 AM

Western NY

I usually wait until the pumpkin is at least 50 days old and has started to get some netting to it. I won't use it on any of the ones I want to remain pretty.

7/15/2008 10:34:45 AM

Pataskala,OH

Can I use it as a foliar untill then?

7/16/2008 9:55:37 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Apply to foliage & soil all year. I've over-sprayed it onto young pumpkins many times & only saw freckling on hot days.

7/16/2008 10:09:07 AM

Sheridan . NY

HI -All --as i have posted before --i feel foliar spraying of calcium is much more effective --1 you can get the spray were no towel can go--and 2 i feel the towels wick the calcium back up into the towel like a wick in a oil lamp---start at beach ball size spray daily at low rates use quality refined calciums like--> vc & vcp

7/17/2008 8:35:49 AM

Adams County

Craig, do you also spray the fruit or only the leafs & vines ?..Bill

7/17/2008 6:22:04 PM

Sheridan . NY

bill-- plants get sprayed once a week---1-2 oz to the gallon of water-- the pumpkins 1/4 oz to the gallon of water i spray them daily--i us a small 1 gallon sprayer mix up a qt or 2 at a time--craig

7/18/2008 9:19:54 AM

Adams County

Craig, thanks for the info. just moved to new place, will be doing business with you this fall, thanks Bill

7/18/2008 5:59:11 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I gave up on towels three years ago when they failed to stop BES at my patches.

I gave up spraying calcium on the leaves two years when it failed to prevent BES in my patches.

I still believe and some studies back this up that spraying calcium on the the fruit is beneficial.

The most often misunderstood factor in growing giants is the belief that calcium will some how move from the leaves into the fruit after a foliar sprays. This simply is not true at all. The calcium becomes locked away within the leaves and stays there. It does not move! The fruit does not benefit! Don't waste your time! There is too much proof in the form of well documented studies of this.

There is some new scientific speculation that calcium can be moved through leaf by destructive forces applied to the leaf surface or by use of specialized chealates only. But this is very early in the stage of study. There is no documented proof of mobility within the leaf and plant that I know of.

7/21/2008 3:01:30 PM

Sheridan . NY

ok

7/22/2008 8:51:47 PM

New Zealand

I have probably missed seeing it sometime, but what do you guys use as your source of calcium.
Also any other usefull information that you might be abkle to give me re its use.
Greenethumbs

8/25/2008 8:26:45 PM