Making water soluble calcium w/ egg shells & vinegar...Ticodxb February 28, 2012 I have some egg shells roasted and ready to dissolve them with vinegar to make a water soluble calcium for my tomato plant (that is singular... I sadly only was able to get one tomato plant to grow successfully this season- it is too late to try again until September/October... )Does anyone know the shelf life of this calcium concentrate once it is made? I don't want to make it too early if it doesn't store well.Maybe try the 'recipe' for a bionutrient brew for calcium phosphate. Simplified:1. Roast/toast eggshells.2. Soak roasted eggshells in equal volume of vinegar for two weeks until the vinegar dissolves the eggshells.3. Dilute 1:20 parts water and spray on plants or water into plants.4. Note below that this is best used during a specific period in the plants growth, just before flowering/fruiting.This is from the BIM piece posted on an earlier thread:'Calcium PhosphateA lot of agriculture advisers have used calcium phosphate for better plant growth, health, pest and disease controls. Natural farmers use this very specific bionutrient. Under the theory of Nutrioperiodism developed by a Japanese horticulturist, Yasushi Inoue in the 1930s, plants and animals need a very specific nutrient relative to the stage of their development. In the plant, there is the essential vegetative growth , changeover and the reproductive periods. In animals, like humans, there is the infantile, juvenile and adulthood. It is not only critical to provide the right nutrient at the right stage of the development, but also critical to use or apply specific nutrient of calcium phosphate in the juvenile or changeover period. For the plant, for example, we know that nitrogen is critical on the vegetative stage as potassium is critical in the flowering and fruiting stages. It is however, the changeover period that is most critical that will determine the quality of the final reproductive stage. At this stage, an additional nutrient is badly needed by the plant. And this is calcium phosphate. Calcium phosphate is good for plants 'morning sickness'. It is the stage that additional baby needs to be fed or the process where flower/fruit is about to come. Ash made from soybean stems are excellent for this purpose.Here is a simple, natural method of generating calcium phosphate. Get eggshells and roast them enough to generate some good ashes. Afterwhich, dip these roasted eggshells on about equal visual volume of vinegar. Allow it to sit for a couple of weeks until eggshells are practically broken down by the vinegar acids. You may use this diluted 20 parts water and can be sprayed or watered to the plants during the changeover period.When this is applied to that changeover period, it will improve plant health and productivity. The use of calcium phosphate is important to natural farmers. This however, does not mean that we shall forget the nutrient timing application of other critical nutrients for plant growth both macro and micro nutrients, given at the right stages and combinations.We consider this very important bionutrient needed by the plants used by natural farmers.***And some comments and replies about the ph of it:******** ******** ******** ********I'd love to try the 'recipe' above to dissolve my eggshells quickly and water them into the soil.I am a bit wary of adding vinegar to the soil, even diluted.Is it possible I could add something to the eggshell water after the shells have dissolved like baking soda in order to bring the pH closer to neutral? If so, are there any chemistry people out there who could tell me a ratio of vinegar to baking soda? *********** ******** ******** ******** Hamiltongardener...After bopping around the net this morning, I'm going out on a limb to suggest that the pH might be sort of neutral. I don't have any litmus paper to test my current little experiment here but here's what I found out:The vinegar is acidic, the egg shell is alkaline. When the eggshell dissolves in the acid (I think you need more than 1 tsp--perhaps enough to cover your crushed eggshells) you are left with something called calcium acetate. (Free calcium ions floating around in the vinegar.) If left exposed to the air it will form crystals.***How to Make Eggshell Calcium (and Why Youd Want to)by Genevieve | September 25 | Filed Under Food & Nutrition |Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body.While most of our calcium resides in our bones and teeth, its also important for muscle contraction, nerve health, enzyme activity and cell formation.In fact, our bodies need ample, daily amounts of calcium and if we dont get what we need, our bodies have no problem pulling excess stores from our teeth and bones.So, lets just say we want to be sure were consuming PLENTY of calcium, especially if we are a pregnant or nursing mama!I do best consuming ~ 2,000mg of calcium a day.I feel the most calm and balanced and dont suffer from muscle soreness or body stiffness. High-quality organic, and preferably raw, dairy products are phenomenal sources of calcium as are bone broths, fish bones, and even almonds.But since I would need to drink 2 quarts of milk to hit this quota, I sometime rely on a calcium supplement, especially when Im nursing or pregnant.Which one to choose? Calcium citrate? Hydroxide? Gluconate ? Aspartate? Or Coral Calcium? And, I could go on!But as natural mamas, we know that the best source is FOOD since its the mostly easily accessible for the body.Did you know that eggshells are a great, inexpensive, natural source of calcium?High-quality eggshells contain 27 essential microelements but theyre mostly composed of calcium carbonate, a form and structure thats very similar to our bones and teeth.In animal and human tests, eggshell calcium shows increased bone density, less arthritic pain, and even stimulates cartilage growth. Sounds great, huh? And its really easy to make.Ingredients and equipment: 1 carton of organic pastured chicken eggsIf you can get fresh from the farm, even better and try to get eggs from chickens that dont eat soy. Pay the extra price since this will serve as a supplement and is much cheaper than buying calcium tablets. Confused how to find or know if eggs are good quality? Heres a tip the thicker the shell, the more nutrients. I dont have a good source close to where I live, so I order mine from Tropical Traditions and their farms in Wisconsin. I love theirs because they are SOY-FREE, something very hard to find in store bought, even organic eggs.You will also need: 1 stock pot 1 coffee grinder 1 small Mason jar with secure and clean DirectionsUse up your eggs as you normally would, keeping the shell in the carton to make your supplement When you have your dozen shells, rinse them well in water. Remove any whites that might be stuck but dont remove membrane as these have extra nutrients. Fill a stock pot with approximately 6 cups of filtered water and bring to a boil. Carefully put your eggshells into water. (This will kill any harmful pathogens) Let cook for 10 minutes. Drain shells. Spread the shells on glass or stainless steel baking sheet and let dry overnight. In the morning, put in a 200 degree (Fahrenheit) oven for about 10 minutes to completely dry out. Once completed, put a few shells into a coffee grinder and run until they are pulverized into a granular form. Continue until all of your shells are powder. Store in a tightly sealed Mason jar in the cupboard away from heat or moisture.How to Consume Eggshell Calcium1 tsp. contains approximately 800-1,000 mg. of calcium. Consume by mixing in a small amount of water with a meal. Consume 3/4 to 1 tsp daily, divided in 3 servings with meals. Dont consumer more than 1 tsp a day as it can irritate sensitive digestive tracks.ENJOY!How about YOU? Whats YOUR favorite way to get calcium into your diet?Eggshell Calcium Studies: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11281164 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15018022The Best Nitrogen Source for Tomatoes by Cindy Quarters, Demand Media http://homeguides.sfgate.com/nitrogen-source-tomatoes-31182.htmlUsing FertilizerPerforming a soil test in your garden before you plant provides an accurate measurement of the existing soil nutrients that you can use to determine the type and amount of fertilizer your garden needs. Soils that are lacking in phosphorous or potassium can benefit from adding a complete fertilizer when you till your garden prior to planting. Soil that already has the right nutrients benefits from periodic applications of fertilizer with a nutrient ratio of 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 at a rate of two pounds for every 100 square feet of soil. This helps to maintain the fertility of your garden soil throughout the year as your tomatoes draw nutrients from the soil.NitrogenThe best fertilizers for tomato plants have a relatively low concentration of nitrogen. Applying fertilizers with a high nitrogen content promotes the growth of stems and leaves instead of fruit and flowers. Tomatoes that receive too much nitrogen grow excessively long stems and produce less fruit. High levels of nitrogen can also cause flowers to wither and drop off from their stems, preventing your tomato plants from producing fruit.Phosphorous and PotassiumTomato plants use phosphorous and potassium in significant amounts to produce fruit. Fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in a ratio of 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 is an effective source of phosphorous and potassium for tomatoes in soils with low concentrations of these nutrients. The best time to apply this type of fertilizer is before you plant your tomatoes. Once you have established the desired level of fertility in your garden you can apply subsequent doses of fertilizer as side dressing at a lower concentration to maintain a fertile growing bed for your tomatoes.ConsiderationsThe roots of tomato plants are mainly found within the upper six inches of the soil. Tilling your fertilizer into the soil at this depth ensures that you do not waste fertilizer on soil where your tomatoes do not grow. Fertilizer applied at the beginning of the growing season does not provide enough nutrients to meet the full growth potential of your tomato plants throughout the year. The best time to apply subsequent doses of fertilizer is when the first crop of tomatoes reaches one-third of the fruits' full size and is still green. Applying a subsequent dose of fertilizer roughly two weeks after you harvest the first fruits and a third dose a month later ensures that your tomatoes can continue producing abundant fruit.References (3) University of Missouri: Growing Home Garden Tomatoes University of California: Tomato Fertilization Rutgers State University: What Causes Blossom Drop In TomatoesResources (1) University of Missouri:The Role Of Potassium In Hydroponic Fertilizers

People who grow fruits, vegetables and flowers in hydroponic systems know and appreciate the role of potassium in hydroponic fertilizers. The greenhouse environment is the best example of a hydroponic system. The controlled environment in these systems allows farmers to have a thriving garden regardless of the weather conditions outside the structure.

The key to having a thriving hydroponics garden lies in the timing of the supply of nutrients. Understanding the roles of different types of nutrients in plant growth and development is very important. It will ensure that the fruits or flowers produced by the plants are of the best possible quality. Examples of hydroponics plant nutrients include Calcium nitrate, Potassium nitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, mono Potassium phosphate, Ferrous sulfate, Magnesium nitrate and Ammonium phosphate.

Plants are given these nutrients at different stages of growth. Potassium is one of the most important nutrients in plant growth. It is essential in the growth of flowers and maturation of fruits and seeds. This nutrient also helps in root development. This nutrient can be obtained from KNO3 and K2NO4. These fertilizers come in soluble crystalline powder form which can be diluted and sprayed onto the plants. I can also be drenched into the soil to allow the roots of the plants to absorb it.

Potassium helps plants to use other nutrients and is a key constituent of plant cells. It also plays an important role of activating enzymes and transporting products of photosynthesis. Plants usually require more of this nutrient towards the end of the season when plants are flowering and fruits are developing.

Research studies conducted on this nutrient indicate that by simply adding the nutrient to plants when they are flowering, their yield increases significantly. The quality of the plant will also improve. Farmers also report harvesting bigger fruits that have a longer shelf life and richer colors. Fruits are also known to mature faster if the plant is supplied with this nutrient.

Deficiency on this nutrient can cause serious problems in plants. It is a proven fact that plants which lack this nutrient have a slower growth rate and their root systems never develop fully. Plants are also known to be more prone to pests, diseases and stress due to temperature changes.

Maintaining a hydroponics system is relatively easy, the only challenge lies in supplying plants with the right amount of nutrients at different stages of growth. Choosing the right nutrients for the plant is also important. There are guides which can help you establish a thriving indoor garden. These guides also come with nutrient scheduling charts for different types of plants.

The role of potassium in hydroponic fertilizers cannot be overemphasized. Before you buy any fertilizer, make sure you know how and when it should be applied to plants. If you are not sure about nutrient scheduling, you should ask the store attendant at the gardening supplies stores. Alternatively, you can visit different sites on the internet to look for more information. You can also ask for recommendations from online forums related to this type of farming.