There have been many times in my life I've wished I could place myself in suspended animation. Indeed, I have tried by various means. To little avail.

Right now is one of those times. Broke, it's too hot and I won't be able to afford gas for the genny for the whole week. So I wish I could suspend my consciousness when not at work this week. Oh,well.

Some more reading about calcium showed some errors in my thoughts. I had worried about using too much. Had nothing to worry about. Turns out that many people refer to applying tons of calcium to their land to bind up sodium. Really, tons. Literally. So I have a long, long, long way to go before considering my applications too much.

Couple of good things here. One is that adding calcium helps with soil permeability and crusting. So moisture can penetrate deeper and easier. I can say I have noticed much less crusting of the soil. In fact, virtually none. Even less since applying sulphur.

Another good thing is that calcium can be applied in the form of old sheetrock (gypsum board). That's because it is made from calcium sulfate. From what I've read, because it contains sulphur, it won't affect the soil pH, either. Any paint would have to be removed, of course. In my case, I would also keep applying sulphur. If sheetrock is pH neutral, I would still need to be doing something about my alkaline soil.

Still, what I've done so far is showing good results. Tonight, applied more calcium and then some regular fertilizer, separately. Growth across the garden has accelerated. Everything looks greener. Leaves which had spots are losing the spots. Daughter and I had some tomatoes from the garden this weekend and they were great! Small but wonderful flavor. Plants are getting larger and flowering more. See a few new tomatoes growing.

Have to keep checking after each type of fertilizer and figure out which helps production most. Don't need to add K just yet because my soil tests high for K, like most desert soil. (Though it can become depleted by successive planting of crops. Not there yet.)

i know the calcium helps tomatoes avoid blossom end rot and grow larger fruit. So I lay it on them well. The sulphur has helped them to an extreme. I've read calcium helps pumpkins grow larger, as well.

Once I get a truck, I'll keep and eye out for housing remodeling jobs to pick up old sheetrock. Also on free lists for an old metal drum and a manual push mower. Build a leaf shredder/sheetrock grinder.

The vinegar still has a place in the garden, so haven't tossed it. It's still gaining acidity. The acidity of the vinegar depletes rapidly, over a few weeks in the soil. However, in that time, it will help break down calcium. Once that's done, it has served it's purpose. Can apply it in winter and it will be gone by spring. That would mean I just need less sulphur.

Gotta get to bed.There have been many times in my life I've wished I could place myself in suspended animation. Indeed, I have tried by various means. To little avail.

Right now is one of those times. Broke, it's too hot and I won't be able to afford gas for the genny for the whole week. So I wish I could suspend my consciousness when not at work this week. Oh,well.

Some more reading about calcium showed some errors in my thoughts. I had worried about using too much. Had nothing to worry about. Turns out that many people refer to applying tons of calcium to their land to bind up sodium. Really, tons. Literally. So I have a long, long, long way to go before considering my applications too much.

Couple of good things here. One is that adding calcium helps with soil permeability and crusting. So moisture can penetrate deeper and easier. I can say I have noticed much less crusting of the soil. In fact, virtually none. Even less since applying sulphur.

Another good thing is that calcium can be applied in the form of old sheetrock (gypsum board). That's because it is made from calcium sulfate. From what I've read, because it contains sulphur, it won't affect the soil pH, either. Any paint would have to be removed, of course. In my case, I would also keep applying sulphur. If sheetrock is pH neutral, I would still need to be doing something about my alkaline soil.

Still, what I've done so far is showing good results. Tonight, applied more calcium and then some regular fertilizer, separately. Growth across the garden has accelerated. Everything looks greener. Leaves which had spots are losing the spots. Daughter and I had some tomatoes from the garden this weekend and they were great! Small but wonderful flavor. Plants are getting larger and flowering more. See a few new tomatoes growing.

Have to keep checking after each type of fertilizer and figure out which helps production most. Don't need to add K just yet because my soil tests high for K, like most desert soil. (Though it can become depleted by successive planting of crops. Not there yet.)

i know the calcium helps tomatoes avoid blossom end rot and grow larger fruit. So I lay it on them well. The sulphur has helped them to an extreme. I've read calcium helps pumpkins grow larger, as well.

Once I get a truck, I'll keep and eye out for housing remodeling jobs to pick up old sheetrock. Also on free lists for an old metal drum and a manual push mower. Build a leaf shredder/sheetrock grinder.

The vinegar still has a place in the garden, so haven't tossed it. It's still gaining acidity. The acidity of the vinegar depletes rapidly, over a few weeks in the soil. However, in that time, it will help break down calcium. Once that's done, it has served it's purpose. Can apply it in winter and it will be gone by spring. That would mean I just need less sulphur.

Gotta get to bed.