Even gardeners with the greenest thumbs need a little help sometimes. Calcium nitrate fertilizer is often a go-to choice of fertilizers to produce larger vegetables, strong plants, and faster growth. This soil or foliar additive can give your plants a boost and make them more productive while preventing some of the most common plant problems like blossom-end rot and rust spot. In some ways, calcium nitrate is a best-kept garden secret.
If you’ve never used calcium nitrate fertilizer and want to learn more, this article will walk you through what calcium nitrate fertilizer is, if it is right for your plants, and how to use it.
Calcium nitrate fertilizer is a water-soluble chemical solution that provides plants with supplemental calcium and nitrogen. These elements are the physiological building blocks for strong, disease-resistant plants.
Calcium nitrate doesn’t occur in nature — it’s made by mixing inorganic calcium and nitrogen. This is done by combining limestone and nitric acid, followed by ammonia. Calcium nitrate fertilizers are most often used by farmers for better crop production. However, this doesn’t mean the home gardener can’t or shouldn’t use calcium nitrate for their fruits, vegetables, and house plants.