Calcium fertilisation of fruit is especially important during the period of intensive fruitlet and fruit growth. This is when the plant distributes available calcium between leaves and fruit. The problem is that leaves often take it up more easily, while fruit may remain insufficiently supplied.
Calcium supports the structure of cell walls, which directly affects fruit firmness, durability and resistance to physiological disorders. When the calcium level in fruit is too low, crop quality may deteriorate quickly — even if the plant itself looks healthy above ground.
Why do fruit compete with leaves for calcium?
Calcium transport in the plant is closely connected with water movement. The nutrient moves mainly through the xylem, together with the transpiration stream. Leaves transpire intensively, so they attract calcium more easily.
Fruit transpire much less. In practice, this means that during rapid growth they may have limited access to calcium, even when the nutrient is present in the soil or in the plant.
This is one of the reasons why soil fertilisation alone is not always enough, especially in orchards and crops where firmness, skin quality and storage life are important.
Calcium deficiency in fruit — what can it lead to?
Calcium deficiency is often not visible as typical leaf symptoms. Instead, it appears as fruit quality problems. Some of them develop before harvest, while others become visible only during storage.
Insufficient calcium supply in fruit may contribute to problems such as:
- bitter pit in apples,
- blossom-end rot in tomatoes,
- cracking of sweet cherries,
- reduced flesh firmness,
- higher susceptibility to damage,
- shorter storage life.
This is why calcium should be treated as a quality-related nutrient. It is not only about plant growth, but also about the final appearance, durability and market value of the crop.
When is calcium fertilisation of fruit especially important?
The most important period is from fruit setting to intensive fruit growth. During this time, cells divide and expand rapidly, and the demand for calcium increases.
Calcium fertilisation of fruit is worth considering especially when:
- fruit are growing quickly,
- the orchard or plantation has a history of fruit quality problems,
- bitter pit, cracking or blossom-end rot appeared in previous seasons,
- weather conditions limit nutrient uptake,
- fruit are intended for longer storage,
- the aim is better firmness and durability of the marketable crop.
In such situations, regularity matters. Calcium is not a nutrient that can be effectively “caught up” with one treatment just before harvest.
Why does foliar application make sense?
Foliar application allows calcium to be supplied directly to the above-ground parts of the plant, bypassing some of the limitations connected with soil uptake and root transport. This is especially important when fruit compete with leaves for the available nutrient.
Foliar calcium fertilisation can support:
- better fruit firmness,
- stronger tissue structure,
- reduced cracking,
- lower risk of selected physiological disorders,
- better post-harvest quality,
- longer storage potential.
The best results come from a well-planned treatment programme, adjusted to the crop, fruit development stage and weather conditions.
VitaFer Ca as support for fruit quality
In a calcium fertilisation programme, it is worth considering VitaFer Ca — a foliar fertiliser designed to supplement calcium during periods when fruit grow intensively and require quality support.
VitaFer Ca can be used during critical stages of fruit development: from fruit setting to the growth period. It is especially useful where the aim is to improve firmness, reduce physiological problems and maintain good storage quality.
Regular calcium application at the right timing can be an important part of building the market quality of the crop.
Fruit quality starts at the cellular level
Firmness, storage life and resistance to damage are not built only in storage. They develop earlier — during fruit growth. That is why calcium fertilisation of fruit should be planned when the plant is actively building tissue structure.
If bitter pit, cracking, blossom-end rot or poor fruit storage quality have appeared in your orchard or plantation, it is worth reviewing the calcium programme for the whole season.
Check VitaFer Ca and choose calcium fertilisation suited to the needs of your crop.
