Fruiting vegetables such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Bell Peppers and Aubergine (Eggplant) along with many others are widely grown either as unprotected field crops or in protected structures. Whist most of their nutritional needs will be met by conventional fertiliser inputs, the limiting factor to farmer’s income is often the final quality of the fruit at maturation.

Often the only way to influence this quality is through foliar application. The Fusion range of NPK liquid feeds and the Orbit range of highly active foliar fertilisers help to balance nutrients within the plants during vegetative growth, fruit set and maturation. Certain nutrients have a particular influence. Magnesium is essential during flowering ensuring even pollination, fruit set and swelling.

Plant tissues do not absorb calcium evenly, and there are frequently parts of plants that are low in calcium despite there being adequate calcium in soil, and in the majority of the plant. Stress conditions can worsen this problem and late applications of Nitrogen further exacerbate this. In tomatoes, calcium imbalance can lead to Blossom End Rot.

Datum Ca uses proprietary chemistry, that allows plants to absorb and utilize calcium in parts of the plant that normally are difficult to access so thus making it an effective tool to reduce calcium related physiological disorders in a range of fruit and vegetable crops, and for improving shelf life and quality. Nutrical is a cost effective high concentration formulation.

Many fruiting vegetable remove large quantities of Potassium particularly during when the fruit is swelling. At this time the ratios between NPK are critical and high potassium fertilisers such as Orbit K and Orbit K Ultra or Fusion 4-4-12 should be used. A lack of potassium can lead to uneven ripeness, improved storage life and a reduction in disease.

During periods of environmental stress such as drought or heat stress biostimulant products such as Joust and Protaplex can help regulated cell water relationships and alleviate symptoms.