"Snack" is this O.K. to Use

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on February 28, 2015.

This is the closest thing I could get in CR:

Nitrogen                 21%
Magnesium             7.5%
Calcium                  11%
Inert ingredients     60.5% 

Will this do the trick?

Hope so, Louise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on February 28, 2015.

Hard to say, the calcium nitrate in the snack that I have recommended is 15.5-0-0-19.

I hope you don't mind a little friendly advice, but if I was having all the constant trouble you're having trying to grow a the New York style garden I would rethink the garden and grow what the "natives" in Costa Rica grow, what ever that is. It would certainly be fresh and good for you

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on February 28, 2015.

Gardendoc - first off would that stuff I bought just not help or would it harm that I shouldn't use it?

Re friendly advice.  That sounds easy.  First off, in condo - no grass.  Secondly, no farmers per se around and all the garden centers speak only Spanish, I don't.  PLUS, the amount of money I've spent so far (starting with getting them here from NY)  and time I've spent on this forum (probably making a pest of myself at this point), I do have cucumbers and tomatoes and pepper plants are doing fine.  I have a fungus on tomatoes and sprayed for first time the other day.  Don't know if I should see improvement so fast.  I cut off bottom heavily infested leaves at bottom of stem.

Last time I tried the EB about 4 years ago I don't remember exact details.  Do remember plants (how big?), got tomatoes, not that many all with BER.  As far as quantity different kinds I'm sure produce different amounts.  In NY I had cherry tomatoes and something else, don't remember what, no fungus just everything perfect.

As I said, the amount of money (mainly) that I put into these things already - just bought 5' stakes to go with the trellis netting that got delivered the other day, AND I started green beans the other day in a pot and they are already 2" tall.  Hesitant to put another $40 into more potting mix (if that even is what it is) till I see if I can eat anything from these.

Gardendoc, truthfully, at this point would you ditch them?Huh?  Please answer this question.  Just want to know if I'm entirely nuts.....

Thanks so much, Louise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on February 28, 2015.

I wouldn't ditch the EBs, I would just grow something else

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, EEPPS. This user is located in Zone 9, Brandon, FL. This was originally posted on March 1, 2015.

Does this product have a name, is it a liquid or solid, do you know the form the nitrogen is in? Post the data and I will research it, have two friends in the chemical industry.

If this is you first time trying tomatoes in Costa Rica stay away from them, for now, and give yourself time to research locally available products that might help.
In most countries there is an enclave of English speaking patriots that tend to adapt and may be of great help to you

ED

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located in Zone 7A---Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on March 1, 2015.

Kitkat,
I agree with GD and Epps.  I googled Gardening in Costa Rica and found a Expat Blog talking about seeds, growing etc....it speaks to growing local but also bringing in the standard American veggies and how they have tried to manage.  No one mentions the EB method though and those particular product challenges.

You have probably already done this, but just in case, I thought I would mention it.  I know you are trying to replicate the success from before, it may take more time to get things going from the sounds of the challenges--no resources, tons of rain, etc...
Good luck,
Judi

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on March 1, 2015.

Another bit of advice: 

Learn some Spanish... if you can learn the words for the veggies you want and the supplies you need, maybe communicating with the locals will be easier. Maybe even invest in one of those translation devices to carry around...

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on March 2, 2015.

Oh my gosh - thanks for all the responses.

EEPPS - they are granular.  Just says "210 grams Nitrogen".  I bought the tomato seeds here, so figure they would be compatible with CR.  An unknown brand to me.  All their seeds have the same brand.  Thanks for the research help.

 baileyj  - I've googled lots of things, but don't remember actually gardening in CR.  Will do that.  I can't get around that much and you'd be surprised how what I thought would be a gardening place just sells flowers and know nothing about growing them...Again, language issue.

 mjb8743 - Learn Spanish - haha.  I tried.  Church had free classes.  Between Fibromyalgia and age, the ol' head ain't what she used to be.  My DIL is Tica and only speaks Spanish to my Grandchildren so they would learn, so it's not that I'm not around it.  My 3 1/2 yr old Grandson speaks English and Spanish fluently.  Next year or so, maybe I'll have him teach me. Smiley

On a good note, between my son, myself and 2 other people, got the tomato cages on and the trellis net on the cucumbers.  So going to order more cages, but having them shipped by boat (to save $100 shipping) so won't get them until April.  Hope the string beans can wait another month.

Thank you all for all your help with my last million questions.  I think my tomatoes need a little extra fertilizer so I'm going to pull back the shower cap and put more in.  Yes?  This is not the cloudy season, but haven't seen sun in about 3 days and windy which is not normal for this time of year.  I'm telling my veggies to hang in there.

Louise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on March 5, 2015.

If someone could advise me please.  The "snack" I mentioned in the first post - would it possibly just not help or would it harm the plants so that I shouldn't use it?

Thanks, Louise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on March 6, 2015.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on March 5, 2015.

If someone could advise me please.  The "snack" I mentioned in the first post - would it possibly just not help or would it harm the plants so that I shouldn't use it?

Thanks, Louise

Defer to gardendoc on this one. 

There does not to me seem to be anything harmful there, but you would not want to get the wrong 'dose,' and I have no idea at all what that would be,

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on March 6, 2015.

Attention Gardendoc (hope this is O.K. ) - The "snack" I mentioned in the first post - would it possibly just not help or would it harm the plants so that I shouldn't use it?  If it's O.K. to use, what "dosage"?  Everything definitely needs some help. 

Thanks, Louise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on March 7, 2015.

Look, most of the time I think fertilizer use is not that big a deal, but in the case of using the calcium nitrate snack it is really a targeted use of specific nutrients.

There are big differences between the calcium nitrate snack (15.5-0-0-19) and the not-snack calcium magnesium nitrate (21-0-0-11-7.5) you have.

There's about 30% more nitrogen and 50% less calcium in the cal-mag-nit, so how do you apply an equal amount of N and Ca as the 1 tsp/week cal nitrate?

If you equated the rate based on N you would use 3/4 tsp/week but be really deficient on calcium and risk BER. If you equated the rated based on calcium you would use 2 tsp/week and risk luxury vegetative growth from too much N to the detriment of fruit production. I certainly would not add magnesium every week.

So now you have my opinion, you need to decide whether to use the cal-mag-nit or not.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on March 7, 2015.

How about if I just get some calcium?  I THINK I can do that.  If you say yes, how much should I use?  If you say no, (well, regardless, I'm returning the stuff) I think I'll just add some more fertilizer under the shower cap?  Sound good?

Thanks, and you and Mrs. Gardendoc have a good "fruitful" weekend,
Louise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on March 7, 2015.

Without seeing what's available I just don't know. Since you're having so many problems getting the materials that are being recommended to you you're just going to have to make some decisions on your own.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, kitkat. This user is located in Escazu, Costa Rica. This was originally posted on March 7, 2015.

You're not looking to take a vacation to Costa Rica? Free room and board.  I enjoyed these EB so much in NY, here they are just a headache.  I'm getting lots of tomatoes, no BER (keeping fingers crossed, had it last time), but leaves don't look that happy.  Someplace, I think in one of your videos, you said as long as it's producing fruit, don't worry about the leaves?  Getting cucumbers, but not getting big yet, but I don't know their growing rate.

Gardendoc, thanks for all your help.  I really appreciate it.

Louise

Ooops, one more thing.  You're suggesting not to use just calcium?  There's different calcium??