Bone meal good for tomato rote?

Answer 1

Yes, bone meal does provide several nutrients tomatoes need. However, it is not a complete fertilizer, as it lacks potassium (essential for fruit development and disease resistance), so it should be used in conjunction with other fertilizers that provide potassium (the 3rd number on fertilizer labels).

Bone meal provides quite a bit of calcium (around 20%) and phosphorus (around 10%). It also provides nitrogen, although some forms provide very little (1%), while others have quite a bit (6%). Exact composition depends on how well the bones are stripped of meat and marrow, which contain nitrogen.

Tomatoes need a bit more calcium than most plants, and deficiency is one common cause of blossom end rot. The potassium is essential for blooming and root growth. Nitrogen is essential for "green parts" growth, but large amounts will make big plants with no fruit.

Be aware bone meal does act as a mild liming agent, and will slightly raise soil pH, do not use it if your pH is already high due to high limestone native soils.

Bone meal is slow to release in soil and slow to move through soil. Because of this it is best applied before planting, worked into the soil. Sprinkling bone meal on top of soil may cause dogs to dig your soil up.