Rock phosphorus, or dolomitic lime?

[Proud Marine Dad]

This 2014 growing season I had some calcium deficiency soil issues that I successfully treated with calmag.  In 2015, I want to be prepared for this so I don't have to resort to hand watering all my plants with calmag.  Should I amend my soil with rock phosphorus, or dolomitic lime?  Why?

I would use oyster shell flour or crab meal. Crab meal gives you the benefit of chitin which can be a good soil pest amendment.

Maybe.. Your soil Might have enough if the PH is wrong it will Lock it out of your plants,  if your soil doesn't have enough and PH is good adding ether one will help.  Adding to much could mess up your PH, so don't think More is better but I would add a little.   

If he is using a good living soil the pH is irrelevant.

 

[Roguejim]

Hmm, didn't really intend to discourage you, just to explain my reasoning. For the record, I use rock phosphate and rock dusts, etc, for long term nutrients, and have used Ca-Mg in a pinch, waiting for nutrients to break down. With fresh OM and mulch, and the usual mild PNW winter, I would imagine the worm will go nuts, and there will be abundance of Ca available next year, otherwise it may be another issue.

The worms went nuts this season after I amended the beds with cow manureafter the 2013 season. Obviously, I switched to composted chicken manure for next season. I believe chicken manure contains 100lbs calcium per ton. Maybe amending a second time near plant out with composted chicken manure again will suffice. I will also reapply the alfalfa meal along with the manure. I think I should apply the rock phosphate at the end of the 2015 season in anticipation for the 2016 season. Yeah, I think ahead.