Putting a lot of time and work into your vegetable garden only to have pests or diseases destroy it is the worst feeling in the world. Well, I totally understand because the same thing happened to me with my squash and it got blossom end rot.
This issue inspired me to write this article in hopes of saving you from a similar fate. Before it destroys your whole vegetable crop, you should know how to spot and treat blossom end rot. Fortunately, once identified, blossom end rot is pretty easy to treat. So read on so you don’t suffer catastrophic losses in your garden!.
Blossom end rot is a common and frustrating problem that can plague tomato plants Those telltale sunken brown or black spots on the bottom of tomatoes aren’t appealing and can ruin an otherwise perfect fruit
While blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant, the good news is there are ways to treat and prevent it. With a few simple techniques, you can stop blossom end rot in its tracks and enjoy abundant, beautiful homegrown tomatoes.
What Causes Blossom End Rot?
Blossom end rot occurs when the tomato plant cannot take up enough calcium from the soil Calcium is needed to build strong cell walls and prevent the bottom of the fruit from breaking down
A calcium deficiency can happen for several reasons:
- Low calcium levels in soil
- Irregular watering leading to fluctuations in soil moisture
- Damage to roots from cultivation, transplant stress, etc.
- Excess nitrogen fertilizer competing with calcium uptake
- Extreme heat and drought stress
While adding calcium to the soil can help, it’s also important to address the underlying watering practices and soil conditions that can allow blossom end rot to take hold.
8 Tips to Cure and Prevent Blossom End Rot
Fortunately, blossom end rot can often be corrected in time to save your tomato crop. Here are 8 effective tips:
1. Add Calcium to the Soil
Before planting, mix 1-2 tablespoons of calcium carbonate or gypsum per square foot into the soil. This provides a readily available calcium source.
2. Water Tomatoes Regularly
Inconsistent watering causes blossom end rot. Aim to provide 1-2 inches of water per week from rain or irrigation.
3. Use a Mulch
Mulch tomatoes with 2-3 inches of bark, leaves, straw or compost. This conserves moisture and prevents drought stress.
4. Avoid Excess Nitrogen
Too much nitrogen fertilizer impedes calcium uptake. Use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 instead of high nitrogen formulas.
5. Check Soil pH
For optimum calcium availability, maintain a soil pH between 6.0-6.5. Add lime if pH is too low.
6. Foliar Spray with Calcium
Spray plants with calcium chloride or a commercial blossom end rot spray weekly. This provides supplemental calcium.
7. Use Calcium Drenches
Drench soil around plants with a diluted calcium solution twice a month. Liquid calcium is easily absorbed.
8. Improve Drainage
Amend soil with compost or peat moss to prevent waterlogging. Good drainage aids calcium uptake.
Prevent Blossom End Rot in the First Place
Now that you know what causes blossom end rot and how to treat it, here are some tips to avoid it from the start:
- Choose resistant tomato varieties like Celebrity, romas, and pastes
- Test soil and amend if calcium is deficient before planting
- Water tomatoes 1-2 inches per week, avoiding drastic fluctuations
- Use fabric row covers to protect plants from extreme heat
- Mulch plants to conserve moisture and prevent drought stress
- Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer
- Monitor soil pH and maintain slightly acidic levels around 6.0-6.5
When to Take Action Against BER
At the first sign of blossom end rot, take prompt action to mitigate damage and save the remaining fruit:
- Remove and discard fruits with rot
- Begin calcium soil drenches and foliar sprays
- Adjust watering practices to maintain consistent moisture
- Ensure plants receive afternoon shade if temperatures spike
While you may lose some fruit, you can still salvage the tomato crop with immediate treatment. And next season you’ll be prepared to prevent blossom end rot before it takes hold.
Enjoy Beautiful, Blemish-Free Tomatoes
Don’t let blossom end rot ruin those garden-fresh tomatoes. With preventative care and early treatment, you can successfully grow tomatoes free of unpleasant bruises on the bottom.
Pay close attention to calcium levels, soil moisture, and tomato variety selection. A little extra diligence goes a long way in coaxing flawless, delicious tomatoes from each plant.
What is Blossom End Rot?
A lot of fruit and vegetable plants get blossom end rot. It mostly affects the fruit of the plants. As the name suggests, blossom end rot looks like a brown spot on the fruit that starts to rot at the blossom end. (This is the terminal end opposite the stem. ) It will work it’s way up the fruit if left unchecked.
Blossom end rot affects many vegetables including squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and melons just to name a few. Fortunately, blossom end rot doesn’t spread from plant to plant like fungal diseases.
What Causes Blossom End Rot?
Bloom end rot is not caused by fungi or diseases spread by bugs or mites. Instead, it is caused by the plant not getting enough nutrients.
Calcium!
One of the most important nutrients for vegetable plants is calcium, which is needed to build strong cell walls in fruit. If there isn’t enough calcium in the fruit, the cells get weak and fall apart, which causes the fruit to rot.
It is clear that blossom end rot is caused by not enough calcium in the soil. However, it is less clear that too much nitrogen is also to blame.
If you use too much nitrogen fertilizer in your garden, it can make it hard for plants to acquire the calcium they need.
Another factor that can affect the uptake of calcium is uneven watering practices. If you let your plants get too dry or too wet, they may not be able to use calcium as well, even if it is readily available.
Identify and Treat Blossom-End Rot in Tomatoes | Avoid BER Myths
FAQ
How do you fix blossom end rot fast?
Can you save a plant with blossom end rot?
How do you add calcium to soil for blossom end rot?
How do you treat blossom end rot?
The best way to address blossom-end rot is through prevention. Proper soil preparation, consistent watering, and good air circulation are key. If you already see signs of blossom end rot, remove the affected fruit and address the calcium deficiency. Watering: Water your plants consistently, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
What are the ways to prevent bullous pemphgoid?
Proper wound care by following your doctor’s advice for daily care of blisters. Avoid prolonged sun exposure on any area of the skin to prevent bullous.
Is blossom end rot treatable and preventable?
While annoying, blossom end rot (BER) is treatable and preventable. Caught early, your odds of a successful tomato crop are still good. In this post, I’ll talk about blossom end rot causes, prevention and control; plus several photos to help you ID the problem and common mistakes to avoid.
How do you prevent tomato blossom end rot?
Use mycorrhizae to prevent tomato blossom end rot by sprinkling granular mycorrhizae in the planting hole (or directly on the root ball) at the time of transplanting. Be sure to apply it in direct contact with the roots and water it in after! Another option is to water tomato plants with water-soluble mycorrhizae after planting.
What is blossom end rot?
Blossom-end rot is a disorder in which the tissue of the blossom end (the “bottom”) of the fruit breaks down and rots, thus reducing the quality of the fruit and the overall yield from the plant. What Causes Blossom-End Rot? Thankfully, blossom-end rot isn’t caused by a disease or pest. Instead, it is the result of a lack of calcium in the plant.
Can gypsum treat blossom end rot?
Avoid Home Remedies: Some suggest using powdered milk to treat blossom end rot, but it’s better to use lime supplements like gypsum, calcium carbonate, or limestone, which offer more readily available calcium. Can I treat tomatoes that already have Blossom End Rot?