blossom end rot, what now ?

[Carol Dee]

The tomato plants are big and healthy looking but we have noticed many of the fruit have blossom end rot. Can we stop it BEFORE all the tomatoes have it? We had an early spring, plenty wet, now it is VERY dry and we had a prolonged HOT spell, Some of which probably added to the problem. We have removed some of the bad ones and are watering until we start getting rain again. Do any commercial products for BER actually work? Any suggestions would be appreciated. THANKS

 

[The Mama Chicken]

I put a big handful of ground oyster shells around each plant. I hear it's better to put it in the hole when you transplant, but it did help after the fact.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

I don't know of any commercial remedies for BER. I do know that certain varieties of tomatoes are more prone to have the problem. I only plant heirlooms from seeds and I have noticed that Black Krim has more of this problem than any. I always put ground up egg shells in the hole when replanting my tomatoes outdoors. I also (sometimes) char the egg shells to allow quick release of the calcium. It helps considerably but it's not a cure-all by any means. All of my toms with BER end up in the compost piles.

 

[baymule]

I don't know if it helps or not, but I have Blossom End Rot OCD. Long ago I started rubbing the blossom off the tiny green pearl of a tomato. I also lime and toss egg shells in the garden. When I transplant the tomato plants, a heaping tablespoon of epsom salts goes in the hole first. I don't know if one is more important than the other or if it takes all three. But my tomatoes respond well to a bottom massage.

 

[Carol Dee]

I don't know if it helps or not, but I have Blossom End Rot OCD. Long ago I started rubbing the blossom off the tiny green pearl of a tomato. I also lime and toss egg shells in the garden. When I transplant the tomato plants, a heaping tablespoon of epsom salts goes in the hole first. I don't know if one is more important than the other or if it takes all three. But my tomatoes respond well to a bottom massage.

I will keep that in mind.

Thanks everyone. I do have a lots off eggshells and epsom salts. Too late for the massage! :/

 

[Ridgerunner]

Blossom End Rot is caused by calcium not getting to the fruit. It might be that you don't have enough calcium in your soil, maybe you have enough but it is not in the form they need. Too much or too little moisture either one can cause it. Either there is not enough moisture to transport the calcium or there is so much it is diluted. The reason Epsom Salts sometimes helps is that the magnesium somehow helps the calcium get transported. Something to do with chemistry. I did not do well with chenmistry.

And Smiles is dead on. Some varieties are more susceptible than outers. Any of the paste tomatoes are real bad for BER for me.

I really don't know exactly what your problem is. Mulching and keeping the soil damp but not soaked might do the trick. Crushed and maybe burned egg shell or oyster shell may help. I think the burning reduces it to elemental calcium.

I'm having a problem right now with BER in my Big Mama paste tomatoes. The rest seem fine. I think my problem with them comes from our lack of rain and our high heat. I struggle to keep the soil moist but not wet, even with heavy mulching and watering. I NEED rain!!!!

 

[Smiles Jr.]

I NEED rain!!!!

Amen.

 

[desertlady]

I just bought blossom end rot By Green Light, for my pumpkin, I really dont know if they works, but I am trying them out anyway !

 

[Carol Dee]

I just bought blossom end rot By Green Light, for my pumpkin, I really dont know if they works, but I am trying them out anyway !

Desetlady let us know if it works. For now I will try eggshell and epsom salts. And continue to pray for rain. (It has been overcast, cool and a distant rumbling all morning!) All fingers and toes crossed that this time we get some moisture. Many a rain has gone around this summer.

 

[vfem]

I make a mix of egg shells, epsom salts, bone meal & ground asprin to put in the holes with the tomatoes when I plant them. No blossom end rot this year, and my roma tomatoes are as huge as my hand!!!!