I was wondering if anyone knows how to prevent blossom end rot, a disease (?) that affects tomatoes as they ripen. I would appreciate any suggestions or tips. Thanks!

-- Sarah Hanchey (hanclisa@isu.edu), September 12, 2000

Answers

Heartbreaking isn't it? That happened to us last year along with blight from draught. This year it was blight from too much rain at one time. Work lime into the ground, someone else said powder milk or epsom salts. When you plant make sure you're not using too much lime, you can kill the plants, especially if you life in Southeastern Indiana. Trust me.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), September 12, 2000.

Basically, BER is a lack of calcium available in the plant. It may be a deficiency in the soil but it can also be caused when dry conditions don't allow the plant to take in enough calcium. Using the amendments is good if soil is deficient but mulching and adequate moisture are very important. Tomatoes need the equivalent of about 1" of rain a week. Good luck.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), September 12, 2000.

Blossom end rot is caused by insufficient calcium supply to the far end of the tomato from the providing stem (the blossom end). It can be caused by either not enough calcium in the soil, or soil and weather conditions which inhibit uptake, such as inadequate rainfall, or leached soil.

Both lime and powdered milk would probably help, the lime more than the milk, but the epsom salts are magnesium - good for flowering, but I'm not sure how helpful for B.E.R., unless it helps the uptake somehow. The best way to ensure crop health is to lay down calcium when planting; although lime is a little harsh, crushed clamshells or eggshell, or even generic Tums (check for calcium as main ingredient) does wonders when simply dropped into the planting holes. The clamshells are available cheaply at the feed store.

You also have to ensure adequate water supply so that the roots can take it up, and not get to much water, as this may encourage the tomato to swell faster than the calcium can follow up, or it may inhibit uptake through leaching or root damage. The very first set of tomatoes is often plagued with B.E.R., almost as if the tomato is stressed by the first "rush" and hasn't matured enough to have an efficient delivery system. Later sets will be fine if the conditions are good.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 12, 2000.

Last year, I had blossom end rot, so I was worried about it this year. I had some extra milk, and gave each plant about a pint twice. No sign of blossom end rot this year, and I have a bumper crop (if the weather will just hold out long enough to ripen them all fully).

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), September 13, 2000.

Too little calcium, too much water at 1 time, usually the latter. Save your egg shells, give them a ride in the blender, and add 1/4 cup in the soil when you transplant. That handles the calcium problem. Water - make sure you keep them well watered all year. If you get a few days of too much rain, they won't succomb. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), September 15, 2000.