More Tomato problems - Blossom End Rot
Latest post from MARKSVEGPLOT – a blog about food and gardening in England”
“Why did you pick those tomatoes when they are not yet ripe?” you’ll say.
This is why:
They have Blossom End Rot. It looks like a ghastly disease, doesn’t it? It’s not a disease at all though, it’s the effect of calcium deficiency in the fruit. This can often occur when the medium in which the plants are growing becomes too dry. In these conditions the plant finds it difficult to supply calcium to the fruits. If you want the full facts, the Royal Horticultural Society’s website is a good place to begin. Here’s a link.
Most of my tomato plants are growing in so-called “self-watering” containers, with reservoirs in their bases, and in any case I think I am more careful than most people about watering, so I’m surprised that my plants are affected. Maybe the damage was done 10 days ago when we had that really hot spell?
Once a tomato (fruit) is affected by BER there is nothing you can do to save it; all you can do is reduce the risk of further damage by making really sure that your plants always have enough moisture, even if this involves watering twice a day. I’m hoping that in my case the damage will be limited to just a few fruit. So far I have removed a couple of fruit from each of 3 of my 20 plants.
My self-watering pots have an arrangement whereby if the reservoir gets full the water drains out via an overflow. In order to stop this water going all over the place the pots are equipped with saucers, but significantly the excess water has no means of being re-absorbed and just sits in the saucers. Up till now I have been using the saucers, but I have decided to dispense with them, at least temporarily. What I will do is water the pots until I see water coming out through the overflow, at which point I will know that the reservoir is full. I will do this every couple of days.
My home-made pot-saucer arrangement is actually better. The base of the pot sits in a deep saucer (aka seed-tray without drainage holes) and therefore can re-absorb any excess water via capillary action.
Right, that’s BER sorted (I hope). What can go wrong next??? Don’t you DARE mention blight!
To read more articles like this, on Gardening and Gastronomy, please visit * http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/ *
Source: http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/2015/07/more-tomato-problems-blossom-end-rot.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).