Fall/Winter Harvest, Start In A Pot, Sow Outdoors, July Tips, Harvest/Preserve:
Managing Blossom Rot
Preventing Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Cucumber, & Melons
A water-soaked spot at the blossom end of tomato fruits is the classic symptom of blossom-end rot.
This relatively common garden problem is not a disease, but rather a physiological disorder caused by a calcium imbalance within the plant. It can occur in pepper, squash, cucumber, and melon fruits as well as tomatoes.
Blossom-end rot is most common when the growing season starts out wet and then becomes dry when fruit is setting. Damage first appears when fruits are approximately half their full size.
The water-soaked areas enlarge and turn dark brown and leathery. These areas will eventually begin to rot, so the fruit should be picked and discarded.
Several factors can limit a plant’s ability to absorb enough calcium for proper development. These include fluctuations in soil moisture (too wet or too dry), an excess of nitrogen in the soil, root damage due to cultivation, soil pH that’s either too high or too low, cold soil and soil high in salts.
Prevention and Control
Maintain consistent levels of moisture in the soil throughout the growing season. When the weather is dry, water thoroughly once or twice each week to moisten the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches.
Prevent calcium deficiency with eggshells! Prep them in the oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes to sterilize, place in blender and powder it up! Add to plants before or after planting.
In cold climates, allow soil to warm before planting; cold soils limit nutrient uptake. Maintain soil pH at or near 6.5. Use watering cones (Aqua Cones) to get water down into the root zone.
Apply mulch to minimize evaporation and help maintain consistent soil moisture.
Keep garden records: You may discover that some crop varieties are more susceptible to blossom-end rot than others.
