Blossom-end rot is a disorder of tomatoes and peppers. Losses can vary from a small area to more than half the fruit.
Symptoms The first symptom is a slight water-soaked area on or near the blossom end of the fruit. The affected area soon darkens and enlarges in a constantly widening circle until the fruit begins to ripen. The tissues are dark and shrunken and have a dry, leathery appearance. With peppers, the rot is tan in color and should not be confused with sunscald, which is white.
Cause Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the developing fruit. This may be due to a lack of calcium uptake from the soil or to extreme fluctuations in water supply.
Control After tomatoes are planted and fruit has started to grow, good results have been obtained by spraying the foliage and fruit with Ferti- lome Yield Booster Blossom-End Rot Spray. Make applications every 7 to 10 days. Application should be done while temperatures are cool in the morning.
Moisture supply plays a critical part in calcium uptake and distribution within the plant. Calcium dissolves in water and moves from the soil into the roots and up the stems into the leaves and fruits. This water and calcium solution replaces moisture as it transpires (evaporates) from the leaves and fruits. The fruits have a high demand for calcium, but the leaves receive more because they have a higher transpiration rate. Supplying water to plants after they come under drought stress only partially relieves the situation since most of the calcium moves into the leaves rather than the fruit. In order to avoid this condition, adequate levels of soil moisture must be maintained consistently during the growing season.
Since blossom-end rot is so closely related to extremes in the water supply, an important aid in control is to regulate moisture supply in the soil. If cultivation is necessary to control weeds, it should be shallow to avoid root pruning. Mulching, which serves to maintain an even supply of soil moisture, should be practiced. To reemphasize, either an inadequate or excess moisture stress favors blossom-end rot development. In general, plants need at least one inch of water per week.
Removing affected fruits when symptoms are first observed may be worthwhile for subsequent development of other fruit on the plant. This is particularly recommended for tomatoes.
The use of Ferti-lome Yield Booster Blossom-End Rot Spray will help stop damage caused by calcium induced Blossom-End Rot and can help your tomato plants produce larger, firmer fruit for bigger, more productive yields.
Visit the garden solutions center at Pinehurst Floral & Greenhouse for all your gardening needs.
