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Tomato Blossom End Rot: calcium ends it!
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Disappointing, perplexing, and discouraging are some words to describe what you feel when you see that your prized tomato has grown a large brown spot near the bottom. When you inspect a few more of your tomatoes on the vine you notice that all the others are having the same problem. You discover they are rotten, inedible, and not worth a darn. “What happened?, you may wonder.” This is a disease known as Blossom End Rot and it can be prevented very easily.
Blossom End Rot can ruin your entire crop of luscious tomatoes if you allow it too. This disease happens when water or calcium is not made available to the plant in sufficient quantities. According to Cornell University, plants planted too close may stress from not enough water. Tomatoes love water. They have extensive root systems and can drink a gallon of water a day when setting fruit. Cornell University also mentions that soluble salts are also a factor contributing to BER. The higher the soluble salts, the less calcium is available to your plants. That means, if you are using Miracle Grow or Peter’s Plant Food on your tomatoes, you may be prone to getting this disease.
The way to prevent BER is to purchase a product called Yield Booster made by Fertilome. It is created to “Stop Blossom End Rot” as listed on the bottle. You can purchase this at any local garden supply store or ACE Hardware store. It is calcium chloride. Mix according to directions on the bottle and spray your tomato plants with it, once a week, for three successive weeks. I use this when my plants start to set fruit. It works! No more tomato losses. There is nothing worse than to have to toss your gorgeous, large, red and juicy tomatoes into the compost pile because they have rot.
Blossom End Rot is easy to prevent. When growing tomatoes, always have a hand held pressure sprayer on hand and a bottle of Yield Booster [Stop Blossom End Rot] in the cupboard, and spray according to directions. It will put an end to pulling your hair out, cursing, defeat, and the embarrassment of growing rotten tomatoes. You can win this challenge, for sure!
For More info: Tomato Hornworm
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