Sick Tomatoes

This is the first time that I have seen this. Can someone please tell me what causes it?

Blossom end rot. There is lots of info in the tomato forum and elsewhere on line. Some varieties are more predisposed. Wet conditions encourage it.

Agreed with Mary--yes, extreme shifts between too wet / too dry is a HUGE contributor

Concur. But anytime the plant is under stress for any reason, it can occur.

And since nobody else said it, blossom end rot does not mean that the plant is diseased. Here in Oregon it generally shows up early in the season when the weather is still cool, damp and unstable. First fruits might be exhibit BER but the bulk of the harvest is fine. Do not remove the plant. Discard the affected fruit and have patience. The issue generally resolves itself and future fruits will be fine.

Hi Ina33 ,do some research on egg shell use in the garden for tomatoes .It suppose to be a good source of calcium for them.I also used fish emulsion on my plants last year and I had the best crop j

Blossum end rot is a common occurance in Louisina, where I live. I keep a bottle of Blossum End Rot powder and just mix according to label direction and mist all the plants. I repeat application in one week and it stops it in its tracks. The little bottle of powder will last for years.

Hi Jim 41, first time I am hearing about Blossum End Rot powder . Will look for it in the garden store and see the results I get.This site is very informative. Thank you Jim

Calcium deficiency can contribute, too.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/ENVIRON/blossomendrot.html

Blossom End Rot is definitely a calcium problem. However, from what I've read over the years, you can have sufficient calcium in the soil and the tomato plant can't access it. This is caused by uneven watering. I do only raised beds and when I had only a few I watered with a hose. I had BER every year. As I extended the number of beds, this was to time consuming. I tried sprinklers, a home made slow watering system and finally went to the small soaker hoses. For the past four years using the soaker hoses, watering slowly for two to four hours, I haven't had any BER.

Read mike McGrath's book on tomatoes and read his a-z on the website

http://whyy.org/cms/youbetyourgarden/

Click a-z

Click T for tomatoes
Here is one of many
http://www.gardensalive.com/product/what-eggshells-can-and-cant-do-for-your-tomatoes

So far I haven't have this issue yet while waiting for my tomatoes to ripe. I bought a bag of Espoma's Gypsum and mix it into the soil around my tomato roots when transplanting them.

This message was edited Feb 17, 2015 12:45 AM

If any of you guys are egg eaters, egg shells are good around tomatoes. Help with the calcium problem.

I use white rock dirt, tomatoes could grow in straight caliche and be healthy. Eggshells are good. Can also use an old blender to powder the eggshells for use.

I have been collecting my eggshells and have already process them in the blender and have 2 pickle bottles filled. Usually I do these things in the winter so I am ready for spring to add them to my garden.

Places that sell chicken feed also have "grit" made from sea shells. Of course that is a lot coarser than eggshells, but they should last for years as a "slow-release" calcium source and mild liming agent.