We're in the middle of thunderstorm season and all that water plus getting my 'maters in the ground a little late means I'm bracing for blossom end rot as the first fruit sets. You've seen it: that ugly brown to black spot on the bottom of the tomato. I actually expect the first tomato or two to have some end rot, I don't know why, but it just happens each year and I pick those tomatoes off at the first spotty sign. That way the plant doesn't keep giving its energy to forming bad fruit and can move on to making me some pretty food.
What I don't want is every tomato coming off the vine to end up with blossom end rot {BER}. BER can affect eggplant, peppers, squash and melons, too, but my tomatoes seem to be the most effected. Now, one thing I've learned from playing with plants is that advice flows freely and readily from anyone and everyone that's ever kept a plant alive for more than a week. {Same goes for raising children, but that's a whole 'nother topic altogether.}
So if you ask around or use the Google, you'll see there are a billion ways to attack BER, and everyone swears their way is right. I've listed a few ways to keep it at bay, but what works for me may not work for you, and I'm okay with that. Just keep trying methods until you figure out what works.
First things first: when your plants are in the ground, fertilize responsibly. Don't overfeed with nitrogen heavy fertilizers. I feed by adding an inch of compost, which doesn't overload plants with nutrients. It's that sudden boost of nutrients that jolts the plant into growth but doesn't leave enough of the good stuff for the fruits, causing BER.
A preventative step is to monitor watering as the plant develops, making sure to really let the water seep deeply into the soil. Use a rain gauge to see exactly how much water your plants are getting, if you're using a soaker hose, drape the hose over a bowl to collect the water and measure it with a ruler. Tomatoes need about 1 1/2 inches of water a week. Use mulch to ensure the soil doesn't dry out and keep even moisture.
Once the rot sets in, some people swear grinding up eggshells and working the powder into the garden soil works. I tend to wait 'til the rot has already shown it's ugly face, so eggshells don't work quickly enough for me, the lazy gardener. I put my eggshells in the compost to add calcium to the soil before it ever makes it to the garden. Others use gypsum or lime (depending on soil pH), but you should use a soil test to see which one is appropriate. Calcium chloride can be sprayed directly on the plant (AKA foliar spray), but every site I've read says it's only for treating tomatoes and not for treating other plants susceptible to BER. If you need a quick fix, water down some old milk and pour that around the base of your plants, or sprinkle powdered milk around the base of the plants. Again, some say that doesn't work, but I swear it's worked for me, and I'm not messing with the tomato growing progress.
Even after years of experience, gardening can feel like a great big experiment. Remember, sometimes your plants are just leveling out their nutrient issues so the first fruits don't get what they need, but the second batch will. Yes, even if you don't do anything.
Funny how gardening goes: just like regular life, you gotta find what works for you.
Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.
