Decepticon
Well-Known Member
ive found a few tomatoes with it and was wondering what do you use to prevent it?
Blossom-end Rot
- Thread starter Decepticon
- Start date
A calcium ammendment, dolomite lime etc. Make sure you are watering regularly as erratic watering can lead to BER. Calcium is taken up slower than most elements and its immobile in the plant, so the watering schedule is important to keep a steady supply going.
If the plants have BER, you can fix it by spraying them 2-3 times a week with a calcium nitrate solution (4 level tablespoons per gallon of water). You`ll still need the Ca ammendment / regular irrigation to stop it happening again.
If the plants have BER, you can fix it by spraying them 2-3 times a week with a calcium nitrate solution (4 level tablespoons per gallon of water). You`ll still need the Ca ammendment / regular irrigation to stop it happening again.
dannyboy602
Well-Known Member
Didnt know it was related to a calcium def. hmmm. Ya learn something new every day..here's what I found which is similar to Atomizer's post
Cause
Blossom-end rot is not caused by a parasitic organism but is a physiologic disorder associated with a low concentration of calcium in the fruit. Calcium is required in relatively large concentrations for normal cell growth. When a rapidly growing fruit is deprived of necessary calcium, the tissues break down, leaving the characteristic dry, sunken lesion at the blossom end. Blossom-end rot is induced when demand for calcium exceeds supply. This may result from low calcium levels or high amounts of competitive cations in the soil, drought stress, or excessive soil moisture fluctuations which reduce uptake and movement of calcium into the plant, or rapid, vegetative growth due to excessive nitrogen fertilization.
Management
1. Maintain the soil pH around 6.5. Liming will supply calcium and will increase the ratio of calcium ions to other competi- tive ions in the soil.
2. Use nitrate nitrogen as the fertilizer nitrogen source. Ammo- niacal nitrogen may increase blossom-end rot as excess ammonium ions reduce calcium uptake. Avoid over-fertili- zation as side dressings during early fruiting, especially with ammoniacal forms of nitrogen.
3. Avoid drought stress and wide fluctuations in soil moisture by using mulches and/or irrigation. Plants generally need about one inch of moisture per week from rain or irrigation for proper growth and development.
4. Foliar applications of calcium, which are often advocated, are of little value because of poor absorption and movement to fruit where it is needed.
Cause
Blossom-end rot is not caused by a parasitic organism but is a physiologic disorder associated with a low concentration of calcium in the fruit. Calcium is required in relatively large concentrations for normal cell growth. When a rapidly growing fruit is deprived of necessary calcium, the tissues break down, leaving the characteristic dry, sunken lesion at the blossom end. Blossom-end rot is induced when demand for calcium exceeds supply. This may result from low calcium levels or high amounts of competitive cations in the soil, drought stress, or excessive soil moisture fluctuations which reduce uptake and movement of calcium into the plant, or rapid, vegetative growth due to excessive nitrogen fertilization.
Management
1. Maintain the soil pH around 6.5. Liming will supply calcium and will increase the ratio of calcium ions to other competi- tive ions in the soil.
2. Use nitrate nitrogen as the fertilizer nitrogen source. Ammo- niacal nitrogen may increase blossom-end rot as excess ammonium ions reduce calcium uptake. Avoid over-fertili- zation as side dressings during early fruiting, especially with ammoniacal forms of nitrogen.
3. Avoid drought stress and wide fluctuations in soil moisture by using mulches and/or irrigation. Plants generally need about one inch of moisture per week from rain or irrigation for proper growth and development.
4. Foliar applications of calcium, which are often advocated, are of little value because of poor absorption and movement to fruit where it is needed.
BBbubblegum
Well-Known Member
Calcium deficiency or consistently wrong soil and water paramaters