Tomato Blight :-(

[bjblackmore]

Hi,

I have quite a large crop of tomatoes this year, 2 varieties grown from seed. I was really pleased with the way they'd turned out, and thought I'd done everything right to keep blight away - not letting rain water get onto the plants, keeping them in a greenhouse etc.

However, last week I noticed some of the tomatoes had flat, brown bottoms, so I removed them as quickly as possible. Then, today I got quite excited as I had my first ripe tomato, however, up on removing it, I saw it too had a flat brown bottom :-(

Is this blight? Is the whole crop lost? Is there anything I can do to save the rest? What did I do wrong?

Any advise would be much appreciated!

Ben

EDIT: I've had a look around, and this could also be blossom-end rot - a calcium deficiency!?

[shirlthegirl43]

That is blossom end rot if I am not mistaken. Apparently it is a frequent problem where growing bags are used, there is no treatment but prevention is not never let the soil or compost dry out, especially when the fruit is swelling. Info from Dr Hessayon. Hope this helps avoid the problem for the rest of the crop.

[bjblackmore]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I've just read some info on things to add to the soil to stop this happening - lime (the stone not fruit) being the main source of calcium, however, another source is egg shells. Has anyone used egg shells? We use quite a lot, so would be a cheap way to solve the problem, and another item to recycle!

Ben

[bazzaboy]

I do sympathise, Ben, that's such a shame... I always grow toms in growbags but fortunately have never suffered that outcome... Will be adding lime in future too, now!

Eggshells.. They would certainly do the calcium job if you can think of a way of introducing them. I currently use them in 3 ways but always dry. During the winter when the stove is alight I leave them on a tray in the bottom oven where they go very dry and brittle. I then save until Spring, crush lightly and scatter around crops (partic young courgettes) as a slug deterrent as they understandably don't take too kindly to trying to get through a maze of sharp splinters..... Seems to work and must also be liming the patch to keep it sweet. For the same reason I also use crushed eggshell in waste put into the wormeries (sometimes supplemented with garden lime as don't have enough eggshells...) - that stops any fermenting waste getting too acidic. Could be the same principle in any compost heap....but always dry/baked or could encourage rats. And the third use is a tip gleaned from this site, to put a pinch of crushed eggshell into any planting of brassicas - which makes perfect sense as they like it limey... Again I supplement with garden lime for brassicas, just don't apply at the same time as manure as they don't mix together any too kindly.... But yes, eggshells def worth re-cycling. bb.

[Nicos]

Superb tips bb!

[bjblackmore]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply!

Great tips BB, I'll remember in the future.

I hadn't considered adding them to our compost heap because of the possibility of encouraging rats, but I guess it shouldn't be a problem after washing & baking them! Do they need to be baked first? I was just going to wash off any 'egg juice' under the tap (cold, so as not to cook it) then boil some water in a bowl and sit the egg shells in it for a few minutes, to kill any bacteria. I've got an electric coffee grinder that I can put the egg shells in, and grind up, then add them to the soil.

I've also got some old calcium suppliments that have probably expired, I could grind these up too and add them!

[womble]

It might be a lack of calcium that causes BER, but it's a lack of water that doesn't let the plants draw up that calcium.
Water is your problem, almost without a doubt, not what's in your soil.

[solway cropper]

It's interesting that the first thought that pops into many people's heads when they have any problem with toms or tatties is BLIGHT when, in reality, that's usually the least likely answer. Thank goodness we have forums like this where people can benefit from the experience and knowledge of seasoned growers.

[SarzWix]

I absolutely agree with Womble. It's no good introducing calcium to the soil without the constant moisture for the plants to pull the calcium into the roots and thus into the plants. Water in fact contains calcium in trace elements anyway. In growbags, you need to rig up some kind of slow release system for getting water into the soil (even if it's just inverted plastic bottles with the bottom cut off and a hole in the lid) because from a watering in the morning they will be dry before teatime, especially if they're supporting 3 plants.

Sort out the moisture and you will solve the blossom end rot, with no recourse to egg-shells...

[gojiberry]

I've had some BER this year and greenback both for the first time. I think it is probably from to much feeding as this year I have feed a half strength feed at every watering. Will go back to a feed once a week next year. I have also had blight this year and all the lottie toms have gone down with it, still got about 20lb of green and red toms though. The greenhouse toms just inside the door showed signs of blight so they were cut back and the rest of the greenhouse is looking really good, fingers crossed.

Ian