Is this blossom end rot?

[Green Gerkin]

Evenin all - help needed please!
I've just noticed the bottoms of my top truss of moneymaker toms are going funny!! 😞 Pic below. I've looked in my veg expert book and BER is the nearest looking problem.
They are growing in a grow bag but I water every day plus feed twice a week.
Do I cut them off and throw away?
Is there anything I can do to stop it happening to the rest?



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[Bigmallly]

Looks like BER GG, it's usually caused by erratic watering..............if that's the case, I should have it on all my toms but fortunately I don't so I don't know what causes it but I would remove the infected fruits.

[Penellype]

Yes, blossom end rot. Aubergines and peppers can get it as well as tomatoes. This is caused by calcium deficiency, but is often seen when watering is erratic or insufficient as the calcium requires a good flow of water to take it up to the fruit.

The affected fruit won't recover, so you can either leave them to go red and cut off the damaged bits, or throw them away and let the plant make more.

To stop it happening to the rest of them, water regularly and make sure the compost is moist (don't just flood the plants then let them dry out). You can also help by feeding an ordinary tomato feed, but don't be tempted to apply a foliar feed containing calcium, as tomatoes don't take this up very well through the leaves, but they will take up the nitrogen and produce lots of lush leaves, but not so much fruit.

[brownfingers]

I've grown 4 Roma this year, 2 inside and 2 outside. Both gh plants are ok, no sign of BER. One of the outdoor is the same. The other has BER on 75% of the fruit (still small and green). I find this difficult to understand as all four plants are in the same potting mix, and get the same amount of water and feed each day. It has to be something more than just erratic watering. BTW, I always add powdered eggshell to the compost to try to give plenty of calcium to go at. My shirlies, moneymakers, tigrellas, alicante, gardeners delight, and a couple of mystery beef toms which were sold as ailsa craigs have no cases of BER. All get exactly the same water and feed every day.

[Penellype]

If its only on one plant then that implies that the particular plant is more susceptible - maybe it has some unseen problem with calcium uptake.

[Green Gerkin]

Thanks Penellype, it prob is down to my dodgy watering, I will try to be more consistent. I have removed the affected fruit to let others grow.
I agree BF, it's strange only one plant is affected when all my toms are watered/feed the same.


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[Potstubsdustbins]

Next year scrap the grow bags and grow in containers the watering regime is much easier.

[Bill HH]

Add a couple of "Tums" indigestion tablets to your watering can, They are calcium based and apparently will cure BER.

[Uplandlady]

I have same problem. Very disheartening after I thought I'd cared for my tomatoes really well! Three out four plants were affected, all watered the same etc. in pots and watered daily. GH not in full sun all day and so most plants have done ok except the three tomatoe plants. Plenty of good size tomatoes, nice green, strong plants then the black bottoms. Almost overnight! :

[Potstubsdustbins]

then the black bottoms. Almost overnight! :

Cue for a song me thinks.

[BigV]

I have had a plague of BER.I have( without boasting) been growing toms for more years than I care to remember.Yes it is a lack of calcium but temperature and weather play a big part.If your compost is good and ditto your watering it maybe the high temps have been too much.I have moved half my GH toms outside and it has helped a little.Still very depressing though to have to throw away half of your crop!


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