Blossom end rot

[angie a]

Blossom end rot seems to be a real problem in my area (Berks) at the moment, both in the greenhouse & outside. I water on a regular basis & feed Tomorite weekly. My greenhouse toms only have a very small crop this year. Is this widespread across the country?

[SueA]

Hi Angie, I don't think blossom end rot is something that has good or bad years as it's not a virus or disease or anything but I can see it might be a problem for lots of people this year as it occurs usually due to irregular watering & outdoor crops especially will have had warm weather followed by total downpours which isn't exactly regular & even watering is it.I think blight is a bigger problem this year though as it's been warm & wet & lots of people seem to have it on potatoes & toms.

[momol]

I agreed with what Sue have had said, it is more about water imbalance ( due to rain falls ).
In some cases due to too much high nitrogen fertilizer applications ( it is said to be better to use chicken manure than cow manure, because chicken manure are slow release fertilizer). When tomatoes get too much Nitrogen, they grow very fast and the Calcium intake can't cope that speed and it create blossom end rot. Or it could also due to calcium depletions at the growing site, it is advice to lime the soil according to it's soil testing result.

Momol

[Snadger]

Just out of interest, only my Ponderoso Pink and Marmande (both beafsteak varieties) are affected, the rest are ok.

Easy to cut off and doesn't affect the flavour its not really a problem for me. If you look at some of the beafsteak varieties you buy in the shops abroad they are often affected, so if they're good enough over there, they're good enough for me!

[SueA]

I think it's quite common in Beefsteak types Snadger, I got it the last time I tried to grow them & I think it was Alice & some other on the vine who had some problems with this last year too.As you say if you cut the 'bad' end of they still taste just as good!