Blossom End Rot - tomatoes

[veggiechicken]

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=395

You may like to check your GH tomatoes/peppers/aubergines for dark patches of skin at the blossom end. I've just found a couple of tomatoes with BER and removed them.
Its easy to panic the first time you see BER so I wanted to forewarn you! Its NOT blight

Probably caused by erratic watering during this recent spell of extremely hot weather. I've been watering twice a day but it hasn't been enough

So check your toms, pick off and bin any with BER, keep an eye on the watering and DON'T PANIC

[Jay22]

Thanks VC!

[maverick451]

I remember the allotment diary guy on youtube recommend a few drops of dolomite lime solution in your watering can, he claimed he didnt get any BER after using this

I keep meaning to do that but havent got round to it.

[Thelma Sanders]

Natural Dolomitic lime provides the calcium the tomatoes need, to prevent BER as long as they are watered enough.
Soil usually provides enough calcium, but potting composts can often do with a little help.

[MarkPelican]

I've also found that certain varieties are more prone, in particular I lost the whole crop of Rio Grande one year and last year the first few of my Kibits Ukranian suffered (but the rest of the crop was OK).

[Thelma Sanders]

Which in a way, suggests that the soil needs the addition of minerals?
I've always found San Marzano plum toms are the worst, but grown in very dry, but mineral rich soil in Greece they never got BER, despite often being dry because of the extreme heat.
Does make me wonder about the need to add rock dust for the future wellbeing of the soil - just a thought.

[Snoop Puss]

I grow my toms outdoors in the ground. My larger toms used to suffer badly from BER till I started adding ash from our woodburning stove along with the muck at the start of the season. I added it for the P and K it contains, but apparently it is also a good source of calcium. I've not had a single tom go down with BER since. Onions and the squash family also seem to like it.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Thelma, I have added rock dust this year for just this reason. As you probably know I reuse my compost many times over, so its got to be short of minerals. Last year I had BER not to much but I am used to none, hence the rock dust this year, I will let you know how I get on.

[Chris11]

Interesting anecdotal reports of adding calcium making a difference. From what I've read in terms of plant biology, it's rarely a calcium deficency itself as is often assumed by enthusiastic amateur growers.

Also agree that some varieties are more prone to BER, especially plum types generally.

I could explain more, but this page has already done it better than I could :

Blossom End Rot - Garden Myths

[Thelma Sanders]

The article discusses soil and BER, perhaps multi purpose compost could do with the extra calcium from dolomitic lime, as suggested?
There is also advice online from respected sources suggesting the addition of calcium to soils that are low in it. Blossom-End Rot and Calcium Nutrition of Pepper and Tomato | Publications | UGA Extension
It seems that the jury is still out on this one!

Anecdotes aren't always right nor are they always wrong Ha Ha!

[Alison]

Get a bit of it on my toms some years but never heard of it for aubergines and peppers

[It never rains..it pours]

My experience in 2 years is it definatly helps when using compost. Last year didnt realise what blossom end was till too late but lime helped the late one or two truss
This year forgot to add to the compost , first /second truss fine, third truss it appeared so then remebered and added small amount of gysum/hydrated lime (gypsum ph neutral but slow so why hydrated too) mix to pot, saucer and sprayed leaves. Next two truss fine then saw again so repeated and mostly been fine since......touch wood.
Started eating first ones a couple of days ago and worth the hassle

[Potstubsdustbins]

I use MPC for my toms and have never thought to add lime in any form and I very really suffer from BER. Maybe I'm just lucky.

[Snadger]

Ailsa Craig, one of my favourite varieties can sometimes suffer badly. I still think that erratic watering is the main cause, hence the reason I grow direct in the soil which means sun doesn't get to the side of pots and dry them out.

[Snoop Puss]

Get a bit of it on my toms some years but never heard of it for aubergines and peppers

It definitely happens, especially on peppers here.