Blossom End Rot of Tomatoblossom rot tomato plants There are several blights including blossom end rot of tomato, which prevent tomatoes from maturing successfully. Blights are caused by different means resulting in wilting, spotting, loss of leaves, rotting fruit, and root injury. Tomato early blight is one of concern to gardeners.
Blossom end rot of tomato could result in crop devastation if not brought under control. There is no need for panic, we have treatment and prevention plans to help bring in a successful harvest! Causes for Tomato End Rot It is never a welcome sight when reaching for that red juicy tomato goodness straight off the vine and find the bottom is rotten. Blossom end rot of tomato is not caused by a disease or pests but is a symptom of calcium deficiency in the fruit. Causes include fluctuating soil moisture or low levels of calcium in the maturing fruit. The disorder is generally more severe after extreme soil conditions of either being too wet or too dry. Temporary water stress during early fruit development can cause the blight. Another cause of blossom-end rot of tomato is over-fertilizing. Excessive growth prevents calcium from accumulating in the vegetable. Root Knot Root knot is a blight caused by microscopic worms called nematodes. The creatures hatch in the soil and feed on the roots. Fruit production may be reduced as much as 80 percent! Severely infected plants at times recover for a period before dying. Nematode damage is most damaging in sandy soil and causes plants to be more susceptible to wilt. The main symptom is knots covering the root system. Home Remedy for Worms
To control nematodes, do not plant where infected crops have been grown for at least two seasons. Dispose of plants when the presence of nematodes is verified. A home remedy to repel the worms is to plant marigolds around the tomatoes. An effective way to control the pests is by mulching heavily using squash, beans, celery, and watermelon wastes. Cure and Treatment for Tomato Blossom End Rot Blossom end rot in tomato usually appears early in the season or late summer. Increased irrigation and fertilizing with a calcium nitrate helps reduce the difficulty. If the problem persists, have the soil tested before planting next season for calcium content and soil acidity. How to Stop Blossom End Rot Calcium sprays of calcium do not treat blossom-end rot of tomato once it occurs. Although, sprays can help prevent the condition from occurring on developing fruit. Prevention * Plant blight resistant tomato. * Grow plants in well-drained soil. * Adjust the soil amounts of phosphate and lime to sufficient levels. *Avoid excessively using nitrogen rich fertilizer. * Water sufficiently to maintain proper soil moisture. * Mulch conservatively during dry periods. Apply lime to low calcium soils several months prior to planting can help prevent blossom-end rot of tomato. Cultivars that grow quickly and produce large amounts of foliage tend to be more susceptible to the disease. The threat may increase where there is a low ratio of calcium to other nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen. Use 5-10-10 fertilizer in place of 10-10-10 can help reduce the incidence of the blight. Seedlings grown in the field at a steady rate are less susceptible to blossom end rot of tomato. Tomatoes planted unusually early are likely to have their first fruits affected by blights. Planting a bit later in the season helps control the obstacle. Controlling blossom-end rot of tomato is based on sufficient nutrition and optimum irrigation.
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