What is causing this?

[fuzzy9]

I've got a bunch of tomatoes in pots on the patio, and I'm finding this on quite a few of them, it's only on the bottom. They all seem to be thriving, lots of young tomatoes and buds. I'm fertilizing with Miracle Grow weekly. My neighbor thought low calcium, so I added a bit of lime, but I'm still finding these. The ones that are like this are brown all the way into the center.

Thoughts?

 

[Tegan]

Looks like blossom end rot. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3117.html

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Ditto.

 

[AnnClaire]

Need to add calcium ... crushed egg shells as a side dressing, or epsom salts scratched into the surface and watered in.

 

[fuzzy9]

But isn't barn lime calcium? I added a handful last monday, and watered it in good. Should I add it in weekly as well? I don't have egg shells, we don't eat alot of eggs lately, and what I do use goes to the cat food for calcium for my one kitty. I could get some Epsom........but I thought barn lime was calcium too. Maybe I'm just not adding enough? Going to read the link now......thanks!!

 

[hoodat]

Calcium is not absorbed quickly. It takes time for an application to show results. It's really best to have the calcium in the soil before the plants are put into it.
That being said, there is another cause of blossom end rot and it comes when the plant is unevenly watered or when it is so hot that the plant can't take up water fast enough to equal what is being lost through its' leaves. Be sure the soil stays damp but not soggy at all times and if its' hot and dry try to move the pot to a sheltered place or open shade.

 

[fuzzy9]

Thanks Hoodat! I just read all that info on another article, now that I know what this is. We have had many long, and very hot days here, being on the patio where they are, I don't think they are sheltered enough. I water them heavy in the morning, and a light drink at night to keep the soil moist, but they still seem to wilt even between both those waterings because of this heat.

The article I read suggested, since we didn't lime when we potted them, to add some manure to the pots, something with some mulch in it too. I'll try that, and hope for the best. Doesn't sound like much will work otherwise. I've got several plants, and enough that aren't effected, so we'll just chalk it up to a lesson learned, and make sure we lime at planting next year.

 

[Miss M]

Some people crush a Tums into the hole before they plant a tomato plant, to make sure the plant has enough calcium.

 

[ladysown]

i get end rot when the summer is HOT. This year I'm dealing with it but we've had no rain in what seems forever. Don't know that I'll get much off. I can't water consistently here, so they have to be content with what I can offer to them.

 

[fuzzy9]

Thanks ladies!

We've had the same weather as you.......HOT, HOT, HOT, AND VERY DRY! I'm sure that has alot to do with it too, been a bad summer for growing things. Lots of dead corn crops around here, and alot less hay to make, to late for the rain we are just starting to get in the last week.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Came across a suggestion of 'watering' the tomatoes with Milk... that will help get the needed calcium to them fairly quickly. The person used powdered milk. With all the lack of rain this year the tomatoes simply cannot get the calcium from the soil at the proper time...

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Milk fed tomatoes... Mmmm!

I have heard that one of the "secrets" to growing huge pumpkins for the county fair was to pinch off all but one pumpkin and water with milk.

 

[fuzzy9]

Hey, I have some powdered milk in the pantry, and I'm gonna give it a try! Can't hurt! Do you think they'd like some Froot Loops to go with that milk?? :lol:

 

[Piper]

Hey, I have some powdered milk in the pantry, and I'm gonna give it a try! Can't hurt! Do you think they'd like some Froot Loops to go with that milk?? :lol:

:rotfl:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Do you think they'd like some Froot Loops to go with that milk?? :lol:

Pumpkins prefer Count Chocula! (Wait- did I just date myself? Do they even sell that any more? :hmm: )

 

[ZRabbits]

Do you think they'd like some Froot Loops to go with that milk?? :lol:

Pumpkins prefer Count Chocula! (Wait- did I just date myself? Do they even sell that any more? :hmm: )

lol, yes you just dated yourself. I remember them too. Back in the 70's.

And don't tell everyone you were only nine. lol.

Karen

 

[Bluebird]

I've had lots of trouble with blossom end rot in the past, and my local nursery sold me a calcium supplement that you mix with water and spray right on the plant. It feeds through the leaves. It is called Maxi-cal and as I remember it was inexpensive. I actually don't remember if it worked--it's been a while since I grew tomatoes--but it might be worth a try.

 

[Hazel]

count chocula, hmm, sounds like something my older brother used to eat in the sixtys?

__________ Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:06 pm __________

Now im wondering how old everyone is.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:07 pm __________<br /><br />I read somewhere in the past week, someone feeds their rabbits a few fruit loops the weeks leading up to a show to help put a little weight on them.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

lol, yes you just dated yourself. I remember them too. Back in the 70's.

And don't tell everyone you were only nine. lol.

Karen

Was too!<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:15 pm __________<br /><br />

 

[Piper]

lol, yes you just dated yourself. I remember them too. Back in the 70's.

And don't tell everyone you were only nine. lol.

Karen

Was too!

__________ Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:15 pm __________

I won't if y'all don't!