HOW TO SAVE TOMATOES FROM BLOSSOM END ROT

Blossom end rot is a physiological disorder—that is, a disfigurement of the fruit. It’s not “contagious,” as it won’t spread to the rest of the plant.

However, blossom end rot tends to affect several fruits on the same plant at the same time, so it can be alarming when you first see signs of it.

The problem is likely to resolve on its own but there are steps you can take to lessen the chances or prevent blossom end rot from happening to your plants.

Take it easy on the nitrogen.

01.

Use a balanced, all-purpose vegetable fertilizer or tomato fertilizer at planting time to ensure your plant gets what it needs, but don’t overdo it.

02.

Tomatoes have long roots that benefit from long, consistent watering to make sure the moisture soaks in deep to where the mass of the roots are.

Water consistently and mulch well.

03.

Try to avoid deep cultivation of the soil near the plant roots after fruit set. If you need to control weeds, hand pull them or scrape the soil lightly with a hoe to remove them.

Avoid disturbing the plant roots.

04.

If you find that season after season, your fruits are continually afflicted with blossom end rot despite your most valiant efforts to water them, it’s time to take a soil test.

Amend the soil with the appropriate amount and type of fertilizer.

Just be sure to remove any rotting fruit as soon as you see it—you want the plant’s energy to go into growing good, healthy tomatoes!

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