Xtremehorticulture

Calcium Deficiency of Tomato and Blossom End Rot

Q. I wanted to ask about a strange occurrence in my tomato garden. Not all, but some of my tomatoes when they ripen, have these black spots only at the bottom of the tomato crop. I just wanted to reach out and see if you could tell me about what causes or could be causing the discoloration? Blossom end rot of tomato Blossom end rot of pepper A. That is normally a physiological problem on tomatoes, peppers and some eggplant this time of year called blossom end rot. Some scientists claim it is caused by an imbalance of calcium in some of the fruit when soils are cooler. Sometimes calcium sprays can fix it. Some varieties of tomatoes show this problem more than others. This imbalance of calcium in other plants is called “bitter pit” in susceptible apples like ‘Mutsu’ and “corky spot” in susceptible pears like ‘Comice’. Bitter pit of ‘Pink Lady’ apple Corky spot of  ‘Comice’ pear             Apples and pears take regular leaf sprays of calcium as a temporary fix in them. The easiest way to fix this problem in tomatoes is to use a less susceptible variety to blossom end rot. Otherwise, it may take several sprays of a liquid calcium spray (such as calcium chloride or calcium sulfate mixed in water) to fix it. The fruit is okay to eat, it just looks odd.

Calcium Deficiency of Tomato and Blossom End Rot Read More »

Pepper Brown Spots Could Be Irrigation or Sun

Q. I have a brown area on the bottom of my bell peppers. Any ideas? A. Brown spots on bell peppers are normally from either of two things; a disorder we frequently see on tomatoes called blossom end rot or sunburn.             If it is on the bottom of the fruit and not in a spot exposed to direct sunlight it is most likely blossom end rot of pepper. Blossom end rot, just like in tomatoes, is normally associated with irregular watering even though it is a nutrient deficiency.             An inch of mulch in the vegetable bed helps to maintain more even soil moisture and less fluctuating of the water content in the plant. A more even soil moisture content has been reported to reduce the incidence of blossom end rot. Blossom end rot bell pepper             The other possibility is sunburn. If the brown spot is on the shoulder of the fruit toward the sun and not the blossom end, then it is most likely sunburn. This is because there is not enough shade covering the fruit. You will see less sunburn on peppers that are buried deeper inside the canopy of the plant.             With bell peppers in particular we want as much leaf cover over the fruit as possible. Light shade, about 30%, over the plants, also reduces sunburn. Mulching the vegetable garden also helps.             Having the garden in a location where it is exposed to morning and early afternoon sun, with shade during the late afternoon, will also reduce the problem.

Pepper Brown Spots Could Be Irrigation or Sun Read More »