A. Your tomatoes are undoubtedly suffering from "blossom-end rot", an affliction caused by the poor distribution of moisture during hot weather. This is a common problem that also often affects peppers and summer squash. Plastic mulching has been shown to aggravate the problem, but there are a few simple steps you can take to alleviate the problem. First, if the problem has consistently occurred for several seasons, have your soil tested to check for pH and calcium levels. You are not likely to need to add lime in this area as most of our soils have ample calcium and are alkaline. |
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Next, fertilize properly. Again, test your soil and use the right amount of fertilizer at the proper time. Follow label directions on the fertilizer. Applying too much fertilizer at one time can result in blossom-end rot.
Proper irrigation is a must during dry weather spells. Tomatoes need about 12 inches of water per week during fruiting. Water evenly. Extreme fluctuations in soil moisture can result in a greater incidence of blossom-end rot. In fact, blossom end rot occurs primarily when the soil moisture level becomes dry. Even if there is an abundance of calcium in the soil (which is usually the case for most of our soils), inadequate calcium levels can occur in the tomatoes under low soil moisture conditions. Spray the plants with a solution of one tablespoon of calcium chloride per gallon of water two or three times a week, beginning at the time the second fruit clusters bloom.
Lastly, be sure to mulch the tomato plants with organic mulch such as straw, pine straw or even newspapers. Mulches help to conserve moisture and to maintain uniform soil moisture conditions and thus reduce the incidence of blossom-end rot.