Often beginner gardeners do not know the reasons why their tomatoes are often rotten. Rotten tomatoes can be caused by so many problems. Here are some questions and answers that can help beginner gardeners to expand their knowledge on the issue.
Q: Why do a majority of a gardener’s 20 tomato plants get large rotten spots on their fruits even before the tomatoes are ripe? What cause this problem? Is there any solution to the issue?
A: This is a case of blossom end rot or also known as BER. BER is a common tomato problem. It appears at the bottom of the tomato. This can happen to both the ripened and green ones. The bottom of the tomato will have a sunken, black or dark brown spot that are leathery.
This issue is caused by the calcium imbalance in the tomato plant. The tomatoes receive its calcium dose via water, however calcium is not fast moving. Therefore, if the tomatoes grow so quickly or in another case of slow water absorption, then the calcium would not have enough time to move around the whole fruit. This is the cause of the tomato tissues break down and then cause a damage at the bottom of the fruit. This damage is the black and brown spot known as the rotten tomatoes.
Once you have rotten tomatoes, there are no ways you can reverse it, but you can try to halt or stop it. Here are some of the tips.:
- Go to the shop and find products that are specifically produced to prevent, treat and also slow the BER. Some of the products are natural and some are not. Read the instructions thoroughly to know the type of products that you use, a concentrate or ready to use ones. Follow all the instructions
- Choose the fruit that has Blossom End Rot and pick them out in order to reduce the stress that the plant is undergoing. There is not use to keeping the fruit because once again, there are no ways that can be done to reserve the process or undo the damage. With less fruits, the plant can concentrate its energy to the good tomatoes.
- The Blossom End Rot issue can be avoided by using simple fertilization and irrigation practices. Find more information on the two subjects to that gardeners can at least, greatly reduced the BER and have a great harvest.
