Bad toms

Justvera
Justvera

Bad toms

Asked on 18 Jul, 2008

The first of my tomatoes in the greenhouse are giving me a worry ! One was beginning to ripen and has a black bottom end. Two other green ones are showing signs of the same,can someone please tell me the cause and what I should do to prevent losing the lot ? I have eight plants.I took off all the bottom leaves early on, and have fed them well.

Answer question

Replies

Owdboggy
Owdboggy

18 Jul, 2008

 

This sounds like Blossom end rot. This is caused by a shortage of calcium. Difficult to treat as you need to do this before the plants are planted. Are they in the soil, plant pots or Growing bags?

spritzhenry
Spritzhenry

18 Jul, 2008

 

It can also be the result of erratic watering.

Justvera
Justvera

18 Jul, 2008

 

They are in very large flower tubs. I mixed some well rotted horse manure and also some bonemeal into the compost (which came from the garden centre.) I thought the bought stuff would not be good enough to feed them for the time it would take for them to produce toms. Thanks for your help though. Could I mix into the top of the soil some crushed and microwaved egg shells ? (I think that must be calcium)
I have kept them well watered on a daily basis.

Owdboggy
Owdboggy

18 Jul, 2008

 

Are you feeding you Toms with Tomato feed? That may well help. As Spritz says, it could be watering, it could also be the odd weather we are having. The only way to combat calcium deiciency in growing plants is to spray the fruits with a mild solution of calcium, but that is really only an option for professional growers.
Next season, if you are going to make your own growing medium like that, add a little lime to it as well, though the bonemeal should have helped. It contains calcium.

Justvera
Justvera

20 Jul, 2008

 

Thankyou for your help.Luckilly I have other tom plants outdoors that seem to be thriving,so we shall be able to have some pleasure from my own home grown stuff.

Answer question
  •  
  •  
 
 

Gardening Encyclopedia:   Ideas   Pictures   Tips   Plants   Furniture   Miscellany

Other:   Gardens to visit   Garden colour   Buying guides

Garden Plants:   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

   Contact us    Link to us    About us    Terms of Use & Privacy    Press    Help    Sitemap

©2007-2008 growsonyou.com