Source: Family lore passed down from my grandfathers (both).
By Eileen M. from Elk Grove, CA
I think my Tomato plants are suffering from blossom end rot, how can I fix this? I'm afraid I've been watering too much, every morning until the soil looks wet. I don't want to cut back too much and shock the plants, what do I do?
Hardiness Zone: 8a
By hanmay3 from Atlanta, GA
By shaunagirl
07/20/2009
Save your money honey, and use egg shells! Also, blossom end rot is from not watering consistently. Overwatering results in the fruit splitting, tomatoes are heavy feeders and need water daily. Don't let the soil dry out completely. Ever since I put my tomatoes on a drip irrigation with a timer, I have not had problems with blossom end rot. The tomatoes are still good, just cut the bad end off.
I had a container garden last year with tomato plants and developed "blossom end rot". Does anyone have a solution to prevent this? I was told it was from a lack of calcium, so I bought Green Light Blossom End Rot Spray and sprayed the tomato plants. I didn't have much luck with this and lost nearly half my crop. I love homegrown tomatoes! So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Debbie from St. Louis, MO
By Goldie2
03/21/2009
Blossom end rot is caused by lack of calcium and/or uneven watering. The calcium has to be able to get to the plant so good watering is essential. Using egg shells is a good way to go. Any time I use a raw egg, I rinse out the shell and throw it in a container under the kitchen sink. When it's full, I start a new container. In the spring, I put all of the shells (you'd be amazed by how many you have, and how heavy they are!) into a big container and stomp on them. It's as simple as sprinkling them on the ground after the tomatoes are planted. They add calcium to the soil. Also, slugs won't cross them since they are too rough for their underbellies. Tomatoes also benefit from having a marigold planted near them but that's another story!
What will stop my squash from rotting in early stage? After the bloom falls off, it starts rotting.
By Wayne
By clutegirl
06/18/2012
The squash are not pollinated. You can do this yourself in the morning when the blossoms are open, mate the male to the female blossom. I sometime use an artist paint brush to remove male pollen and brush it to the female.
My squash is rotting on the ends. They are about 3 inches long and the ends are rotten. This happened last year. The plants are beautiful and full of blooms. I have both yellow and zucchini.
By Joyce
By guest99
06/11/2012
The fruit dies off before reaching maturity because they were never properly pollinated.
I live in central Louisiana and my yellow squash are rotting from the blossom end at very early age. What could be the cause?
By Dennis
By thriftyvicki
04/30/2012
Either too much or not enough water is likely the cause. Look for bugs on the plants, also.
The plants are fine and so are the tomatoes when they are green. The problem is while they are ripening on the vine they begin to rot. It is not blossom end rot because that is not where the rotting is. They develop spots and begin to rot on the vine. I used calcium in the spring and Miracle Gro and the plants and early tomatoes (green) were beautiful, but when they started to ripen that is when they rotted. What could be the problem? Thank you for your help.
By Wayne B
What causes tomato bottom rot?
By Charles V.
By guest99
07/09/2012
Blossom end rot is usually caused by a lack of calcium in the soil. Since they are already established plants, you could crush up one or two antacid tablets like Tums and spread around the base of the plant and water it in. Next year, save your egg shells and crush them up, mix it in with the planting soil as you plant the tomato plants and you shouldn't have any problems.
What can be done for tomatoes that turn brown on the bottom?
By Robin from Ellettsville, IN
By E_P68
07/09/2012
Yes, Blossom end rot. Agreed, but calcium deficiency is only one effect or cause. Also irregular watering can bring it on. Once you have it (Blossom End Rot) .. I know of nothing to reverse it.
In my case, I cut my losses. Chose a different plot to plant them in, the following growing season and planted each seedling with a couple of crushed egg shells mixed in with the bone meal, and resolved to do a better job of regularly watering the tomato plants.
All clear thus far this season.
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Tomato Blossom End Rot