What would cause tomatoes to rot on the vine?
Question:By the time my tomatoes are ripe and I go to pick them they are rotten on the bottom. No water is getting on them or nothing. Can someone please tell me what might cause this. I know too much water makes them split, but I don't know what is causing this.
Answers:
What you have is called early tomato blight. Here is a web site that can help you.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/31...
Here is a site for blossom end rot:
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/hortic...
Sounds like "blossom end rot", which is caused by a deficiency of magnisium & calcium in the soil. Fairly easy to correct. Either with a fertilizer product specifically for tomatos (all will have magnesium & calcium in them), or by adding supplements yourself - as easily as taking Epsom Salts, and sprinkling a few tablespoons around the base of each plant (or dissolving same in water, and watering in).
Espoma makes an organic product called "Tomato-Tone" that has everything your tomatos will require - in a slow-release form that won't burn them. Give it a try.
You also might check the ph of your soil. Tomatos like it around 6.5, and alkaline soil may inhibit the plants' ability to uptake the calcium that is already present in the soil.
Lots of gardeners are experiencing "blossom end rot." We know how hard it can be to watch the fruits of your labors die on the vine.
Our Blog has an entry on this subject at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.c...
Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
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