black spot - Knowledgebase Question

auburn, ca
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Question by baj96
June 8, 2006
after the tomato is formed there is a blackish spot at the bottom that seems to grow large as the tomatoe matures. what causes this the tomatoes are in large pots. Some of the tomatoes dont seem to have this condition. Thanks


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Answer from NGA
June 8, 2006
It sounds like you are describing blossom end rot which occurs at the end of the tomatoes (and peppers) opposite the stem. While it is attributed to calcium deficiency in the soil, it often appears in cases of fluctuating soil moisture levels. Remedies include adding organic matter to the soil to increase its moisture holding capacity, keeping the plants evenly moist, using a mulch, and in some cases spraying plants with a blossom end rot spray (contains calcium) which can usually be purchased from your local garden center. Usually, more attention to keeping the soil evenly moist will solve the problem. You might want to dig down into the soil a bit and see how effective your watering actually is. Also, if the tomatoes are in small containers, you may need to be watering more often so the soil stays evenly moist but not alternating between sopping wet and then dried out. A tomato really needs at least a five gallon bucket.

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