Rotten Spot On Tomatoes - Knowledgebase Question

Austin, TX
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Question by htanzini
June 11, 1998
I planted my first garden this spring and my tomatoes have this rotten spot at the bottom. You can cut off the rotten part and eat the tomato, but I am not understanding why this is happening. I water in the morning and evening everyday.


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Answer from NGA
June 11, 1998
Blossom end rot is a common problem with tomatoes when there's too little calcium in the soil, too much fertilizer has been applied, they're grown in very wet or very dry soils which interfere with calcium uptake, the plants are subjected to high temperatures, or a combination of these factors. Try adding lime to your soil to adjust the pH ( 6.8 to 7.2 is ideal for tomatoes), fertilize only moderately to keep plants green and vigorous, don't plant them where drainage is poor, mulch with organic matter to help keep water evaporation to a minimum, and water to wet the entire root zone, which should be done once every 7 to 10 days. You can still consume the tomatoes after cutting off the affected part. Try adjusting your growing techniques and next year's crop should be just fine.

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