I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that my tomatoes have been afflicted with blossom end rot.
This is probably the 3rd or so season I have dealt with it.
Usually, the first fruits have it and then subsequent fruits don't have it.
I'm just wondering the following things:
1. What causes it?
2. How do you treat it?
If this topic has been delved into before, just point me in the right direction, otherwise it can't hurt to have a good discussion on it here at Homegrown! :)
Blossom end-rot is actually caused by a calcium deficiency. To combat this, add some DOLOMITIC lime to your water when you water your tomatoes. Some people say eggs shells due tot he calcium contained in them, but it is not enough. The lime trich will work. How much to add? I don't have any specific amounts in mind, when I did it before I just added an handful or so and stirred it around well.
Hope that helps!
Calcium deficiency is correct - lime is a good remedy.
Frequent causes are, uneven watering, over fertilizing (too much salt in the soil) or overusing manure (too much amonia).
can this apply to squash?
Yep, sure does!
Don't forget, there are more reasons than lack of soil calcium that can reduce calcium uptake. Insufficient watering, improper pH, imbalanced nutrition in general, or root health issues could hinder calcium assimilation.
With this being said, blossom end rot is usually caused by low calcium in the soil and you should start there. (a soil test can help avoid the guessing game)
Isn't great to learn that it is not bacterial or fungal and you don't have to worry about spreading it?
too late for 2011 but just in time for 2012.
BER usually is caused by the lack of calcium availability in your soil. many people will put a TBL of epsom salts into each planting hole to correct this as this usually will allow calcium (if you have enough in your soil) to be released. But if you have too much magnesium in your soil this will not work and they only way to know what is in your soil is by getting a good soil test that tests for more than NPK and pH.
Soil testing is not hard to do nor is it expensive at around $20 per test per year (and most home gardeners need only one test as you grow on under an acre, if you have many acres than usually one test per 2 to 3 acres is sufficient) and it tells you a lot about your soil and with that knowledge you can get together a plan to improve your soils
All that said some maters get BER a lot more easily than others. For example I find Opalka canning tomatoes get BER a lot more than Amish Past canning maters. So variety selection is also important.
I have discovered through other resources that this problem in squash is also caused at the time of flower blooming. You have a male bloom and a female bloom and if they do not bloom and pollinate at the correct time of bloom, the squash will grow but rot at the ends, it is a non-pollinated growth.