Tomatoes with Brown Bottoms (6272)

One of the most common problems of tomatoes is blossom end rot. It appears as a watery, slightly sunken dark-colored area near the blossom-end of the fruit. The water--soaked spot darkens and enlarges into a widening circle. The affected area may remain small, or it may cover one-third to one-half of the surface of the tomato fruit. As the spot gets bigger, the skin shrinks and the surface becomes flattened or sunken, dark and leathery. Frequently, soft rot develops as bacteria invade the affected area.

Blossom-end rot occurs when there is not enough calcium available to the plant. Although unsightly, the unaffected part of the fruit is safe to use.

To help avoid blossom end rot, maintain a uniform moisture supply in the soil by mulching and irrigating when necessary. Do not hoe or cultivate closer than one foot to the plants to avoid root pruning. Mulch the plants soon after they have been set out, when the soil has had a chance to warm up, using marsh hay, clean straw, or ground-up corn cobs.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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