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Blossom End Rot
High nitrogen fertilizers can provide plenty of lush top growth at the expense of good root development. This looks great at the beginning of the season, but when the rapidly growing plants are subject to a dry period, there is not enough root formation to provide moisture and calcium to the developing fruit. Cultivating too close to the plants and damaging the root system can also decrease the plant's ability pull up the water and calcium it needs. In addition, planting in cool soil early in the season can cause stunted root growth as well as planting in soils that are high in soluble salts. The idea is that you need a good root system to bring plenty of moisture and nutrients to the developing fruit. Be sure to fertilize with a fertilizer specific to tomatoes. Tomato fertilizers are higher in phosphorous that help nourish the root system and potassium that will build strong cell walls in the developing fruit. Look for a tomato fertilizer with the third number the highest and the second number lower than the third and the first number lowest of all such as 4-7-10. Don't forget that phosphorous can build up in the soil to toxic levels, so get a soil test every year to be sure everything remains in balance. If you've been applying a balanced fertilizer every year, you may not need anything more than a little nitrogen in the form of calcium nitrate. Foliage can be sprayed with a calcium chloride solution formulated to prevent blossom end rot before the first cluster of fruit appears. Calcium chloride sprays will not work once the problem starts. Also, too much sprayed on a hot sunny day can burn your plants. The best solution is to be sure your soil has the right nutrients at the right balance and a source of consistent irrigation. Be sure to mulch around your plants and use drip or tape irrigation to keep the roots cool and developing. Tomato plants are best spaced as far as 3 feet apart to give the roots plenty of space. Also, don't severely prune plants early in the season. The Ph of soil for a good tomato crop should be 6.0 to 6.5.
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Blossom End can be a real ugly problem for many tomato growers. It affects commercial growers as well as the home garden, and can cause a total crop loss if not controlled. Symptoms appear on the blossom end of the fruit. It starts out as a damp or water-soaked spot and can quickly enlarge into a dark ugly mess that makes the fruit inedible. Occasionally the damage will only be superficial. Luckily, it does not spread from fruit to fruit or from infected plants; it is a physiological problem that comes from a fertilizer imbalance, calcium deficiency or inconsistent water supply.
