Thursday, June 2, 2011

Romas, Cherries, and Krim....OH MY!

Some of you may recall me mentioning that my husband planted an overzealous amount of tomato plants. Sixteen surviving plants of various varieties stand three to four feet tall in our garden. They are beautiful plants, grown in organic soil and are full of fruit. However...


We have been struck with blossom end rot. It's a rather unglamourous problem in which the bottom end of the fruit, also called the blossom end, becomes blackish and leathery and all together unappealing. It is caused by a deficiency of calcium in the soil. Thus far, we've lost about 70% of our gorgeous tomatoes. We have yet to enjoy a full tomato harvest in the three seasons we've gardened. The first was lost to cricket infestation, the second to frost, and this one to blossom end rot. Disappointing? Sure. But we'll keep on a plantin'. Even a meager harvest provides a delicious and nutritious meal....and it's one less thing for me to buy at the grocery store!
Blossom End Rot....nasty, right?
There are some fruits that are unaffected by the rot, generally the ones on the lower vines of the plant. I picked and searched this afternoon and got a good sized bowl of fruit, mostly romas. It's hardly enough to make sauce but enough for a batch of bruchetta and a couple of trays in the dehydrator. All is not lost...onward desert gardener!!

The garden booty

6 comments:

  1. We have this problem too! AHHHH!!! How do we fix it?? I was so excited when i saw your post with hopes of a solution!!

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  2. Dreaming of tomatoes!! Mine are still in pots on my window sill! I think your tip worked...let me check...

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  3. @ Rachel- Once the plant starts fruiting, it's hard to correct. You want to find a calcium supplement at the nursery or, I read you can crush up Tums (the non peppermint kind) and dissolve them in water and put that on your plants. Good luck!

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  4. I'm a new follower! Come, follow me.

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  5. My dad taught me that consistent watering can prevent blossom end rot.

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