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