Re: [gardeners] Tomatoes with black fungus
margaret lauterbach (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Wed, 21 Jul 1999 09:51:33 -0600
At 08:03 AM 7/21/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi, this year for the first time, we are experiencing a number of
>tomatoes, Burpee's Early Girl and Big Girl, developing soft bottoms that
>turn black and slightly flattenend, most of which fruit cannot be
>salvaged. We carefully dipose of it in the trash so as not to infect our
>compost pile. Any clues as to cause/cure?
>
>Ron,
>Van Nuys, CA
>USDA 9b, Sunset 20
>
It's blossom end rot, Ron. Caused by lack of calcium. Your soil may have an
abundance of calcium, but the plants can't take it up because the subsoil
conditions are too wet or too dry. Water deeply about every 5 to 7 days,
and see if the condition doesn't clear up. Margaret