Contents
In today’s Article we will look into How to easily prevent and learn home treatment of blossom end rot in tomato plants.
Introduction
Have you ever noticed some of your tomatoes developing a blackish-brown patch with flattening at the end? This rot is known as Tomato Blossom End Rot (BER) disease. Before diving into remedies that work, let’s explore the causes of this problem.
Causes of Tomato Blossom End Rot
Lack of Calcium
The primary cause of Blossom End Rot is a lack of calcium, which can result from:
- Calcium-deficient soil
- Poor calcium absorption from the soil
- Soil pH issues that hinder nutrient absorption
Treatment of Blossom End Rot
Calcium Supplementation
If you suspect calcium deficiency in the soil, consider supplementing with crushed or powdered eggshells, calcium tablets, or similar products. Note that this approach is more suitable for prevention rather than immediate treatment, as plants cannot quickly absorb calcium from newly added sources.
Prevention Strategies
Foliar Spray Experiment
Prevention is better than cure. I conducted an experiment using a magic foliar spray solution on all my tomato plants every 15 days, while keeping one plant untreated as a control. The untreated plant developed Blossom End Rot, while those receiving the foliar spray did not. I will now share the recipe for this effective foliar spray solution.
Other Preventive Measures
- Sowing Seeds at the Right Time: Plant tomato seeds at the end of spring, ideally in late February or early March, for optimal growth and health.
Magic Foliar Spray Recipe
Here’s how to make the foliar spray to treat and prevent Tomato Blossom End Rot:
1. Water
Use 1 liter of water as the base for the recipe.
2. Milk
Add skimmed milk, raw milk, spoiled milk, or buttermilk. Dilute the milk to less than 20% concentration (1:5 ratio). Milk provides calcium and acts as an antifungal treatment for powdery mildew and Blossom End Rot. Alternatively, use calcium-rich water from boiling eggs.
3. Epsom Salt
Add up to 5 grams of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) per liter of water. Epsom salt supplies magnesium and sulfur, essential for plant health.
4. Compost Tea
Compost tea adds major NPK elements to the foliar spray. To make compost tea:
- Add a handful of decomposed manure or compost (e.g., cow dung powder or vermicompost) per liter of water.
- Brew the mixture for at least one week, stirring daily to oxygenate it.
- Strain out the liquid using a cloth.
Using Compost Tea
Dilute the compost tea to a 1:5 ratio with water and mix it into the foliar spray solution. For compost tea alone, use a 1:10 dilution. Combine this with the rest of the solution for a total of 2.1 liters.
Application
Mix the solution thoroughly and load it into a spray bottle or electric sprayer. Apply the foliar spray early in the morning or late in the evening when leaf stomata are open for optimal absorption.
By following these guidelines and using the magic foliar spray, you can effectively manage and prevent Tomato Blossom End Rot.
Please watch a video below demonstrating Blossom End Rot in Tomato Plants.
1 comment
Blossom end rot occurs not because the soil lacks calcium but because the plant simply cannot take calcium out of the soil at a fast enough rate to keep up with the growth of the plant or because stress causes the plant to be unable to process the calcium the plant does take up.