How to Stop Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes
If you see a dark, rotting spot on the bottom of your tomatoes, it’s blossom-end rot. Blossom end rot is a frustrating condition that baffles many gardeners but can be eliminated with a few easy steps. The reason for your blossom end rot is most likely the unavailability of calcium to the roots. Proper watering is essential, the soil should be watered at about an inch per week.
- Clear away weeds and debris. then loosen up the earth around the tomato plant out to about one foot from the plant. Keeping the soil loosened up helps to promote good drainage and supplies needed oxygen to the roots.
- Work about two tablespoons of Epsom salts into the soil. Adding Epsom salts helps to increase the availability of the calcium. Just as humans need magnesium to properly use calcium, plants need it also.
- Water the tomato plants well and allow to dry out between watering. Tomatoes don’t like wet feet, the soil should be moist not soggy.
To prevent the problem of blossom end rot in the first place, add two tablespoons of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) to the bottom of the hole at planting time and throw in a handful of dirt to cover and plant your tomatoes.
eHow
