How to deal with a disease like tomato blossom end rot

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

There are two types of such a common disease as tomato blossom end rot. In the first case, damage to the fetus in the region of the stalk occurs as a result of a metabolic disorder in the plant itself, in the second, bacteria become the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon. Let's take a closer look at how to avoid this disease and what to do if the fruits are still affected.

Prevention of non-bacterial blossom end rot

The causes of the disease in this case are mainly a lack of calcium. Outwardly, it manifests itself in the appearance of a watery spot in the region of the pedicel, which then begins to grow, blacken and become covered with characteristic folded dry circles. Top rot of tomatoes (a photo of the affected fruits is shown on the left for clarity) of this type is most likely to occur when the soil under them is not sufficiently moistened and lacks such an important trace element as calcium. Most often, this type of disease affects tomatoes growing in greenhouses. In this case, along withinsufficient watering is often caused by too high air temperature (27 - 30 degrees).

The affected fruits are absolutely unsuitable for food, as well as their seeds for planting. Top rot of tomatoes is unlikely to manifest itself if the optimum temperature regime is observed in the greenhouse (22 - 25 degrees during the day and 18 at night).

In addition, you should know how to properly water the plants. On cloudy days, the soil under the tomatoes is moistened once a week, on sunny days - 5 times.

Of course, changing the temperature regime in a greenhouse is a rather difficult task. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. In autumn, on soils poor in calcium, liming should be carried out. A similar procedure will be useful for tomatoes grown in open ground. In addition, plants should be sprayed with a 0.5 solution of calcium nitrate. Do this during intensive fruit ripening at intervals of about twice a week.

Treatment of seeds in special solutions will also help prevent the occurrence of a disease such as blossom end rot of tomatoes. In this case, the following composition can be used: 0.3 g of zinc sulfate, 0.5 g of manganese sulfate, 50 g of copper sulfate. All this is dissolved in a liter of water and the planting material is soaked in the mixture for 24 hours.

Removing greenhouse cultivation of varieties developed for outdoor use can also reduce the risk of tomato blossom end rot. How to deal with itthe question in this case will not be so acute. It is considered expedient to use such, for example, varieties as "Rusich", "Volgograd", "Prelude" and others.

Prevention of bacterial vertex rot

Spots on the fruit near the pedicel, when the disease manifests itself due to bacteria, have a grayish tint and are weeping in type. In this case, the pulp of the fetus is also affected. The main reason for this trouble is considered to be high humidity and its high temperature. Do not water tomatoes too often in cloudy weather. If we are talking about a greenhouse, then you need to try to ensure that the humidity inside is not higher than 70% and not lower than 50%. In addition, it is imperative to pick off the affected fruits and burn the tops in the fall. The fact is that pathogenic bacteria winter well in it, and then settle on new plants. Of great importance is also such an event as fruit garter. Tomatoes lying on the ground are more likely to be affected. Planting material should be treated with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate

Thus, by observing all the necessary growing rules and taking various preventive measures, it is possible to prevent the development of a disease such as blossom end rot of tomatoes.