Blossom End Rot is a physical disorder that occurs at the blossom end of almost all of our garden fruit. You can recognize Blossom End Rot by the rotting end of the fruit while it is still on the plant. It is caused by calcium deficiency in the soil. Water stress and too much nitrogen usually compound the problem. To stop this affliction, you add lime or calcium prior to planting. This can be tricky in our alkaline soil since lime will make it more alkaline. Our clay soil is around 7.5 to 8.0 on the pH scale and most veggies like a soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Calcium nitrate fertilizer will help solve this problem. The biggest problem is finding calcium nitrate in small quantities. We have a product called “Yield Booster” that is manufactured by Ferti-lome. The active ingredient is calcium and you spray it over the entire plant. A 24oz RTU (ready to use) bottle sells for $7.39.
For more information on Blossom End Rot, visit the Texas A&M AgriLife website.
