Tomatoes Rotting - Ask Extension
Each year I have trouble with half of my tomatoes rotting on the vine, on the bottom of the tomato. I plant in containers using Miracle Grow soil. ...
Knowledgebase
Tomatoes Rotting #766775
Asked August 10, 2021, 4:34 PM EDT
Each year I have trouble with half of my tomatoes rotting on the vine, on the bottom of the tomato. I plant in containers using Miracle Grow soil. I use additional liquid fertilizer about every 3 weeks. I have been careful to avoid over watering the plants,
and wait until the soil is dry and plants have a droopy look to the leaves, before adding any water to the soil. I water with a container to the soil and avoid any watering from the top of the plant. Can you provided any information that may help me avoid this from happening.
Sherburne County Minnesota
Expert Response
This is called blossom end rot. It is a symptom of a calcium deficiency caused by inconsistent watering resulting in the plant not being able to take up the calcium in the soil. It is most often seen in tomatoes grown in containers as these dry out quickly. However, this year the dry conditions likely affected some plants in raised beds as well as garden beds.
At this time in the season, there is little to do about correcting this as many fruits are formed already. In the future, do not let the plants get so dry that they wilt. Keep the soil consistently moist.
More information: https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/tomato-disorders
