For the last month, the tomato plants in our greenhouse have started to look less and less healthy, with the side branches going yellow which spreads from tip to the main stem of the plant. Also the fruits have started dropping off the plant and on closer inspection; they look like they are rotting.
After a few weeks of cutting off the yellowing branches and removing any unhealthy looking fruits, we decided that we needed to seriously look into what was causing this as our current course of action wasn’t making any difference.
So, after scouring the internet, I have established that it is blossom end rot, a physiological condition (not caused by bugs or diseases) which can be caused by a lack of calcium in the soil or overwatering – which causes the calcium which was in the soil to leach out. I think, after discussing it with my husband, that it’s probably a combination of both things – we bought cheap grow bags from Lidl and also we do tend to water lots and often!
Not sure if it is too late to save this years crop, but we’ve learnt valuable lessons for next year.
Di Blackmore said,
August 26, 2011 @ 7:57 am
Have you thought about it may be blight? This summer (damp, humid, hot and cool in bursts) has been perfect for this fungal problem (airborne, and will go for toms and spuds).
gardensharestirling said,
September 6, 2011 @ 8:40 am
We did spray our tomatoes and potatoes with Bordeaux Mixture which I thought was supposed to stop blight, but on looking a pictures of late blight on tomatoes I think you are right.
Anyway to prevent in future?