BER

[SharonRossy]

Eggplants do better in containers than in the ground in my experience. I have no idea why, but they seem to thrive in them.

[NarnianGarden]

I don't need a ton of fruits on my eggplants, all I want is them to survive and stay free from aphids and spidermites

[taboule]

Kikaida, thanks for your input, I bet others appreciate it too.

[taboule]

Rick, got it, thanks. Your advice confirms that of others, especially Re nutes and water..

I didn't put too much effort into containers this year because my main crop is in the ground, and I underestimated the needed precision. Containers present bigger challenges than in-ground plants. Main points:

1) Big is Better (WRT bag)
2) have enough and regular irrigation
3) have enough and regular ferts

[NarnianGarden]

The only good thing about BER is that it supposedly fastens the ripening of the affected fruit, so I let my Zolotoy Korol hang on the tree, hoping I will get to see a glimpse of yellow before the whole fruit has rotten ...

[SharonRossy]

That's interesting. I remove mine immediately. Actually mine were still on the smallish side so no point in keeping them on.

[taboule]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

The only good thing about BER is that it supposedly fastens the ripening of the affected fruit ...

This is so true, I removed the affected fruits so plant focuses its energy on the remaining (few) good ones. I made a small pile of them and many are turning red, even though they're not full size yet, very small and immature looking. Yet they still blush then cycle through all the color phases.

[NarnianGarden]

Another fried green tomato eaten, this time Zolotoy Korol. I didn't want to take the risk the rot finding its way to the insides and taking over the whole fruit. Hey, a fried tomato is still a tomato, right? Whether fresh or fried, I am enjoying my home-grown tomatoes...

The great thing was, the flesh already tasted very mild, which means, the first truss is not far from full maturity.

[NarnianGarden]

Yuck, I plain hate BER!! Several lovely hearts and slicers are hanging on their trusses, but never have a chance to ripen, because this enemy catches them beforehand...
Thankfully, my Golden Nugget is prolific and showing color, so at least I'll get those...
Next year, I should plant only cherry toms, they don't seem to get affected... !

[encore]

ok now could I be getting BER from giving the plants more water? I have the buckets in 1 1/2 inch deep trays that I have been keeping full of water. now with the hot weather and no rain the soil is getting dry so I have been watering on top and in the trays. not losing any nutriants because the trays don't over flow.could this extra water also be causing BER? noticed yesterday a lot of it and picked off maybe 14 tomatoes. almost like it happened over night! lol. on a plus note finally got some ripe cherry tomatoes, upper sweet 100's, and the sun suger are turning color too tom

[SharonRossy]

I'm battling BER as well. I gave mine a dose of lime dissolved in water. I think it's a question of rapidly growing, no pruning, so a lot of growth, and then getting too dry. All or any combination of the three hurt some of my plants. It's so discouraging! And I've been very vigilant with the ferts. I've never had BER like this before. And of course, Monsieur Squirrel doesn't bother to eat the tomatoes with BER ! No sir, only the lovely ones! I've probably picked off close to forty at this point.
I don't think overwatering is the problem. It's going from being wet to over dry then wet again.
KBX has been a big BER magnate so far. Very very frustrating. It's true, the cherry toms are tough.

[SharonRossy]

I'm battling BER as well. I gave mine a dose of lime dissolved in water. I think it's a question of rapidly growing, no pruning, so a lot of growth, and then getting too dry. All or any combination of the three hurt some of my plants. It's so discouraging! And I've been very vigilant with the ferts. I've never had BER like this before. And of course, Monsieur Squirrel doesn't bother to eat the tomatoes with BER ! No sir, only the lovely ones! I've probably picked off close to forty at this point.
I don't think overwatering is the problem. It's going from being wet to over dry then wet again.
KBX has been a big BER magnate so far. Very very frustrating. It's true, the cherry toms are tough.

[Old School]

I'm getting some BER as well this year. I have Early Girl tomatoes. Some get it and some don't I gave them a good dose of epsom salt and am trying to keep the watering steady. It's been around 90 degrees regularly the past few weeks. I have the same tomatoes (grown from seed) planted in the youth garden at work. I haven't seen any BER on any of those toms Just another year of questioning Mother nature I guess

[stevenkh1]

Ha! I just KNEW knocking on wood would beckon the BER evil spirits...

Just checked on my 3 Livingston Golden Queens and the bigger toms on those plants are developing BER - DESPITE planting with a small handful of calcium/magnesium and adding a tsp weekly/biweekly to watering/feedings.

However, my Roma, Purple Russian, Early Detroit, Beauty, Favorite, Gold Ball, Stone, Perfection, Paragon, Globe, Buckeye State, Dwarf Stone, Imp. Dwarf Champ, Magnus, Hillbilly, Kentucky Wonders, Black Krim, Black Cherry, Trophy, Yellow Pear, and Tommy Toes plants are still looking great! Got catfacing on the Kentucky Wonders tho...

Steve

[SharonRossy]

I'm almost tempted to yank my KBX. I can't look at another one with BER. Not looking like I'll get more than a few from that plant.