Help identifying this tomato disease

JustinMM · July 12, 2012

I noticed on one of my Better Boy tomato plants that there were some tiny brown speckles on the blossom end of one fruit. Within a few days, the bottom of the fruit starting turning dark brown, and almost slimy. It started happening to the nearest fruit on the truss today.

My first thought was blight, but I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms of blight on the plant. I placed it far away from the other plants in the garden. What do you all think?

Sun City Linda · July 12, 2012

Me thinks you have BER. Blossom End Rot - the curse of tomato growers everywhere. Has to do with how a plant uses, or does not use calcium during fruiting. Inconsistent watering may play a role. Lots written about it, do a search. It is not a disease and is not spread from plant to plant. Sometime is just goes away on its own.

JustinMM · July 12, 2012

I'm hoping it's BER. Thanks for the reply!

JamesL · July 12, 2012

Agree with Linda - BER - Pick and discard. It seems to be a larger problem than usual this year. Or maybe just more people discussing.

rsg2001 · July 14, 2012

Yes, I've had more of it this year than previously, but it will go away on its own, and definitely remove any tomato with it so the plant doesn't put any energy into it.

I am growing the old variety Dr. Wyche's Yellow in an Earthbox (and the plant is clearly too big for the EB, although I had no idea how gigantic it was going to become). The Dr. W has been setting fruit like a madman, but a dozen or so have had BER, which has been disappointing. (There are still around 25 or so tomatoes in various stages on the plant that look OK, but still....). I am going to remain optimistic about it. It had a little heat stress when we went away for a few days and I think the BER mainly emanated from that.

July 12, 2012	#1
JustinMM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 16	Help identifying this tomato disease I noticed on one of my Better Boy tomato plants that there were some tiny brown speckles on the blossom end of one fruit. Within a few days, the bottom of the fruit starting turning dark brown, and almost slimy. It started happening to the nearest fruit on the truss today. My first thought was blight, but I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms of blight on the plant. I placed it far away from the other plants in the garden. What do you all think?

July 14, 2012	#5
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	Yes, I've had more of it this year than previously, but it will go away on its own, and definitely remove any tomato with it so the plant doesn't put any energy into it. I am growing the old variety Dr. Wyche's Yellow in an Earthbox (and the plant is clearly too big for the EB, although I had no idea how gigantic it was going to become). The Dr. W has been setting fruit like a madman, but a dozen or so have had BER, which has been disappointing. (There are still around 25 or so tomatoes in various stages on the plant that look OK, but still....). I am going to remain optimistic about it. It had a little heat stress when we went away for a few days and I think the BER mainly emanated from that. Last edited by rsg2001; July 14, 2012 at 05:47 PM. Reason: fix grammar

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July 12, 2012	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Me thinks you have BER. Blossom End Rot - the curse of tomato growers everywhere. Has to do with how a plant uses, or does not use calcium during fruiting. Inconsistent watering may play a role. Lots written about it, do a search. It is not a disease and is not spread from plant to plant. Sometime is just goes away on its own.

July 12, 2012	#4
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Agree with Linda - BER - Pick and discard. It seems to be a larger problem than usual this year. Or maybe just more people discussing.