blossom end rot

bcbf · November 1, 2009

This is first year in many years that i have raised a garden. Seemed to have caught the bug when i discovered some videos about raised beds on youtube. For the most part things were growing along quite well until fruit from the tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini were beginning to ripen. All three were infected with BER and remained infected through out the year to some extent. Very frustrating, don't remember this from past years.
I suspect that the weather and possibly the soil were the main cause of my frustration. Seemed like every time i watered the garden it would rain a couple of inches the next day! I also made my own mixture of soil for the raised beds out of rotted cow manure and topsoil. More than likely much to rich.
As i would like to minimize BER next year, and have no control of the weather. I would like your thoughts on these areas that i could control.

1. Fertility of soil- Need to soil test this year to find out if there is still excess nitrogen in the soil or a lack of calcium. What could i do if there is still excess nitrogen?

2. pruning- Will pruning tomatoes reduce the incidence of BER?

3. mulching, plastic or fabric- Which would be better at evening out soil moisture levels?

4. varieties- Are there any varieties of paste tomatoes that are less susceptible to BER than others? I grew all determinates this year, are indeterminates more or less susceptible?

5. plant spacing- In 4' by 8' raised beds, I grew 8 tomato plants this year (way to close together). Would giving them more soil to grow in reduce BER?

Hopefully, i will be able to correct a few things and wont have to pitch as many over the fence next year. Maybe Mother Nature will put her best foot forward next year too.

Thanks for any responses.

November 1, 2009	#1
bcbf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: north dakota Posts: 12	blossom end rot This is first year in many years that i have raised a garden. Seemed to have caught the bug when i discovered some videos about raised beds on youtube. For the most part things were growing along quite well until fruit from the tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini were beginning to ripen. All three were infected with BER and remained infected through out the year to some extent. Very frustrating, don't remember this from past years. I suspect that the weather and possibly the soil were the main cause of my frustration. Seemed like every time i watered the garden it would rain a couple of inches the next day! I also made my own mixture of soil for the raised beds out of rotted cow manure and topsoil. More than likely much to rich. As i would like to minimize BER next year, and have no control of the weather. I would like your thoughts on these areas that i could control. 1. Fertility of soil- Need to soil test this year to find out if there is still excess nitrogen in the soil or a lack of calcium. What could i do if there is still excess nitrogen? 2. pruning- Will pruning tomatoes reduce the incidence of BER? 3. mulching, plastic or fabric- Which would be better at evening out soil moisture levels? 4. varieties- Are there any varieties of paste tomatoes that are less susceptible to BER than others? I grew all determinates this year, are indeterminates more or less susceptible? 5. plant spacing- In 4' by 8' raised beds, I grew 8 tomato plants this year (way to close together). Would giving them more soil to grow in reduce BER? Hopefully, i will be able to correct a few things and wont have to pitch as many over the fence next year. Maybe Mother Nature will put her best foot forward next year too. Thanks for any responses.