Bowl of Dwarfs

george k · August 11, 2016

Grew 12 varieties of dwarfs in pots this year. Here are some Rosella Purple, Sweet Scarlet, Tasmanian Chocolate, Blazing Beauty, Orange Cream, Summer Sweet Gold, Wherokiwhai. Had a lot of BER growing in containers. Any suggestions? Most impressed with Dwarf Blazing Beauty for taste, but all are very good and will grow again.

Scooty · August 11, 2016

The area has had a lot of rain in the early summer months, so it's not just tomatoes grown in containers getting BER. You'll need a fungicide to help keep it at bay. I'm growing well over triple the variety of dwarfs, and I see it in and out of container.

Gardeneer · August 11, 2016

George, That is some bowl of dwarfs, very colorful and sure look tasty.

BER is more common in containers than in the ground. Most BER in the ground is varietal related.
But in the container it is said to be due to inconsistent moisture level and I think that letting the soil get dry is a bigger factor than keeping it wet. It might also be helpful to feed with fertilizer that has calcium in it. I mix in some dolomitic lime (Fast Acting Lime) with potting soil before planting ( One cup per cu-ft). I also add about 20% Floor Dry to store moisture while not compromising drainage.
Anther way to deal with BER/ watering issue with container growing is to choose bigger containers. Five gallon is bare minimum for small varieties. 10 to 12 gallon is better.

PureHarvest · August 11, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooty

The area has had a lot of rain in the early summer months, so it's not just tomatoes grown in containers getting BER. You'll need a fungicide to help keep it at bay. I'm growing well over triple the variety of dwarfs, and I see it in and out of container.

I've never heard of using fungicide for BER.
Were you thinking of spraying for another problem, or is there new research?

Yak54 · August 11, 2016

See the link in the Growing in containers thread for some suggestions.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=42395

Scooty · August 11, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

I've never heard of using fungicide for BER.
Were you thinking of spraying for another problem, or is there new research?

Nope. I had one of those space out moments thinking of buckeye rot.

As for bottom end rot, I'm growing over half of the dwarf tomato project tomatoes, and I haven't had a noticeable issue with it, either in containers or the ground. But only the extras went into containers, and not everything had extras, so I may have just lucked out on varieties.

Shrinkrap · August 12, 2016

I grew eight or nine dwarfs in containers this year; three in gardeners supply, the other six in earthboxes. Had a tiny problem with BER on Dwarf Purple Heart, but cracking was a bigger problem for my striped blacks. My very first Blazing Beauty is starting to color and no BER, but it is cracked as well.

PureHarvest · August 12, 2016

I grew 9 types of dwarfs in bags this year. Not one fruit with end rot.
Using the same bags/soil/water/ferts under the same tunnel, I got some end rot on most of my striped types on full-size indeterminates: Berkeley Tie Dye and PBTD, Brown and Black Boar, Large Barred Boar, and Girl Girl's Weird thing. Worst was on BTD and B&BB. Splitting was also the worst on these too...hmmm.
I don't recall BER on any non-striped type come to think of it.

**nctomatoman** · August 13, 2016

Just gorgeous! I have to agree - Dwarf Blazing Beauty is a real favorite of mine - definitely for those who like tomatoes with a bite.

AKmark · August 13, 2016

That sure is a nice bowl of tomatoes.

I grew 6 different dwarfs in 6 gallon containers this year and had no problem with BER, and rarely get BER on any variety, and have grown a bunch in containers.

Even out your watering, use formulas that are designed for tomato plants, you should not get BER.

Try Flora Nova Grow, medium strength, add 2-3 ml Cal-Mag at the first flower cluster, then sqeek up the FN. You can also use 4-18-38, use CaNO3 in equal amount, MgSO4 half the amount as the previous two components. Use it every day, twice a day if you have too. 1500-1700ppm, 2.0-2.3EC
Good luck

August 11, 2016	#2
Scooty Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Chicago-land & SO-cal Posts: 583	The area has had a lot of rain in the early summer months, so it's not just tomatoes grown in containers getting BER. You'll need a fungicide to help keep it at bay. I'm growing well over triple the variety of dwarfs, and I see it in and out of container. Last edited by Scooty; August 11, 2016 at 04:51 PM.

August 11, 2016	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	George, That is some bowl of dwarfs, very colorful and sure look tasty. BER is more common in containers than in the ground. Most BER in the ground is varietal related. But in the container it is said to be due to inconsistent moisture level and I think that letting the soil get dry is a bigger factor than keeping it wet. It might also be helpful to feed with fertilizer that has calcium in it. I mix in some dolomitic lime (Fast Acting Lime) with potting soil before planting ( One cup per cu-ft). I also add about 20% Floor Dry to store moisture while not compromising drainage. Anther way to deal with BER/ watering issue with container growing is to choose bigger containers. Five gallon is bare minimum for small varieties. 10 to 12 gallon is better. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

August 12, 2016	#7
Shrinkrap Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 701	I grew eight or nine dwarfs in containers this year; three in gardeners supply, the other six in earthboxes. Had a tiny problem with BER on Dwarf Purple Heart, but cracking was a bigger problem for my striped blacks. My very first Blazing Beauty is starting to color and no BER, but it is cracked as well. Last edited by Shrinkrap; August 12, 2016 at 02:44 AM.

August 13, 2016	#9
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Just gorgeous! I have to agree - Dwarf Blazing Beauty is a real favorite of mine - definitely for those who like tomatoes with a bite. __________________ Craig

August 13, 2016	#10
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	That sure is a nice bowl of tomatoes. I grew 6 different dwarfs in 6 gallon containers this year and had no problem with BER, and rarely get BER on any variety, and have grown a bunch in containers. Even out your watering, use formulas that are designed for tomato plants, you should not get BER. Try Flora Nova Grow, medium strength, add 2-3 ml Cal-Mag at the first flower cluster, then sqeek up the FN. You can also use 4-18-38, use CaNO3 in equal amount, MgSO4 half the amount as the previous two components. Use it every day, twice a day if you have too. 1500-1700ppm, 2.0-2.3EC Good luck Last edited by AKmark; August 13, 2016 at 02:52 AM.

August 11, 2016	#5
Yak54 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Madison, OH, zone 6 Posts: 474	See the link in the Growing in containers thread for some suggestions. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=42395

August 12, 2016	#8
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	I grew 9 types of dwarfs in bags this year. Not one fruit with end rot. Using the same bags/soil/water/ferts under the same tunnel, I got some end rot on most of my striped types on full-size indeterminates: Berkeley Tie Dye and PBTD, Brown and Black Boar, Large Barred Boar, and Girl Girl's Weird thing. Worst was on BTD and B&BB. Splitting was also the worst on these too...hmmm. I don't recall BER on any non-striped type come to think of it.