Tomatoes Rot on Vine

[Haven]

This is the first year I planted some tomatoes in pots on the porch since we skipped the garden this year. I am using self watering pots filled from the bottom.

I have one large plant called Big Bush or something like that. The tomatoes are just starting to get large and ripen slightly. So far I had to pull the first 3 off and trash them because the entire bottom of each fruit is turning light brown and getting soggy and semi rotten. The first 2 were still solid green and the 3rd was turning red on the top 1/3. None of the tomatoes were sitting on anything, they were suspended in the air.

It doesnt appear to be over watered, no yellow leaves, the plant is mulched with grass clippings and leaves are a rich dark green color.

What is causing this?

[Nature_Lover]

Sounds like blossom end rot, a calcium deficiency and watering issue.

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...to_BlossRt.htm

I'm sure you can stop it! good luck!

I'd also consider watering from the top to flush out all of the salts and minerals that can leave a residue in the soil from bottom watering.

[Haven]

You got it! Thanks so much for the info.

[Guilt Trip]

Try this in containers, 5 gallon size ? three- five Tums, yes Tums smash them put in a quart of warm water and soak the ground around the plant good This works when I had end rot problems, you don't have time for lime or dolomite to work those Tums will do the trick quick, They work for me GT.

[Paquebot]

Self-watering pots are only as good as the soil which is in them. If it can't wick the water up to the roots, the soil will be just as dry as if not watered at all. The most important feeder roots are in the first 6" or so. If the only water is below that level, doesn't do much good.

Martin

[Haven]

Thanks for the advice. The end rot is really bad and hitting every tomato. I just pulled 4 more off on the way in the house - all rotted brown, soggy and dripping water out the bottoms of each fruit. I filled these large pots with some pricey potting soil in a gold bag and figured it would be good stuff. It really screwed up the plant bad. I have been watering it from above also, not just from the bottom.

The cherry tomato pots seems ok so far. Weird.

[Ray]

In a study from the University of Columbia, It stated that blossom end rot can be caused by, either too little water or too much water. It seems that either can kill the tiny roots that deliver the water that feeds the tomato end and keeps it growing properly. So this could be something to look at. I know everyone says calcium def. causes blossom end rot, I'm just throwing in this university study that says the root loss from too much or too little water can cause blossom end rot. considering your watering system, it might be something worth investigating? good luck

[Haven]

Just an update. I dosed the plants with some general fertilizer a week ago, and have since mulched them with some rabbit manure. Seems the issue is clearing up. The rabbits pass a fair amount of white calcium in their pee that lands in the poop, so i think this is going to help a lot. Thanks again for all the help.

Hopefully I will get to eat some of my own tomatoes soon. These hard as a rock, flavorless, unripened after sitting out for a week, store bought tomatos are hard to stomach.

[kirkmcquest]

Bottom rot

[Danaus29]

With bagged potting soil the issue could very easily be lack of calcium although the water absorption could be an issue too. I never use just straight potting soil from the bag. I mix in sand and compost or the material from the rabbits litter pans (pine sawdust soaked with rabbit urine and mixed with poop). That combination works better than any I have ever tried.

[stamphappy]

Thanks for posting this. My mom just called me as her tomatoe plants are doing this. This is the first year she's planted in pots rather than straight into the ground. She also used potting soil from a bag.

We're going to try the Tums trick and see what happens.