Tomatoes

[Big Mike]

My tomatoes are rotting and turning black from the bottom long before they ripen. I've seen this before but memory doesn't always serve me well. I think I remember some old timers using epsom salt but like I said, the memory.....Anyone have any ideas?

[Jim Becker]

Tomato blosson end rot. Around here, it is usually blamed on excessive soil moisture fluctuations. Here is a reference:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3117.html. Google "tomato blosson end rot" to see some others.

[DanR]

Fortunately blossom end rot is not contagious. When I plant tomatoes I put a teaspoon of Epsom Salt and a hand full of lime under each plant. Tomatoes don't like an acid soil. The most important thing is don't over water. Once a week is enough unless the temp is very high. Mulch with anything you have to keep the tomatoes from ground contact. Keep close hand the bread, lettuce, and bacon.

[doug fournier]

Epson salt liquid version works good to. To much nitrogen along with to much water sends a tomatoe into the rot stage. Some people put broken up sheetrock around the plant to control the acid soil. I only put a hand full of Garden tone in the hole when I plant then some dirt on top of the Garden tone to stop the roots from getting burned on the mixture until it gets bigger, then when it hits that stuff, stand back. Get your baskets and watch them goooo!!

Doug

[Big Mike]

I did a couple teaspoons of epsom salt on each plant and that cleared it up....thanks everyone