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Blossom End Rot?

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  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    2 out of 9 varieties in pots have BER.  All 23 in the GH beds haven't, although the Super Marmande has started to shrivel (I think the foliage from the two plants surrounding it has starved it of light).  Only 2 days ago did I remove all the bottom leaves from everything and by then it was too late.
    Well, it's a mystery. Orange Banana can be prone to BER so that's a possible explanation for its problems. That Cosmic Eclipse is also suffering while seven other potted varieties aren't ... hm. Presumably all the pots get the same treatment, watering, etc? That they're in a GH, isolated from the various external weather conditions that could stress a plant, reduces the stress-inducing possibilities. 

    This is the problem with BER, why it can be the bane of the tomato grower's life. Sometimes it's inexplicable.
  • seyfadesseyfades Posts: 146
    All, I started the plant from seeds, Johnson’s seeds, I used the left over seeds I had from last year, for all the six varieties, they all used the same compost mix, watering and ferterlising regime. I’m growing 4 other varieties ( San Marzano, Orange Berry, Tigrella and Ildi) in addition to the Costoluto. The others seems to be doing well. 
  • seyfadesseyfades Posts: 146

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    Even with magnification I can't see if that's a grey growth on either side of the stem. Or is it an optical illusion?

    It also looks like a small container for a big plant. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    That's a "grow pot" sitting on top of a large plastic pot, I think, Italophile.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • seyfadesseyfades Posts: 146
    Bob is right, I’ve got grow pot on top of the container. Is this a small container? 
  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    Bob was right. That photo tells the story. No problems.
  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    Regarding smaller containers:

    I tend to think that the soil area the plant grows in determines its eventual size (a bit like a goldfish stunted by the size of its bowl - put it into a larger tank.....)  My tomato plants in the greenhouse beds last year grew until being cut off.  This meant the ones in the middle end started going sideways along the top once they hit the apex at 4 metres high.  In the photo (taken late September) you can see I'd eaten many of the ripe tomatoes already and probably over-thinned out the leaves which I won't do any more.  This year I promised myself to cut the tops off at about 8 feet. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Regarding smaller containers:

    I tend to think that the soil area the plant grows in determines its eventual size (a bit like a goldfish stunted by the size of its bowl - put it into a larger tank.....)  ...
    That could be interesting shock  ... mine are planted direct in the ground in the veg patch this year ... after all, it works in Italy  B)



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    Regarding smaller containers:

    I tend to think that the soil area the plant grows in determines its eventual size 

    I think that's true. A too-small pot will restrict a plant's potential. I usually grow in the ground outdoors. I once let an Anna Russian grow to see what happened. It hit about 12 feet before I ran into stability problems. I'm using a couple of pots this year because I'll be away for 3 weeks in August. My neighbour looks after watering for me while I'm away and it's too big an ask to drag a hose up steep steps to the second terrace where I usually grow.
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