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Baby san marzano bottom turning brown/black

Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
edited August 2022 in Fruit & veg
Hi

my baby san marzano tomatoes are starting to turn brown or black on the bottom side. Any idea what it might be and how to combat it?
thanks

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That’s Blossom End Rot aka BER 

    San Marzano does seem particularly prone to it 

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/751559#Comment_751559

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





  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    ;( so nothing I can do to get rid of it?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It only affects individual fruit, not the whole plant. 

    It’s caused by a lack of calcium uptake in the plant, and it’s pretty well universally agreed among experienced tomato growers that stressed plants find it hard to take up and metabolise calcium properly, even if it is available to the plant. 

    Usual advice is that consistency in watering is the most important way to prevent the problem  … some folk find using a feed high in calcium can be helpful … others find it makes no difference. 

    Of course, this year in particular there are other stresses on our plants … the high temperatures in particular. Not much we can do about them (in the short term at least). 🙄 

    Its worth bearing in mind, particularly with a cooking type tomato such as San Marzano, that if you cut away the affected part of the fruit the rest can be used for sauces etc. 

    Hope that helps. 


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





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