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haeffnkr

red beefsteak - moldy-rotten

19 years ago

Hello,

I have planted 5 tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets (not upside down) ....each on is different variety - a bush variety - big boy - a grape variety - something else and red beefsteak heirloom variety.

All my tomatoes are looking great - big green green tomatoes, the grape variety is loaded and have picked 10 so far, none of the others are red yet...except these red beefsteaks...are turning rotten on the vine, still green with just a tiny hint of red to them. I pulled of 4 so far, the last one today was not red at all. nice tennisball sized tomatoes. The first one was litterally 1/3 rotten, it all starts on the bottom of the tomatoe and works up the tomatoe.

Lot of water, holes in the buckets so they drain fine. Miracle grow 2 times a week. Vines and green tomaotes great on all plants.

What is the problem?

thanks Kevin

haeffnkr at charter dot net

Comments (6)

  • 19 years ago

    Your problem is blossom end rot. I am not an expert, but I believe the cause is way too much fertilizer. I would just water for now, and leave out the Miracle Grow. Too much of that builds up in the soil and can prevent calcium absorption. Hopefully any further tomatoes will not have the problem.

  • 19 years ago

    The problem is blossom End Rot, BER.

    Please see the FAQ link at the top of this page on BER and please go to the bottom of this page and search for the many threads about BER.

    I know just last week I posted a detailed description of BER, what causes it and why, and there are many things that can cause it.

    Summarizing, as a result of may different stresses to the plant there is a maldistribution of Ca++ which shows itself by desctruction of tissue at the blossom end of fruits.

    The proibkem 99% of the time is NOT a lack of Ca++ in the soil b'c Ca++ is taken up. It just doesn['t get to where it should be.

    As plants mature they can better withstand the various stresses and so BER, for most folks, then disappears.

    Carolyn, who does urge you to find those other threads already here on BER.

  • 19 years ago

    Way too much fertilizer, dude! Cut back to no more often than once every couple of weeks. Once every two to 4 weeks is plenty often enough, with liquid fertilizer.

    Sojourner

  • 19 years ago

    Just a thought. Tomatoes respond to stress by going to seed, which of course, is a tomato. Too much fertilizer makes the plant incapable of fruiting properly. Back off on the ferts and even the water and the plant will go into survival mode and fruit like crazy. Works every time. Best of luck.

  • 19 years ago

    thanks for the help thus far.
    I will try to back off the fertilizer some and see what happens.
    Why is it that only one variety appears to have this problem?
    I have read a couple threads on BER and have a question about watering.
    I have a drip irrigation system. These buckets gets lots of sun facing south. So water them very well 2 times a day on a timer. But my buckets have several big holes in them and I have them off the concrete they set on so they will drail very well.
    Can I water them too much and cause BER in my setup?
    thanks Kevin

  • 19 years ago

    Yes too much water will not allow the roots to get the calcuim to the fruit. I have the same problem with my containers on knowing how much water is enough water I think I am a little on the wet side and have had a few with BER but I have stopped with the liquid fertilyzer and I am trying to even out the water.

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