Lights out rotten tomateos8/7/2023 ![]() ![]() However, if the results of your test indicate that your soil is deficient, you will need to add calcium at or before planting time.Īmending the soil later, or spraying on plant foliage will not remedy the problem once it has taken hold. The problem is that the calcium is not properly allocated throughout the plant tissues. Generally, a lack of calcium in the soil is not the problem – most soils already contain adequate calcium. If you do apply nitrogen fertilizer, add calcium nitrate as well, and avoid nitrogen in the form of ammonia or urea. If you plan to grow your crop in a container, choose a fertilizer that is specifically designed for growing tomatoes. Consider fertilizers with an NPK ratio of 4-12-4 or 5-20-5. It is best to use fertilizers that are low in nitrogen, but high in phosphorus. The results will let you know whether you need to apply any amendments. You want the pH of the soil to be between 6.5 and 7.5, so it can be a good idea to have your garden soil tested before you plant. Seedlings should have at least two to three sets of true leaves and be hardened off before transplanting.Ĭheck out our guide to learn more about how and when to transplant your seedlings. You can determine this by using a soil thermometer. ![]() It is also important the temperature of the soil is at least 60☏ before you plant your seedlings outside. If you don’t know when that is, you can find out in the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Wait until at least two weeks after your last frost date to plant them in your garden. While you will be eager to start your tomatoes in the spring, you may be setting them up for blossom-end rot if you plant in cold soil, or clay soil that you haven’t amended correctly. There are a number of cultural measures you can take to minimize the likelihood of being faced with deformed tomatoes at harvest time. Tomatoes that have been planted in cold soil may not develop robust root systems.Īlso, if the plants have been over-fertilized and have an abundance of foliage, they are more likely to develop blossom-end rot, as the leaves will compete with the fruit for calcium. Sometimes the calcium stalls in the stems or leaves, and never makes it to the developing fruit. However, this mode of delivery does not always evenly distribute the calcium throughout the plant. ![]() The roots take up calcium from the soil, and ideally the calcium is delivered throughout the plant by the passage of water, via the xylem. It is critical for tomatoes to have a well-developed root system. There are several possible reasons for this. You may wonder why the first tomatoes of the season, growing on plants that you have tenderly nurtured from seed or planted as seedlings, are rewarding you with damaged fruit.
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