Blossom End Rot is something we commonly see in tomatoes, especially during the early fruiting stage. Many people think it is a disease, but actually, it is not caused by any fungus or insect. It happens mainly because the fruit is not getting enough calcium during its development.
How It Looks
Outer View
Inner View
You will notice a dark brown or black patch at the bottom side of the tomato. At first, it starts as a small, water-soaked spot, but as the fruit grows, the patch becomes bigger, dry, and leathery. Sometimes the affected fruits fall off early.
Why Blossom End Rot Happens?
- The main reason is calcium imbalance in the plant. Even if calcium is present in the cocopeat or nutrient solution, the fruit may not receive it properly. A few common reasons are:
- Irregular watering or moisture stress
- Sudden changes in temperature
- Very high nitrogen or EC levels
- Fast vegetative growth that competes with fruits
- Poor root growth or root damage
In hydroponics, it can also happen when the EC goes too high or when the calcium supply is not stable.
How to Manage and Prevent It?
- Keep moisture consistent
Avoid letting the plants dry and then flooding them with water. Tomatoes like steady moisture. Using mulch can also help maintain uniform moisture levels. - Ensure proper calcium
Make sure your nutrient mix has enough calcium. In hydroponics, calcium nitrate plays a major role.
Maintain the correct pH because calcium uptake becomes difficult when pH is too high or too low. - Avoid excess nitrogen
Too much nitrogen pushes the plant to grow more leaves instead of sending calcium to fruits. - Manage EC
Keep the EC within the recommended range. High EC limits calcium absorption. - Maintain healthy roots
Good aeration, proper drainage, and avoiding root disturbance will help the plant take up nutrients smoothly. - Foliar sprays
Calcium nitrate or calcium chloride sprays won’t completely cure BER, but they help reduce the severity….
Conclusion
Blossom End Rot is mainly a physiological issue, not a disease. By maintaining consistent watering, keeping the nutrient balance right, and taking care of root health, we can easily avoid this problem. With a few corrections in management, your tomato plants will give healthy, good-quality fruits.
Compiled and written by Agrowvitz Agronomist
-Pallikonda Harshitha.
