Content
Blossom rot on tomatoes in a greenhouse is a fairly common crop disease that every gardener has encountered at least once in their life. It is manifested by the formation of a rotten spot in the upper part of the tomatoes, spoiling the presentation and taste of the fruit. Such a vegetable becomes unsuitable for canning, and if severely damaged, it becomes unsuitable for consumption.
Blossom rot may sometimes be called crown rot, black rot, or blossom end rot.
What kind of disease is this
Blossom rot is a physiological disease that manifests itself only on the tomato fruits themselves and does not affect the plant. Externally, the bushes of the crop look healthy, the fruits set normally, and their shape is correct. But over time, a dry spot appears on the top of the vegetable, gradually increasing in size.
If we compare this disease with late blight, it is not caused by fungi and is in no way related to pathogenic factors. Most often it is a consequence of improper care of tomatoes and can occur both in open ground beds and in a greenhouse.
The disease does not occur every year. But if it appears in a greenhouse, then most likely all the beds will be affected by it. In this case, losses can be quite significant. This occurs not only on tomatoes; blossom end rot can affect peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants. If it is detected in time, then vegetables can be saved and, with proper treatment, the formation of new ovaries and healthy fruits can be achieved.
Reasons for appearance
The main reason why blossom end rot occurs on tomatoes is non-compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. The disease can appear due to a lack of nutrients, especially calcium and boron. If there is a lack of the first, the cell wall of the vegetable skin deteriorates and is destroyed, which leads to its deformation, and if there is a lack of the second, the first cannot be absorbed normally.
Blossom rot also appears at high temperatures and insufficient humidity. If the growing region is northern, then this factor leads to the disease only in the greenhouse. In southern latitudes, heat and drought provoke blossom end rot in open beds.
Signs of infection
Top rot on tomatoes can appear in dry form, in particular on green fruits and in the form of weeping spots (bacterial) without limiting boundaries. The first signs of infection can be recognized by the unhealthy ends of the tomato. The spots on them may have a depressed or flat appearance; their color is initially green, but as the disease develops it becomes brown or even black.The size may be small, but over time it increases and covers most of the fruit. Diseased tomatoes stop growing and begin to ripen quickly.
If the disease occurs due to a lack of calcium or due to high acidity of the soil, then spots can be seen on all fruits, and if the cause of the disease is heat, then, in particular, specimens growing on the first three clusters are affected.
Sometimes blossom end rot has a hidden form. That is, it does not appear externally, but is diagnosed on a section of tomato tissue. The fruit pulp becomes hard.
Blossom blossom causes tomatoes to be dense and dry
How dangerous is the disease?
The main danger of the disease is loss of harvest. Tomatoes affected by blossom end rot in the greenhouse and garden stop developing, become deformed, become tasteless and unsuitable for use. When the disease penetrates the fruits, they quickly rot and fall from the bushes.
Measures to combat blossom end rot of tomatoes in a greenhouse
Top rot on tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open ground is treated in the same way. The faster the disease is seen and identified, the greater the gardener’s chances of saving the crop and defeating the disease.
There are several methods of struggle, their description is presented below.
Agrotechnical methods
Among the agrotechnical measures to protect tomatoes from blossom end rot in the greenhouse and on the plot is crop rotation. It is not advisable to plant tomatoes in the place where they and other nightshade crops previously grew. You need to wait at least three years. You need to grow tomatoes on moisture-absorbing soil, and add turf soil and peat to soil that is too light.Before sowing seeds, treat them with disinfectants. For example, soak for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate. As soon as the fruits begin to appear on the bushes, inspect them regularly, and if dark spots are detected, immediately pick them and dispose of them.
Folk remedies
At the initial stage of the disease on tomatoes in the greenhouse and beds, you can try to get rid of it using folk methods. The most effective remedies are prepared as follows:
- Ash decoction. Sift 300 g of ash, add 1 liter of water, and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. The resulting solution is filtered, diluted in a bucket of water and used to spray tomatoes in the greenhouse and outside.
- Calcium chloride. The drug purchased at the pharmacy is diluted with water (a 10 ml ampoule will require 10 liters). The resulting solution is used to irrigate the bushes at least three times with an interval of two weeks.
- Eggshell. A sufficient amount of the product is placed in a jar, filled with water and left for about five days. The resulting mixture is filtered, brought to a volume of 3 liters, and used for spraying.
- Soda Ash. Add 1 tbsp to a bucket of water. l. product, mixed, used for processing the green mass of tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open areas, on any soil except carbonate soil.
- Chalk. Add 250 g of construction or feed chalk to 5 liters of water, stir, and irrigate the bushes during the growing season.
Chemicals
Blossom rot is often treated with chemicals. To protect the site and the greenhouse, the following is usually used:
- Calcium nitrate. Its solution is suitable for root and foliar treatments.The product is prepared from a bucket of water and 2 tbsp. l. drug. It is suitable for processing both young and adult bushes.
- Brexil Sa. The product is diluted in accordance with the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. The site and greenhouse are treated once every ten days.
- Lime nitrate. Dissolve 8 g of the drug in 10 liters of water and irrigate the tomatoes with the resulting composition every four days.
- A mixture of 10 liters of water, 10 g of calcium nitrate and 10 g of boric acid.
When working with chemicals, you must use a mask and gloves.
Biological products
Tomato blossom end rot can be treated well with biological products such as Fitosporin and Calsifol 25. They are quickly absorbed by plants and are considered completely harmless.
Phytosporin, in addition to treating this disease, protects the crop from various fungal infections. It is prepared by mixing 10 g of the substance and 1 liter of water. To treat with Calcifol, 50 g of it is dissolved in a bucket of liquid.
Prevention of blossom end rot of tomatoes in a greenhouse
Rather than fighting blossom end rot on tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is easier to prevent its occurrence, for which it is advisable to carry out a number of preventive procedures. These are the following events:
- Monitoring soil moisture levels in the greenhouse and garden. Do not let the soil dry out, but at the same time do not flood the beds. Watering should be carried out at least once a week exclusively in the mornings or evenings.
- Organization of loosening the beds after each moistening. In the case when the tomato is not grown in a greenhouse, the procedure is carried out after rain.
- Mulching the soil. It helps the earth retain moisture longer.
- Planting of plants and regular weeding of beds.Tomato plantings must be ventilated, so they should not be allowed to thicken, especially in a greenhouse.
- Regular feeding. Tomatoes should be fertilized with mineral complexes in accordance with the recommended schedule.
- Cleaning the greenhouse or beds after the full harvest. With the arrival of autumn, you need to get rid of all plant debris, as well as carry out deep digging of the earth.
- Sowing green manure to improve the soil structure.
- Preparing the greenhouse for winter.
Blossom rot appears less frequently if soil deoxidation is carried out
Resistant varieties
In order to encounter the disease as rarely as possible, experts recommend planting varieties that have maximum resistance to it in greenhouses and soil. Typically, these varieties include those that have late ripening periods. In addition, in recent years, varieties have been developed that have increased resistance to the disease, even when grown in unfavorable conditions. These are the tomatoes Dachnik, Venec, Faraon, Lunniy, Raisa.
Conclusion
Blossom rot on tomatoes in a greenhouse, as in open ground, can be eliminated by taking certain measures to treat it. If a disease is discovered, you should not rush to dig up the bushes; if you organize health measures correctly, you can completely get rid of the disease. But, according to experts, rather than looking for a solution to a problem that has already arisen, it is better to prevent its occurrence at all, for which you just need to properly care for the tomatoes and systematically carry out preventive procedures.
