Tomato blossom end rot - Ask Extension
I just read your solution to blossom end rot. You said too much magnesium and not enough calcium. I have read other places that epsom salt is what w...
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Tomato blossom end rot #878825
Asked July 25, 2024, 11:20 PM EDT
I just read your solution to blossom end rot. You said too much magnesium and not enough calcium. I have read other places that epsom salt is what will prevent the problem but epsom salt is magnesium. I am confused. Which one do I need more of and which one is too much?
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
I'm not sure where you saw that answer, but it is only partially right. Lack of calcium is indeed the cause of blossom end rot (BER), but it often has nothing to do with the amount of calcium (or magnesium) in the soil. The most common culprit is irregular watering, allowing the soil to dry out too much. When the soil is too dry, the roots can't uptake calcium, and calcium is essential for fruit development. So unless a soil test indicates an actual deficiency of calcium in your soil, just water more regularly and the problem should be minimal.
Other factors that can contribute to BER are low pH, soil salinity, and high temperatures.
Epsom salts are NOT a remedy. They really aren't a remedy for much of anything in the garden, except perhaps an actual magnesium deficiency.
More info here https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/tomato-solanum-lycopersicum-blossom-end-rot
Other factors that can contribute to BER are low pH, soil salinity, and high temperatures.
Epsom salts are NOT a remedy. They really aren't a remedy for much of anything in the garden, except perhaps an actual magnesium deficiency.
More info here https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/tomato-solanum-lycopersicum-blossom-end-rot
