Many of my tomatoes have a dark leathery sunken spot at the blossom end. What causes this and how do I stop it?
Why are my tomato (tamatar) fruits getting black sunken patches at the bottom?
AAmol Kadam6mo ago · 296 views
4 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓5mo ago
That dark sunken spot at the bottom of the fruit is blossom end rot, and it is not a disease you spray away, it is a calcium related disorder linked to irregular water supply. It happens when the plant cannot move enough calcium to the developing fruit, usually because of uneven irrigation with wet and dry swings, moisture stress, or too much nitrogen pushing fast growth. The main fix is steady, even soil moisture, which drip irrigation and mulching help maintain, so avoid letting the soil dry out and then flooding it. Maintain balanced nutrition with adequate calcium per your soil test and avoid excess nitrogen and ammonium. Get your soil tested with a Soil Health Card. Foliar calcium sprays can give some relief but consistent watering is the real solution, so ask your KVK for advice specific to your soil and water.
PPrakash Jagtap5mo ago
Mine stopped almost completely once I switched to drip and kept the moisture even. The dry and wet cycle from flood irrigation was the cause.
SSantosh Kale5mo ago
Watch your nitrogen. The year I pushed a lot of urea for fast growth the blossom end rot was worst, the plant grew lush but the fruit could not get enough calcium. Easing off the heavy nitrogen and keeping the watering steady fixed it for me.
MMahesh Dhumal5mo ago
Do not expect a calcium spray alone to solve it. I sprayed calcium but kept watering unevenly and it still came back. The spray only helped once I fixed the irrigation so the moisture stayed steady. The watering is the real cause, the spray is just a small support.