My tomatoes are getting black, flat bottoms, what's wrong?
Answers:
Blossom End Rot is a calcium deficiency caused not so much by overwatering, but by uneven watering (Letting the tomatoes stay way dry during hot summer time and then giving in and watering the garden, then letting them dry again.). To prevent BER, mulch under plants, water moderately when the weather is dry and hot. Don't go through the wet/dry cycle to any extreme and you should have the problem licked. I always pick and pitch any young tomatoes which have begun BER as soon as I see them, as they cause the plant to waste lots of energy and nutrients bringing them to maturity. They'll likely be stunted and marred fruits anyway.
Other answers:
if the tomatoes are turning black, they are more than likely rotting.
if the tomatoes are turning black, they are more than likely rotting.
Its called Blossom end rot. Ive had it in my garden also. There are different theories about what causes it. First is uneven moisture. Periods of heavy rain or watering followed by periods of extreme dryness. Try mulching around the base of the plants with grass clippings it helps maintain an even soil temperature. Secondly it may be a calciun deficiency in the soil. Crush a handful of tums up and add them to the watering can when you water the plants. You can also buy commercial fertilizers that contain calcium. Once your plants have it? theres not a whole lot you can do except try to salvage what you can of your crop and plan for next year.
Blossom-end rot
Very common problem on homegrown tomatoes. It appears as a depressed brownish, rather dry rot the size of a dime to a half dollar on the blossom end of the fruit. It is caused by a calcium deficiency coupled with wide fluctuations in available moisture. Training and pruning may increase blossom-end rot. Remove the affected fruit so others on the plant will develop normally and keep the plants well watered. Provide good soil drainage. Mulch to maintain a more uniform moisture supply. Avoid cultivating (hoeing) near the roots of tomato plants. Do not use ammonia fertilizers.
You have heard right. It is called "blossom end rot" and is caused by calcium deficiency. I had the same problem until and old farmer explained that the real problem was inconsistent watering. If you will mulch the surface of your planter boxes and water often enough that the roots don't have a chance to completely dry out between watering's, you should see an improvement in a few weeks.
i think it is from a lack of water particularly when the weather is excessively warm
It's from the hot hot heat, all of ours did that , we kept them fertilized & waterd with a soaker hose, now we are getting a few since it has finally cooled down a little.