A plant disorder that is caused by a calcium deficiency. If demand for calcium exceeds supply, tissue lacking the mineral break down, causing a leathery brown or black area on the blossom end of fruit. This normally occurs on the first fruit set of the season. Most common when season starts out wet and then turns dry when plants are setting fruit.
- Affects
- Level of Concern
- Gardeners take note
- What months
- Jun–Sep
- Treatment / Useful Links
Fruit should be picked and properly discarded. Management considerations include: insure proper draining of bed and maintain a pH around 6.5; stabilize moisture level of soil. Poorly drained soils lead roots to “smother” leading to reduced Ca uptake; avoid deep cultivation that may damage roots; avoid excess nitrogen fertilization. Once the problem develops, quick fixes are difficult.