Gray rot. How to identify, control and prevent rotting

A little about gray rot

Why are your tomatoes rotting underneath? Unfortunately, they probably developed gray rot. This is a common problem in tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and pumpkin, caused by low calcium levels in fruits. (Calcium is essential for normal cell growth.) End rotting usually occurs with large fluctuations in moisture, resulting in decreased absorption and movement of calcium in the plant. When the demand for calcium exceeds supply, tissues gradually begin to deteriorate.

Calcium deficiency during fruit formation can also be caused by too much nitrogen fertilization, high salt content in the soil, or damage to plant roots during cultivation. Keep these reasons in mind when caring for tomatoes to prevent this kind of rotting.

Some rot at the bottom of the fruit is more or less acceptable in the first tomatoes of the season, as plants usually experience this phenomenon during the initial harvesting period. If the damaged part is small, you can cut it off and not worry about the rest. This should help you fix this problem, because after all, nobody wants rotten tomatoes!

Gray rot. How to define a disease?

Rotting usually occurs when the fruit is green or ripe. This process begins with a small, depressed, water-soaked area on the bottom of the fetus. As the stain grows larger, it becomes watery and becomes black or dark brown in color.

How to control decay

First, isolate the affected fetus from the healthy ones. As a rule, it is unlikely that you will be able to fix something once decay begins. If the affected fruit is pulled out, the plant can bloom again and produce normal fruit.

After removing the affected fruit from the plant, use liquid calcium fertilizer.

Is it possible to prevent gray rot?

The key to this is timely and high-quality soil preparation. You need to keep the soil pH around 6.5. If necessary, increase the ratio of calcium ions to other competitive ions in the soil. Add crushed eggshells, gypsum, or bone meal to increase calcium replenishment.

Try to maintain a more even moisture supply. Use mulch and watering to avoid the negative effects of drought. If it rains, make sure the plant soil is well drained and dries up in a timely manner. In general, most plants need about 2-3 centimeters of moisture per week.

Avoid loosening near the roots of tomato plants.

For fertilization, use nitrogen nitrate instead of ammoniacal nitrogen (as the latter increases the degree and rate of decay).