Return to the Growing from Seed Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
Dave--a question for you

Posted by oilpainter 3 (My Page) on
Sat, Sep 18, 10 at 22:30

Hi
I know that blossom end rot in tomatoes is because of a lack of calcium and caused by not keeping tomatoes moist, especially when they are flowering.

My question--Something I always wondered about.
How does the lack of moisture deplete the tomato plant of calcium? Is calcium not present in dry soil or is it just not available to the plant.

Looking forward to the answer


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: Dave--a question for you

I'm bumping this down. Looks like there is no answer for my question


 o
RE: Dave--a question for you

There are plenty of answers, but I guess Dave isn't present at the moment. Your request for Dave is probably why your question has not been answered.

There are many reasons why BER happens; it's often like a house of cards. The primary (fundamental) reason for this disorder is that the demand of Ca exceeds the ready supply. WHY this occurs can be complicated.

There may be an excess of other cations in the soil, such as magnesium (often applied in epsom salts), or potassium. BER is often induced by heat and drought stress, as well as big fluctuations in soil moisture. Excessive amounts of N in the soil, resulting in a lot of vegetative growth will also invite this disorder. Finally, if there is an inadequate supply of calcium, ready for uptake by the plant, in the soil....there will be a problem. Most calcium products need quite a bit of time for the particles to break down to the elemental level so that they can be take up by the plant.


 o Post a Follow-Up

Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum.

    If you are a member, please log in.

    If you aren't yet a member, join now!


Return to the Growing from Seed Forum

Instructions

  • You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
  • Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
  • After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
  • It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
  • HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
  • No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
  • If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
  • If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.



 
Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.