Tomato problem

Looks like Blossom end rot - Blossom end rot/RHS Gardening

"Blossom end rot

Dark blotches on the ends of aubergine, tomato and pepper are alarming, but do not mean the end of the crop. This is called blossom end rot and is caused by lack of calcium in the fruits. By making minor adjustments in watering you will usually be able to protect subsequent fruits from blossom end rot.


What is blossom end rot?

Blossom end rot is a physiological problem, caused by adverse growing conditions rather than a pest or disease. Certain vegetables that form large fruits, such as aubergines, peppers and (most often) tomatoes are particularly susceptible.
Symptoms

Blossom end rot shows as a circular patch, varying in colour from greenish brown to black, at the end of the fruit that had the flower (the end furthest from the plant). As this patch increases in size it becomes sunken so that the fruit has a flattened appearance at the affected end. The blackened patch varies greatly: in some fruits it is only 1cm (1/2in) across, while in others it is 2.5cm (1in) or more in diameter.
Cause

Blossom end rot is caused by lack of calcium in the fruits. Calcium deficiency reduces cell membrane permeability and this leads to swelling of the cells followed by leakage and destruction of the membrane structure. There is also a reduction in growth of new cells. This causes the characteristic dark, sunken areas.

It is very rare for soils, growing bags or potting media to actually lack calcium. There is almost always plenty in the soil and indeed within the plant. However for calcium to reach the parts of the plant that are furthest from the roots there needs to be a good flow of water through the plant. The fruits are distant from the roots and do not compete as well as the leaves for calcium, leading to a local lack of calcium at the ends of the fruit.

Plants grown with limited root space (e.g. in pots or growing bags) are most at risk of irregular water supply leading to local calcium deficiency in the fruits. Plants in border soil, whether outdoors or in the greenhouse, are less likely to be affected.

A similar problem can arise if fertiliser is added to dry soil around plants, because the concentrated nutrients in the soil water will restrict water uptake by the plant. Additionally, some fertiliser ingredients - ammonium salts for example - compete with calcium for access to the plant roots, further exacerbating the calcium deficiency.

Very high air humidity can also limit water uptake by plant roots, so good daytime ventilation of greenhouses is helpful.

Control

There is nothing you can do to save fruits once they have blossom end rot, but you can prevent subsequent fruits from being affected by the following:

The soil or potting compost should be kept consistently moist throughout the growing season and must never be allowed to dry out. During hot periods it may need watering two or more times a day. It is better to water twice a day than once with a double volume. Growing bag compost is very difficult to moisten evenly and thoroughly once it has dried out
Automatic watering systems, use of larger containers, or growing in border soil are all potential solutions where frequent watering is not possible. Covering the soil or potting compost with mulch will also help to conserve moisture around plant roots
Applying liquid fertiliser may help, but this must only be applied to moist soil, and following the manufacturer's recommendations
Applying foliar sprays of calcium salts such as calcium nitrate are not effective because calcium is not readily absorbed by the fruits and transport from leaves to fruit is poor. The nitrate in this fertiliser can also promote lush growth that leaves less calcium available for the fruits"

I don't think it's blossom end rot - the patches are in the wrong place for starters.

I would agree that you probably need to increase ventilation though.

If the leaves are healthy, you can rule out early blight........I too would have guessed at BER. Can be caused by irregular watering.

I am with RL BER occurs on the bottom of the fruit I have never seen it in that sort of position. That looks more like some king of bruising to me.

You have tomatoes already? I hope you get this solved. I have a young tomato plant with withering lower leaves

You'll not find a more comprehensive website on tomato ailments anywhere ...
Tomato Disease*Identification*Key-Fruit

It's called blossom end rot because it starts at the end where the flower was attached.....the blossom end.

This is not always a problem. The lower leaves can often turn yellow as the plant grows but it can also be a sign that's it's lacking in nutrients, nitrogen, over watering or sometimes pests. Post a pic and we can have a look...

Although not at the blossom end of the fruit I wonder if it might, similarly, be caused by Calcium deficiency? Does that (in turn caused by irregular watering) ONLY cause the end of the fruit to rot? (I'm trying to think why only the end would rot, as a consequence of calcium deficiency)

it does look like blight, but it's totally the wrong time of year. Also, you have very very early fruits ~ are they this year's fruits, or last year's ?

And what does the foliage look like (photos please, of any discolouring on the stems & leaves)

Hi it's this years fruit.
I wasn't intending on growing them quite so early, I sowed the seeds in February to see if they were viable or if I needed to order new seeds, and then couldnt get myself to throw them out and I love the smell of tomato plants.

The plants are in my living room ( goes outside on the terrace during the day when it's warm and dry enough) in a fully southfacing wall of glass

Here are 2 pick, this discolouration has appeared on the leaves


and one of one of the plants in general

they're highly unlikely to get blight indoors, and anyway it's something that hits in August.


have a gander at this: http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...TomFrtKey.html

if it is just a few fruit might they have got knocked & bruised taking them in-and-out each day?

My initial thoughts were that it looked like early blight, but as has been said, too early and they are safe indoors.

Blossom end rot does sometime start slightly away from the base of the fruit so this is my guess at thinking what it could be. The pots look quite large and to keep the moisture content high enough to support a plant with fruit on I would say that you would have trouble lifting the pots as they would be very heavy, so I am only guessing that the plants have been slightly under-watered.

Do not try to just add calcium to rectify the problem, as they plant will take up the calcium if it is watered and feed with a standard tomato feed.

As I have said this is just an educated guess and you have done amazingly well to have produced tomatoes so early, they obviously have had enough light and look quite healthy.