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Treating Blossom End Rot in Container Tomatoes and Peppers

Rescuing Fruiting Plants from Calcium Deficiency

Blossom end rot (black, sunken bottoms on tomatoes/peppers) indicates calcium uptake issues, often from irregular watering.

Immediate Actions

Apply liquid calcium (pharmacy grade) diluted 1:1 or 1:4 to soil for quick root uptake.
Add coffee grounds and crushed eggshells to soil for slow-release calcium.
Spray natural lye soap dilution on fruit to slow further rot.

Edibility and Prevention

Cut away affected parts; the rest is safe to eat fresh but not for canning. For next year: ensure consistent watering, add gypsum or lime at planting, mulch to stabilize moisture.

Growing Vegetables: Mold on Indoor Plant Soil: Why Repotting Is the Best Cure; Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes: Causes and Organic Prevention; Sudden Tomato Wilt with Blossom-End Rot: Early Season Fix; Solving Blossom-End Rot in Tomatoes: Calcium, Water, and Variety; Preventing Blossom-End Rot in Tomatoes with Epsom Salts and Solarization; Diagnosing Root Rot, Nematodes, and Soil Disease in a New Garden; Blossom End Rot: Calcium Deficiency Fix & Prevention for Tomatoes, Peppers & Squash; Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes and Peppers: Causes and Prevention; Gypsum for Blossom End Rot: Neutral pH Calcium Source; Blossom End Rot in Container Tomatoes: Causes and Fixes

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