Let's talk about an issue that frequently pops up in my inbox this time of year: blossom end rot.

You know, the dark, sunken-in spots you sometimes find on the bottom of your tomatoes (as well as your peppers, cucumbers, melons, eggplant, or squash).

These spots might look like some kind of plant disease or pest problem, but blossom end rot is actually a physiological condition that tends to appear early in the growing season.

If gone unnoticed, the decaying spots get larger and eventually make your fruits inedible (or at the very least, unsightly).

A common misconception is that blossom end rot is caused by calcium deficiency and can be "cured" by adding more calcium to the soil.

But!

This isn't entirely true.

​Here's the REAL cause of blossom end rot—and what you can do about it.​

Seasonal tips

Tomato Megablooms: How and Why These Mutated Flowers Happen Read more

7 Delicious Ways to Use Tomato Leaves in the Kitchen Read more

How (Not) to Fertilize Your Plants This Summer Read more

7 Common Plant Problems Caused by Excessive Heat Read more

What I Always Plant Midsummer for an Epic Fall Harvest Read more

How to Pollinate Squash by Hand (and Why Your Plants Have Lots of Flowers But No Fruit) Read more

Get answers to all your questions

This time of year, I get loads of questions in my inbox and can't answer them all (especially with no context on your actual garden conditions and practices).

But did you know I offer personalized Garden Consultations that focus on what you're doing, or could be doing? Book an easy call with me or—if you're in Central Oregon—let's walk your space together to see how to get the most out of your edible garden.

P.S. You can't treat blossom end rot simply by adding more calcium to the soil. Here's the real reason it happens and what you can do about it.​