Green Thumb Gazette, July 2023

Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes and Squash

Blossom-end rot is a physiological disorder caused by a lack of sufficient calcium in the blossom end of the fruit. This causes the blossom end of the tomato, squash, pepper, etc. to rot. You start to notice this disorder more when the ground or raised bed is either too wet or too dry. Reduce blossom-end rot in tomato, implement the following steps :

Lime soils to pH 6.5 to 6.7 -- Home gardens not limed in the past 2 to 3 years will need 2 cups of lime for each plant. The lime should be worked into the soil 12 inches deep. To determine the exact amount of lime, take a soil sample! (Call Cari Mitchell, Horticulture Agent, to learn more: 828-632-4451).
Fertilize properly -- Applying too much fertilizer at one time can result in blossom-end rot. Following soil test recommendations is the best way to insure proper fertilization. For home gardens not soil tested, apply 5 pints of 8-8-8 per 100 ft of row and work it thoroughly into the top 8 inches of soil.
Mulch plants -- Use straw, pine straw, decomposed sawdust, ground decomposed corn cobs, plastic, or newspapers. Mulches conserve moisture and reduce blossom-end rot. In extreme drought, plastic may increase blossom-end rot if plants are not watered.
Irrigate when necessary -- Tomato plants require about 1.5 inches of water per week during fruiting. This amount of water should be supplied by rain or irrigation. Extreme fluctuations in soil moisture result in a greater incidence of blossom-end rot.
Spray calcium -- The plants may be sprayed with a calcium solution at the rate of 4 lb of calcium nitrate or calcium chloride per 100 gal of water (or 4 level Tbs per gal of water). This spray should be applied 2 to 3 times a week, beginning at the time the second fruit clusters bloom. These materials can be mixed with the spray that is used for control of foliar diseases. Chelated calcium solutions also provide an excellent source of calcium. When using these chelates, follow label directions. Several foliar spray materials containing calcium are available and all work well for tomatoes.

Farmers Market

If you are in need of fresh, local produce, honey, baked goods, eggs, beautiful planters for your porch, perennials for your flower beds, handmade jewelry or crafts, you have got to visit the Alexander County Farmers Market! Our farmers market is located at the Alexander County Services Building and is out there every Saturday from 8am to Noon. We have had so many awesome new vendors join this season and we are THRILLED! If you are in town on Saturday, stop by the market to support your local vendors! If you are interested in becoming a vendor at our market or just have extra produce to sell one Saturday, please contact Cari Mitchell, Horticulture Agent, at 828-632-4451.

Here is a list of some of our vendors and some of the items they sell:
Carol Lovingood - fresh sourdough bread, cream cheese pound cakes, & all natural soaps
Beaver Branch Bees - local honey
Margaret & Reece Childers - fresh produce, pound cakes, jams and jellies
Alvin Woody - wood crafts, old timey wood puzzles, & walking canes
Fourever Farms - herbs, planters, & perennial plants
Deaton Farm - fresh produce & jams/jellies
Campbells Blueberry Farm - blueberries and blueberry products
Misty Sprinkle - customized drinkware, keychains, and more
…. And new vendors all the time

Here is just some of the beautiful produce we had this past week at the market!