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Cherry tomatoes and peppers rotting on the plant

jennydieseljennydiesel Posts: 12
in Fruit & veg
My greenhouse cherry tomatoes are developing a brown patch on the base and when they start to ripen they then rot. My peppers are also rotting on the plant. I thought it might be the hot weather but my other tomatoes are very healthy. Any idea what is causing this?
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,025
    edited August 2022
    That sounds as if if could be Blossom End Rot 

    lots of info and advice here

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/blossom-end-rot/ 

    Another thought I’d that they with the very high temperatures we’ve had, they could actually have been scorched which can cause rotting. Is the greenhouse shaded?

    Hope that helps 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jennydieseljennydiesel Posts: 12
    It does look exactly like blossom end rot. Interesting as the affected plants were planted in coir compost with fertiliser added to it. My large tomatoes which are very healthy we’re planted in a bed with normal compost and manure. 
  • jennydieseljennydiesel Posts: 12
    I have fed them regularly with tomato feed though?
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 804
    Being given the correct term (BER) is like being given the ball in football and rugby.
    Take it and run with it.
    Hit Google with 'Causes of BER'. It'll take you here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/problems/blossom-end-rot

    And other useful places.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,025
    I've never ever had BER on tomatoes planted in soil in the veg patch ... only ever on plants in containers.  🤞

    I've always followed the advice of a long time poster and 'tomato expert' on here known as @Italophile ... he rarely appears here now, but  he always said that tomatoes need consistency in their watering regime ... his advice was to allow the plants to just begin to wilt before giving them a good soaking. 

    It's not so easy getting that right with containers, especially with some of the new peat-free composts ... they seem to dry out very quickly and are difficult to re-saturate.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 804
    Dovefromabove said:


    I've always followed the advice of a long time poster and 'tomato expert' on here known as @Italophile ... he rarely appears here now, but  he always said that tomatoes need consistency in their watering regime ... his advice was to allow the plants to just begin to wilt before giving them a good soaking. 

    That's inconsistent and can lead to split fruits.
    You're right about putting them in the ground though, it's a bit harder to get it wrong.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,381
    IME, split fruits tend to only occur on the larger Beefsteak varieties.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,025
    edited August 2022
    I’ve never had a problem with split tomatoes watered as @Italophile advised. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,439
    I've noticed the BER occurs in the earlier fruits and as the season progresses the problem disappears. Also some varieties are more prone to it than others.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 607
    BER is caused by calcium deficiency do
    inconsistent watering and calcium soil issues.

    I use seafood shell compost to prevent the problem.
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