Oh No...Blossom End Rot!

Blossom end rot is an unsightly disorder common to tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.  It can occur at any stage in the development of the fruit, but most often is seen early in the season when fruit are one third to one half full size. Blossom End Rot appears at the blossom end of the fruit. It begins with a small, water-soaked area at the bottom of the fruit that enlarges and darkens rapidly as the fruit develops. Ultimately, the spot can get so large that it covers half of the fruit. These rotten areas eventually dry out and become black and leathery.

Blossom End Rot (BER) does not spread from plant to plant or from fruit to fruit.  It is of a physiological nature so fungicides and insecticides cannot prevent or control it. Blossom End Rot often occurs under certain environmental conditions when there are cool nights and warm days.  The range in temperature affects the uptake of water and calcium by the developing fruit, and it’s the deficiency in calcium that results in the rotting.

Some varieties of tomatoes are more susceptible to Blossom End Rot than others. When purchasing tomato seedlings be sure to read the labels that accompany the plants. They may tell you if that particular variety is resistant to BER.  To help prevent Blossom End Rot from occurring in your plants add crumbled chicken eggshells to the planting hole along with your other amendments.  Once planted, try to be sure to keep watering even and consistent. In addition, using organic soil amendments and fertilizer will be helpful.  They don’t contain as much salt, which decreases the availability of calcium to the plants.

Blossom End Rot, while not being very pretty, is not dangerous to consume. You can certainly cut off the affected part of the tomato and eat the rest. There’s no need to waste an otherwise delicious tomato. So, enjoy your tomatoes – even the rotten ones!

The Magic of Marigolds!

If you think Marigolds are just another pretty face in the flower bed, think again! These easy to grow bursts of color can be quite helpful as they lure beneficial insects to the garden, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. As if that’s not enough, they also discourage harmful insects from visiting your gardens and can keep bad nematodes away. 


There are two basic types of marigolds.  Both are easy to find in garden centers or as seed. French marigolds are the ones with pom-pom type heads that grow to about 18 inches tall and come in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to rust. Their roots give off a substance which kills nematodes – the bad ones that can destroy tomatoes and other crops.  Marigolds need to be planted densely to control nematodes.  Scented French marigolds also give off an unpleasant scent that repels whiteflies.

 African Marigolds, which really come from Mexico, grow much taller than the French variety.  Their scent is quite unappealing to many insects so they act as a natural repellant. They are said to repel bean beetles, deer and wild rabbits as well as the dreaded tomato hornworm. Due to their natural ability to repel insects and kill nematodes, marigolds make an ideal companion plant for tomatoes.


Marigolds do well in mass plantings and they need to be the scented variety in order to work.  One or two planted here and there won’t repel insects or kill nematodes. They’re perfect in borders and containers. They can tolerate poor soil and don’t need to be watered too often, but they do need plenty of sun. They do like a feeding once a month…amazingly, so do tomatoes. Caring for the marigolds will become part of the tomato routine.   Keep in mind, however, that marigolds should not be planted with cabbage or beans as they can act as an herbicide.  Slugs can be a problem with marigolds so be sure to stay on top of them.

Marigolds are a bright and bold addition to any garden. Add to that they repel the bad insects and attract the good ones and you have more than enough reason to plant them everywhere in your garden. If you’re still not convinced, though, think about the recipes that would be deliciously finished with a hint of spice from marigold petals.  Yes, they’re edible! Cut some to put in a vase of water and the rest go on your plate…truly a farm to table experience. Ahhh…the Magic of Marigolds!

Wow! Waking up to the sun shining through the windows, I couldn't help but jump out of bed and hurry to the back yard. I realize it's still the middle of winter, but I've really had more than enough rain and cold temperatures.

I hate winter. Just last week when rain was pouring in sheets straight down from the sky, I tried to think of warm, sunny days in the garden. I sat on the couch staring out the windows at my water logged, muddy, colorless garden. The roses had been cut back, hydrangeas pruned and the flower borders all pulled out waiting to be replanted with spring annuals. It was not pretty. I looked out beyond the brick wall, and there in the distance, I could see my homemade tomato cages standing empty, all lined up like good little soldiers, as eager as I am for the new tomato season to begin.

Those tomato cages, made of wire sheeting, are large and cumbersome and have to spend the winters out in the weather. These are my extras. I also have a sizeable collection of my favorites, the Texas Tomato Cages. They come in various sizes and fold up neatly to be stored when not in use. Absolute Genius...they may be a bit pricey but so worth it. As I said, they fold up and are easy to store from one season to the next. They are strong and sturdy and I expect they will last forever. It occurred to me that although it's raining now and planting time won't arrive for at least another month, there's still plenty I can and should be doing to prepare for spring.

All of my cages have lengths of twine crossing them which I use to support branches that don't quite reach the sides. There are name tags on them from last season. I need to wipe all of the cages free of cobwebs that have accumulated and remove the strings and labels. Garden tools all need to be gathered and cleaned so they're ready the moment the weather permits. The garden shed itself, could probably use some organizing. Unused seed packets can be collected and put together. Fertilizers and soil amendments should all be in one place so I don't have to dig to find them when it's time to use them.

Decked out in my rainboots and jacket, umbrella in hand, I slogged my way out to the garden shed. With the doors swung open I propped the umbrella on top and created a shelter from the rain. It turned out that even though it wasn't tomato season, in fact it was just the middle of February, I had a lot of gardening to do.