Blossom End Rot – Why Are My Tomatoes Rotting on the Vine?

One of the garden’s greatest pleasures is witnessing tiny green tomatoes develop into giant ripe tomatoes. But it can be terrible when anything goes wrong and those luscious red fruits don’t bear fruit. 

Though there are a number of various fungal infections that can impact tomato fruit development, blossom end rot may be the most distressing of them all. 

Fortunately, if you can correctly identify this illness and understand how to prevent and cure it, you won’t have to deal with the pain it causes in the future.

What is Blossom End Rot?

Blossom-end rot happens when the growing season in your area begins with a lot of rainy days and then changes to dry circumstances when the fruit is setting. Damage may begin to emerge in your tomatoes when they are half the size of their mature size.

They appear as sizable water-soaked spots that soon enlarge and become dark brown and leathery. Fruit must be selected and thrown away since these regions are actually rotting.

The center of the blossom end rot is shown on the fruit by the location where the blossom originally stood. The issue usually arises on fruits that are in their first flush and those that haven’t quite grown to their maximum size.

Blossom rot can also affect other vegetables like bell peppers, eggplant, and squash.

Why Are My Tomatoes Blossom End Rot?

Too much soil moisture

Tomato growth is usually affected by inconsistency in soil moisture. Calcium can only be transported in the tomato plant when there is adequate moisture thus, even though the tomato will continue to grow in drought, it may develop calcium deficiency and consequently, blossom end rot. 

Too much water in the soil also causes tomatoes to rot. Excess moisture can occur due to, heavy rains, the location of the tomato plants, or too much watering

In addition, if the tomato plant is planted in an area without sunlight, the soil will have too much moisture also causing the tomato to rot. Soil with too much water interferes with the plant’s uptake of nutrients.

Rapid growth

In the case of forced growth techniques, the tomato plant develops faster than usual and this may cause rotting in the tomatoes’ vines. This is due to the fact that when the plant grows too fast, nutrients like calcium are depleted.

 Without calcium, the vines cannot produce good fruit. Tomatoes need calcium during their active growth phases and the plant may not be able to take up enough calcium for its needs if it is growing way too fast. 

They end up starting to root and the damage spreads and becomes a blossom end rot.

Aggressive weeding

In some instances, tomato fruits may begin to rot if you are too aggressive with the weeding. This is due to the tomato’s weak rooting system. Aggressive weeding causes the pulling of the roots making them loose or damaging the roots. 

This makes the root struggle to pull nutrients like calcium from the soil and you will end up with blossom end rot on tour tomato fruits.

Lack of support

Tomatoes that have recently started vining lack a strong stem to provide the amount of support the plant needs. Some tomato varieties like the cherry tomatoes become so heavy even before they start fruiting. 

They may fall and break their stems causing the fruits to start rotting. In the case that the breaking of the stem is bad, the top may be separated from the bottom and nutrients will not be able to go up. 

The plant will eventually not produce any fruit at all. Keep in mind that it is the top part of the plant that actually produces fruit.

Poor soil quality

One of the most common causes of the rotting of tomatoes is poor soil quality. Tomatoes are plants that tend to be choosy when it comes to a balance of soil nutrients. 

Fertilizing them with the wrong fertilizer will cause them to rot. So is the case in soil without a good balance of nutrients. Adding a lot of nitrogen fertilizer will make the tomato have a difficult time absorbing the calcium present in the soil. 

This will result in calcium deficiency in the plant and the fruits will start rotting as soon as they develop. Typical garden soil may also have low amounts of calcium.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is the lack of a crucial nutrient that causes the blossom end rot; calcium. Any factor that will cause the plant to have difficulties absorbing the calcium or transporting it within the plant will cause the rotting of the fruits. 

Calcium deficiency is therefore the variable to look out for if you want your tomatoes to grow big and juicy without any rotting or scarring. There are no ways to treat a tomato when blossom end rot happened, but you can prevent it from happening by following these recommendations: https://backyardgardenersnetwork.org/blossom-end-rot-in-tomatoes/.

Urban Growing Systems – Common Approaches to Urban Farming

Urban agriculture is the practice of farming in cities and the areas around them (peri-urban). It is a centralized operation that includes animal husbandry, aquaculture, horticulture, and other ways to make fresh food or other agricultural products.

Urban farming is more than just a trend or a way to keep your harvest organized. People in cities can get fresh, locally grown food with urban agriculture. But urban agriculture can only be successful in cities if people have a positive view of urban farming and are willing to have urban farms in their neighborhoods.

The success of urban agriculture depends on how people who live nearby see it, and how people see it has a big impact on how they feel about farming near them. Urban growing systems can be easy to manage; here are eight simple and common approaches to urban farming.

Container Gardening

If you only have a small space, it makes sense to grow plants in containers, which will give you a good advantage. You will have better control over the soil and how much water is in it than a traditional gardener.

You may think you are limited to what you can grow in a container, but you can grow almost anything.

With containers, growing doesn’t require a lot of land to be dug up, and the soil and pests are easier to manage. Make special raised beds that you can add to the containers vertically as the other plants grow.

Vertical Gardening

“Vertical farming” refers to cultivating plants by stacking successive layers of plant material. This can be done by growing on shelves or pallets that have been changed to fit against walls or fences.

Vertical farms can be put in old mine shafts or other underground tunnels, buildings, or shipping containers. It is often used with other innovative methods like aquaponics or hydroponics in a controlled climate.

Vertical farming can make a square foot of space look a thousand times bigger because many plants don’t need much vertical space to grow.

Backyard Gardening

Backyard gardening is also a popular option for urban farming, with the right techniques for urban farming, you can have a full-fledged farm on as little as 1/4 of an acre or less. Backyard farms, also known as market gardens, are a great way to do urban farming.

You don’t even necessarily have to own the land to start. Most people don’t use their backyards and will be happy to let you grow food in their backyards if you give them a share of what you grow or the money you make.

Rooftop Gardening

Even though there isn’t much space in cities, farming can still be done there. This is where rooftops come in because it’s easy to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs there. 

The good thing about rooftop gardens is that they can help reduce the urban heat island and improve air quality. Aside from these, rooftop gardens can be used to improve the look of recreation centers.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics refers to any way to grow plants without soil. Instead, nutrients are put into the water that the plants are in or that is regularly washed over their roots. Gravel, perlite, or other materials can be added to give the plants more physical support.

Chemical fertilizers and organic matter can both be used in hydroponic systems. Since water is recycled and reused in hydroponics systems, less water is used to grow plants.

Aquaponics

Aquaponics is the practice of raising fish and other aquatic animals in cities. It uses a system that collects rainwater from the city and turns it into an autonomous recirculating system in tanks or fake fish ponds. 

The water in the fish pond contains numerous minerals that can be used to grow crops effectively. That way, you will harvest your crops and still have a supply of protein.

Greenhouses

It entails the cultivation of plants in residential, commercial, and community greenhouses. Depending on what crops are being grown, they need quite some land to set up and will only be somewhat inconvenient for a neighborhood with small spaces. 

Farmers can grow crops all year long in greenhouses because they give the plants a controlled environment in which they can be exposed to the exact conditions they need to grow.

Microgreen farming

Microgreens are small vegetable sprouts that are harvested when they are only a few days to a few weeks old. Microgreens can be grown from almost any vegetable, but sunflowers, pea shoots, and radishes are among the most popular.

Compared to traditional crops, microgreens can be harvested very quickly. Most types of microgreens will be ready to eat in 7 to 14 days.

Microgreens don’t take up much space and can be grown in a shipping container or a single room. Even though they are small, they are full of nutrients and are a popular choice for people who care about their health.

Why is Aquaponics Suited to City Farming?

Aquaponics is a type of farming that combines fish farming in tanks (called recirculating aquaculture) with growing plants without soil (hydroponics). In aquaponics, the water from raising fish is full of nutrients, so it naturally fertilizes the plants. 

The plants also help clean the water for the fish. Aquaponics can be used all year long in any climate to grow fresh fish and vegetables to feed a village, for a family, or to make money in a commercial farming business.

Aquaponics is an environmentally friendly way to grow both fish and plants. It is popular, and this kind of indoor farming lets you grow much more food with much less water, land, and work than traditional farming, making it very suitable for urban and suburban farming.

Benefits of Aquaponics in city farming

Water Efficiency

One of the best things about aquaponics is how little water it can use. It can use up to 10 times less water than traditional farming. The recirculation system wastes less water and lets other things, like fish food, be used again.

Natural and Sustainable

Aquaponics is a natural method that works just like lakes, ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water on Earth. Fish food for aquaponics is the only thing that goes into an aquaponics system. The fish eat the food and then throw up their waste, which is turned into nutrients that the plants can use by good bacteria. 

By using these nutrients, the plants help make the water cleaner. You can’t use herbicides, pesticides, or other dangerous chemicals in an aquaponics system. This means that the fish and plants are healthy and safe to eat.

Economic Benefit 

Life is challenging in the city. In these hard economic times, it helps to set up something that saves your money while bringing out the best value for your money. Aquaponics is not only fruitful but also lucrative as an agricultural method. It is a fast-growing business that can be set up in both small and large spaces.

 Even though the setup costs can be high, it is a good investment for growers because they can now sell two different crops with the same amount of inputs.

Environmental Benefits

It goes without saying that there is already a great deal of environmental pollution in urban areas; agriculture and farming should not add to the problem. Aquaponics is the most appealing growing system because it is good for the environment. Aquaponics only needs a small amount of water and very little power. 

Because the system is closed, there is no waste and no pollution of the water. The amount of crops grown per square foot is also higher than in traditional farming. This is important for growing more food for a larger population.

Flexibility

You cannot be guaranteed to get space in a city. More often than not, people intending to grow food will have to make do with the space available. 

The design of an aquaponics system allows for a lot of flexibility, making it possible to adapt it for locations like rooftops, basements, or brownfield land.

 Farmers in rural areas that aren’t very well off can even use aquaponics to grow crops all year long in a small space, even though water is often scarce in these places. 

Climate Adaptive

The climate in urban and suburban areas is not as stable as that in rural areas due to the level of pollution in the city. Therefore, it becomes difficult for urban farmers to grow climate-specific foods. 

Climate-adaptive farming methods are more important than ever because the world’s population is growing, and there is less food security. 

Aquaponics is a real climate-adaptive way to grow plants because growers can make changes to save energy. Aquaponics is a closed system operating under controlled conditions, making it simple to use methods that can adjust to climate change, like temperature changes.

Chemical Free

Not just for city farmers and consumers; it is important for human health to consume products with the least chemical content possible. Like other types of hydroponics, aquaponics doesn’t need pesticides. 

In fact, any kind of chemical can make the fish sick, which is why growers have to be so careful about the quality of the water. Not only does not using chemicals keep input costs low, but it also has many health and environmental benefits.

Continuous Food Production

Most crops have a season over which they grow best and produce the heaviest harvest. In cities, the weather tends to dwindle because of pollution. With aquaponics systems, you will no longer have to worry about climate change and weather instability. 

Aquaponics lets you grow your crops all year round, over all the seasons, because the crops grow in a closed and controlled system. This system lets you adjust conditions to suit the crops’ climatic needs, among other variables. 

While your neighbors worry about not being able to grow lentils in winter or get them at the farmers market, you can comfortably grow yours and eat them all year round.

Top 10 Best Fruits & Vegetables To Grow for the Urban Garden

Many people turn to urban gardening when things are uncertain in the city. Why wouldn’t you? Food from urban gardens is cheap, wholesome, and easily available. It’s enjoyable, good for morale, and exercise.

You can have an urban food garden even if you live in an apartment. Here is a list of the top 10 fruits and vegetables that, with some effort and care, you should be able to cultivate successfully in your urban garden.

Tomatoes

Stephanie Suesan Smith, master gardener from livingboosts.com, recommends tomatoes as one of the best fruit to grow for urban gardening, “Millions of people put months of effort into growing juicy, flavorful tomatoes”.

Tomatoes are widely consumed fruit, and may be found in various dishes, ranging from stews and soups to the ketchup that tops your burger bun. They should have a spot in your rooftop or backyard garden.

These plants are heavy feeders and need a good amount of fertilizers during their growth stages. These plants are prolific producers, easy to maintain, and, best of all, they taste wonderful, both fresh and preserved. You can freeze, sun-dry, or eat them raw.

Peppers

Are you looking for a staple herb to grow and use in your stuffing and spice blends? Peppers offer a diverse assortment of vegetables that might meet both needs. To add soups or stews, make dried chili powder or freeze bell peppers.

Both hot and sweet peppers thrive when grown in containers. Hot peppers especially do well in containers. In five-gallon containers, peppers are often transplanted rather than directly seeded since they need warmth and full sun.

Cucumbers

You can guarantee a never-ending supply of cucumbers by growing them inside. To stay healthy, they do require plenty of water and sunlight. Although most cucumber varieties grow well in pots as long as they are at least 5 gallons in size, keep an eye out for varieties that are better for containers. 

Bush cucumbers are developed to have shorter, bushier vines, making them ideal for containers and balconies.

Broccoli

Despite having little calories, broccoli is a nutrient powerhouse your body requires. It is a good source of fiber and the vitamins B6 and C. It’s an excellent option, whether cooked or served raw in salads and slaws.

But it also makes a fantastic crop for urban gardens since it makes fermented broccoli. Once fermented, you have a long-lasting vegetable choice that goes well with sausage and can be added to soups, sandwiches, casseroles, and other dishes.

Gooseberries

Another kind of green fruit that may be grown as a bush or trained to grow on a trellis is gooseberries. The plants are self-fertile; therefore, you only need one plant to yield fruit. The little green berries can be either sweet or sour.

To prevent birds from devouring the gooseberries before you can collect them, it’s a good idea to cover them with bird-proof netting.

Basil

Basil is a hard leafy herb with a strong flavor. Fresh basil adds the ideal finishing touch to many different recipes, including pasta, salad, and many more. Additionally, making a proper pesto sauce is quite simple and goes well with both chicken and pasta.

Basil can be grown in small to medium-sized pots by thinly scattering 10-15 seeds per pot and covering them with a fine layer of soil.

Grapes

Green grapes can be cultivated in various kinds on a trellis or pergola. Thompson seedless grapes are excellent for creating raisins and for nibbling.

Cotton candy grapes are another delicious alternative; their flavor is reminiscent of a sweet confection. Full sun is ideal for grapevine growth, and regular pruning is required to keep vine size under control.

Beans

Beans are simple to cultivate from seed; you may either choose a variety that can be eaten fresh, like green beans or try growing your own from a dried bean in your pantry. Bush beans are often smaller and don’t need trellising, whereas pole beans will climb a trellis or fence to use vertical space.

The bush beans will grow more successfully inside containers and require less space. Lighting is another factor to take into account because green beans require at least six hours of sunlight each day. 

Avocados

Avocados are one of the most visually appealing green fruits, and they appear especially lovely on the tree. They not only have a wonderful appearance but are also rich in nutrients like folate, vitamin C, potassium, and monounsaturated fat.

Although certain types may withstand colder temperatures, warm tropical or subtropical conditions are optimum for avocado tree growth. You can grow a dwarf kind of avocado tree in a big container if you don’t have enough space for a full-sized avocado tree.

Onions

Have you ever attempted to prepare your favorite dishes without a sprinkle of onion powder? Onions provide a great little nutritional boost in addition to adding flavor to almost every meal you can serve. However, they also don’t significantly increase the calorie content. 

You can wait for the entire onions to form before using them, or you can utilize the young onion greens right away. Just be cautious not to harvest every green leaf while the bulb is still growing.