BER - what to do?

sooby77 · June 15, 2007

Hi all,

I just saw three BER fruits on my Big Boy and was wondering whether I should just snip them off. They are still green and have not ripened yet. Thanks.

Soo

feldon30 · June 15, 2007

Yes. BER is not something that fruit can recover from. Try to make sure the plant is getting regularly watered.

sooby77 · June 15, 2007

I have my soaker hose system watering them for 90minutes every 3 days. I will increase the frequency to every other day, for 1/2hr. The temp here in Raleigh, NC is forecast to be in the mid nineties this weekend. My Better Boy and Celebrity shows no sign of BER (crossing my fingers!)

piegirl · June 19, 2007

crud and double crud - my one 'ready by the 4th' had
BER today as well as a second one (big beef). Last year
BB developed BER on all the first fruits and then didn't
produce worth a hoot the rest of the season. Right now
she has 11 set on. We have had real regular rain without
having to water. However 96 predicted for the weekend.
GRRRR - piegirl

feldon30 · June 20, 2007

Are you adding any epsom salts, dolimitic lime, etc. to the hole where you planted the tomato plant?

piegirl · June 20, 2007

Feldon - how much epsom salt do you put down? I placed a
tablespoon of ground egg shells into each hole when I planted
and have more I can put down if needed. Piegirl

**carolyn137** · June 20, 2007

I can't see the need to add Epsom salts, magnesium sulfate OR eggshells, or dolmitic lime or anything else to help prevent BER.

And that' b'c the problem is not one of uptake thru the roots, it's a matter of maldistribution of Ca++ within the plant. Plants that have BER fruits have been shown to have plenty of Ca++ in the vegetative tissues.

Almost any stress can induce BER and the two major ones are overfertiization that causes too rapid growth, and uneven distribution of water.

But too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet can all be inducers.

As the plants mature they are better able to deal with environmental stresses so for most folks BER goes away with time.

If there's NO Ca++ in the soil, which is exceedingly rare, then addition of same is warranted. A soil test will help in that regard. And if the soil is too acidic that can also prevent Ca++ root uptake but that can be corrected by raising the pH of the soil.

Worth1 · June 27, 2007

No Epsom salt no lime no egg shell I just put the plants out while tiny and watered regularly and no BER.

Its the first time in years I have not had it on at least one plant.

And the first time I took care of them this way.

Worth

June 15, 2007	#1
sooby77 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: NC Posts: 48	BER - what to do? Hi all, I just saw three BER fruits on my Big Boy and was wondering whether I should just snip them off. They are still green and have not ripened yet. Thanks. Soo

June 20, 2007	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I can't see the need to add Epsom salts, magnesium sulfate OR eggshells, or dolmitic lime or anything else to help prevent BER. And that' b'c the problem is not one of uptake thru the roots, it's a matter of maldistribution of Ca++ within the plant. Plants that have BER fruits have been shown to have plenty of Ca++ in the vegetative tissues. Almost any stress can induce BER and the two major ones are overfertiization that causes too rapid growth, and uneven distribution of water. But too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet can all be inducers. As the plants mature they are better able to deal with environmental stresses so for most folks BER goes away with time. If there's NO Ca++ in the soil, which is exceedingly rare, then addition of same is warranted. A soil test will help in that regard. And if the soil is too acidic that can also prevent Ca++ root uptake but that can be corrected by raising the pH of the soil. __________________ Carolyn

June 15, 2007	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Yes. BER is not something that fruit can recover from. Try to make sure the plant is getting regularly watered.

June 19, 2007	#4
piegirl Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 791	crud and double crud - my one 'ready by the 4th' had BER today as well as a second one (big beef). Last year BB developed BER on all the first fruits and then didn't produce worth a hoot the rest of the season. Right now she has 11 set on. We have had real regular rain without having to water. However 96 predicted for the weekend. GRRRR - piegirl

June 27, 2007	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	No Epsom salt no lime no egg shell I just put the plants out while tiny and watered regularly and no BER. Its the first time in years I have not had it on at least one plant. And the first time I took care of them this way. Worth