3 Easy Steps to Fix Blossom End Rot

You’ve planted the tomato seeds, watched them grow, and now you’re finally starting to get some beautiful tomatoes! But what’s this? Who put this disgusting black scab on the bottom of my beautiful tomato?

That horrible scab that’s ruining your tomato is called blossom end rot.

Blossom end rot is caused by two things: a lack of calcium and inconsistent watering. While the best cure for blossom end rot is prevention, it can be reversed once it’s started. In this blog post, I’ll tell you how to fix blossom end rot with three easy steps! Let’s get into it.

P.S. There are a couple more reasons why your plants may have blossom end rot. I’ve chosen to focus on this reason and solution because not watering enough is the culprit 80% of the time. If my process doesn’t work, you’re unfortunately in the other 20% and will need to further research why this is happening in your garden.

3 Steps for Fixing Blossom End Rot

1. Remove Affected Tomatoes

Unfortunately, once a tomato has blossom end rot, it won’t go away. However, you can still save the plant and any remaining tomatoes it produces. Put all rotten tomatoes in your compost and cut your losses.

Related: Don’t Pinch Your Tomatoes! (Do This Instead)

2. Water with Powdered Milk

Those tomatoes need some calcium at the root–stat. While egg shells are great, their calcium won’t be picked up by the plant until they start decomposing. That’s great for a few months from now, but it doesn’t help your immediate problem. Instead, you can mix powdered milk into your watering can for a quick hit of calcium that doesn’t resort to using lime. Lime should only be used if you know you have a soil PH problem.

EDIT: To the best of my knowledge, this powdered milk solution was effective when I first wrote this post. I have since learned that powdered milk does nothing and that tomato plants don’t actually absorb the calcium in powdered milk. I debated for a long time whether to change the post entirely but found the title would not be as clickable with removing this detail. Does that make me a bad person? Maybe. Sorry for the clickbait, as it was not my original intent. Just know you need to water more.

Related: The Best Tomato Varieties to Plant for Your Gardening Situation

3. Water Every Day (Twice a Day in Extreme Heat)

Tomatoes need consistent water. In fact, skimping on watering earlier in the month likely caused blossom end rot in the first place. In the past, when my tomatoes succumbed to blossom end rot (due to inconsistent watering because we were renovating our bathroom and not living in our home), it took two weeks of daily watering (unless it rained) to reverse the problem. Thankfully, I still ended up with many of the lovely tomatoes you see in the pictures in this post.

Related: The Foolproof Way to Grow the Best Tomatoes

Optional: Use Mulch to Further Prevent Blossom End Rot

Finally, if you want to retain moisture in your soil, surround your tomatoes with 2-4 inches of shredded newspaper or wood chips. This easy organic mulch will retain moisture, prevent weeds, and add more nutrients to the soil over time.

Related: How to Use Mulch in the Garden for Easy Weed Control

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SOMETIMES TOMATOES ARE JERKS

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that, with certain varieties of tomatoes, it seems like the first tomato to ripen always has blossom end rot, no matter how much you water the plant. And, for some reason, all the tomatoes that grow afterward do not have blossom end rot.

This is very annoying.

However, if you find that your tomato plant consistently pumps out tomatoes that get blossom end rot week after week then you do in fact have some sort of problem. This is likely a calcium deficiency, especially if you’ve been watering consistently and it’s still happening.

A NOTE ON CALCIUM DEFICIENCY IN TOMATO PLANTS

What’s confusing about the blossom end rot problem is that even though it’s caused by a calcium deficiency, in something like 90% of the cases adding some sort of calcium isn’t really what the plant needs. It usually just needs more water to access whatever calcium is already in the soil.

Think of this in a similar way to taking Vitamin C with iron. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, just as water helps the tomato plant absorb the calcium in the soil. If you’re already taking iron, it’s not that you have to take more of it, but rather, you might need to take some Vitamin C to increase the probability of proper absorption.

In other words, you are creating a better environment for absorbing deficient nutrients.

In the same way, it’s not that you have to give tomato plants more calcium, it’s that you have to increase their chances of properly absorbing the nutrients from the environment they’re already in.

There you have it! Blossom end rot isn’t fun, but you don’t have to let it ruin all your hard work in the vegetable garden.

If you liked this blog post, find me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate vegetable gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

NEED MORE HELP IN THE GARDEN?

Green thumbs aren’t just given out at birth. They’re a combination of learning about gardening and trial and error. If you wish you knew more about gardening and had more confidence in your abilities, you need the Growing Roots Gardening Guide.

It’s an e-book plus 6 bonuses. Everything you need to go from complete garden newb to confident gardener in one growing season. Get all the details of what’s inside here.

Happy gardening!

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Comments

Jan Laird

Ugh. I haven't got blossom end rot yet but I'll be heading to Wpg soon for a family reunion. My husband will only be gone a week but I'll be gone longer. With the wretched heat we've been having everything is drooping by the end of the day, even after thorough daily watering. I guess I may just have to throw in the towel when I get home. ?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Oh that sucks!! Your root crops will be fine, but you’re right, you might have to give up on your tomatoes. Boo.
  
  Reply
- Blair
  
  Or throw in the trowel! (I couldn't resist... Sorry about your tomatoes! I myself had to start over after going on a summer vacation two years ago.)
  
  Reply
- Nancy H.
  
  I don't know when you made this comment, but you don't have to - you can get a soaker hose and watering automatic timer. Place the soaker hose in the containers or around the plants, and let the timer do it's magic to keep them watered in your absence.
  
  Reply
RHONDA WILSON

What is the ratio for powdered milk and water. How often should I use it. I'm growing my tomatoes in containers. Thank you,

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  try 1 part powdered milk to 2 parts water
  
  Reply
Ray Pearson

powered milk interesting..I will give it a try..Thanks for the tip

Reply
- Pamela A Wasserman
  
  Me too. Thanks!
  
  Reply
Vicki

How much milk solution per plant and how often do you need to spray them? My tomatoes are growing and blooming, but several have already had Blossom end rot as they start to turn red. Thanks.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Hi Vicki, You don't actually spray them, you use the powdered milk to water them. Put a 1/2 of powdered milk mixture in your watering can. Water liberally and keep watering every day for two weeks.
  
  Reply
  - Rae
    
    So let me get this straight. Water with powdered milk once and then just continue watering twice daily when it’s super hot?
    
    Reply
    - Kristen Raney
      
      Yes, you’ve got it!
      
      Reply
    - Kevin
      
      Several years ago I had a couple of tomato plants in a pot on my front porch. They developed blossom end rot and I was told to use powdered milk to help fix the problem. I discovered that you can use too much. I forget exactly the amount that I used, but in about 3 days my plants were dry, brown, and crispy.
      
      Reply
Trish

How often do we use the powdered milk solution? Do we use it at every watering???

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  You only need to use it once, it's just an attempt to give the plant a little boost.
  
  Reply
  - Stephen Hollenbeck
    
    Can you use regular whole milk
    
    Reply
    - Kristen Raney
      
      Yes, of course!
      
      Reply
katie black

We have just been slammed with daily rain for almost 3 weeks. I have noticed blossom end rot on one plant (the only one with tomatoes so far) I am afraid the rain is washing all of the minerals out of the soil.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I'm not really sure if there's much you can do in that case. I'm from the Prairies, and that's a situation I've never run into. Sorry I couldn't' be more helpful on this one.
  
  Reply
Terry

I have four tomato plants in the same raised bed-two cherry tomatoes and two San Marzano. Only the two San Marzanos have blossom end rot. Is it okay to use the powdered milk treatment on all of them since they are all together?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Yes. The powdered milk won't harm the other tomatoes.
  
  Reply
Joan

I am doing Growboxes. Previous years I've added dolomite into the soil. I don't do that this year. Should I add powdered milk to my grow box water?

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robin

watering every day and still have blossom end rot! will try powdered milk

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Marian Lau

No powdered milk.. can I use the 2% I have in the fridge?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Yes, absolutely.
  
  Reply
  - Mechell Lewis
    
    If using refrigerated milk should the milk be room temperature
    
    Reply
Judy Kolode

I have 2% as well that I would like to use today. Do I have to dilute it and how much?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Dilute it by at least half, but you can go as weak as 1:10
  
  Reply
Cynthia

Hey Kristen, you said that blossom end rot can be reversed once its started, but then you said that you couldn't save tomatoes that already have it. Are you sure that there is no way to save them? Thanks.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  You can cut the rotten part off of a ripe tomato. The good part is still fine to eat.
  
  Reply
Eileen

I’m using fat free milk, how much to I put in my potted plants to help reverse bottom rot and how often should I put Milk in the pots?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  You only have to do it once as an emergency measure of sorts. Just consistently water after that.
  
  Reply
Natasha Woods

If I get powered milk, what is the ratio to water?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I put one cup of powdered milk in a standard size watering can.
  
  Reply
Louise

I have the same problem with end rot so I’m trying the milk immediately thank you sure hope it works

Reply
Talea

If you water every day approximately how long are you watering for (say in the case of using a sprinkler, soaker hose, or drip irrigation, not actually watering by hand)? I have heard that it's better to water deeply at each watering and then maybe not water quite as often, but maybe that doesn't work as well for tomatoes? Thank you so much!

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Hmm. . . I don't really know as I have no experience with an irrigation system. I would think that if you were watering properly with an irrigation system, you likely wouldn't have issues with blossom end rot, as it's due to inconsistent watering.
  
  Reply
JIM PROTOGEROS

What exactly do you mean by powdered milk. as I am a 1st time growing tomatoes

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  It's a dehydrated form of milk that you can buy in the grocery store. It's usually in the breakfast or baking aisle.
  
  Reply
Julie

Great article! I got blossom end rot last year and now i am going to plant tomatoes again in the next couple of days for this year's crop. I added calcium to the soil last year but it was too late to save them. Do i need to test my soil or prepare it to avoid the blossom rot this year?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  No, the biggest thing is to not get behind on your watering. Water more than you think to need to, especially starting in late June.
  
  Reply
Georgia

Hi Kristen - Great article! Although not tomatoes, I just found blossom end rot on my new bell peppers. This is my first try at growing vegetables, would this procedure work for them as well? Thank you :)

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I don't have any personal experience with peppers, though I would give it a try! Let us know if it works for you.
  
  Reply
  - Georgia
    
    Thank you for the reply, got my powdered milk, keeping my fingers crossed!
    
    Reply
    - Coleen
      
      I read an article on gardeners,com which stated that blossom end root attacks both tomatoes and bell peppers.
      
      Reply
Dyane Leight

Please verify when you are giving instructions on how much powdered milk to use. I have read every comment and am still unsure. Are you trying to say MAKE the powdered milk and then use 2x as much water to dilute it after it has already been m made? What do you consider a "standard size watering can". I would like to try this, but really would appreciate a much more exact formula ie - one cup of reconstituted powdered milk and 2 cups of water, if that is what you mean. Thanks.

Reply
Willempje Maldonado

Thank you. Mine are in very large pots. I water them daily, because it get hot in Texas. I never had this problem. I picked the affected tomatoes of already, now I’m going too try the powdered milk. I only have two plants. But love tomatoes.

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Frances

Do you recommend watering in the morning or evening and does it matter which time of day to apply the powder milk mixture?

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Appy Horsey

My cow just freshened and is giving too much colostrum for her calf. Can I use fresh cow milk/colostrum? Or would I be better off using the powdered milk? I have both. Thanks.

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Marge

Do u use the most ok at the roots or do u pour it over the tomato plants?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  You water at the roots, none of it goes to the leaves.
  
  Reply
Dennis

I just go to the vitamin section and get calcium supplement tablets they work quick

Reply
Vicki

Do you think the milk will work for squash? Thanks

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Yes, give it a try!
  
  Reply
Holly P

Just a quick note, as a Master Gardener, a treatment for powdery mildew is a solution of milk and water, same ratios you have mentioned, sprayed on the leaves to prevent mildew issues, something with the milk components prevents certain fungal diseases. So if you happen to get some of the milk on the leaves, it won't harm them at all.

Reply
Joyce Courtney

I am confusec! I have blossom end rot on my tomatoes if I use the milk solution how often do I have to use it? Some of your previous replies say every watering and another says just once,, can you help me please!

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Use the milk in the first watering, and water regularly after that. You can use the powdered milk more often, it won't hurt anything.
  
  Reply
Nic

Why not liquid milk?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Liquid milk is fine, its just cheaper where I'm from to use powdered milk.
  
  Reply
Crista Rosado

I am just thrilled for this post! My daddy is 87 and I dare say this may be his last garden. ( which resides behind my house, and has for 37 years.). His tomato plants have had this problem for several years now . I told him about this on the phone last night and he is so excited to give it a try. I just mixed it all up and will wait until this evening when the sun is going down. We live in Texas, so it is horribly hot here now. Thank you so very much for this great tip! Happy gardening to you all!

Reply
Arlene Tilson-Chrysler

Hi Kristen. I laughed when I read in you Bio.that you don't like raw tomatoes! Me too! About Blossom end rot. I buy cheap dollar store variety calcium carbonate tabs and dissolve and dilute in water and add a few tabs to each pot. Works for me

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Rita. Hajek

Thanks hope it works!

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Aditlavi

I am growing tomatoes for the first time and Just saw this morning that the tomatoes are stating to get blossom end rot :-( i'll try the milk method since I dont have powdered milk. what should be the ratio of milk (2%) to water? Also, my tomatoes are growing in 10lb grow bags? One thing that has been hard to figure out it how much to water? the temperatures right now are ranging between 85 to 94 F , i've been trying to water once a day by hand. And the mulch looks dry by the end of the day. The articles I have read say 1-2 inches per week - not sure how to measure that and if that is a recommendation for garden beds. Maybe containers have a different water requirement. Any insights will be helpful. Thank you

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Regular milk is fine. The best way to know with watering is to stick your fingers under the mulch, into the soil. If it feels dry, it needs water. If not, you're fine!
  
  Reply
Yvette

Can you use powdered coffee mate creamer as a sub for milk?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  No, you need something that has calcium in it, unfortunately.
  
  Reply
Beth

I have a bunch of tomato plants and water them all every day, especially in this heat. I only have blossom end root on my San Marino tomatoes. Are they more susceptible or something? Thank you for the info I will try the milk and continue to water. Thought maybe I was watering too much and was going to cut down so really thank you for the info.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  They could be, some varieties are more susceptible than others.
  
  Reply
Melissa V Newsome

My tomato fines are big green and full of tomatoes but haven't turned red yet. I read that you shouldn't water everyday and you say to water everyday. I'm confused. Also squash are growing but turning green then Black. What am I doing wrong?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Hi Melissa, You should only water everyday if the plant actually needs the water. You can tell by sticking your finger in the soil. If it feels like there's still moisture in the soil, you can skip watering. If it feels dry, then water. I'm sorry, but I haven't experienced that with squash! It could also be the growing year, 2020 has been rough.
  
  Reply
Kit

I have an heirloom plant in a big pot on my sunny side deck in NJ. I’m a first-time gardener thanks to quarantining! Sadly, 2 of my 3 my green tomatoes seem to have BER and the 3rd is showing a brown bumpy line along the bottom of the fruit so far. I used organic Coast of Maine potting soil, full of good nutrients. Here’s the catch: the top leaves of this plant - which had been thriving and growing quickly - started showing signs a week or two ago of shriveling/curling - so I may have started overwatering. Now I fear I’ve actually lost the whole plant to a virus and the BER is secondary. Any thoughts?!? I’m devastated!

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I"m so sorry I'm late to commenting, I got slammed with comments this summer on top of having a newborn, so I'm really behind!! I hope your tomato pulled through, but my thoughts are this: Sometimes the first couple of tomatoes just get blossom end rot, then the rest are fine. Even if your plant has some disease, you'll still probably get something. My tomatoes in pots never do well unless they are cherry or tumbler tomatoes, and I suspect your heirloom tomato is also similarly unhappy. Mine also tent to curl at the tops if I plant something that prefers being in a larger space. I don't know why, but it seems to happen every year.
  
  Reply
DELBA Samuels

Last year our tomatoes started cracking open and bursting.. We were told it was from over watering. This year we have blossom end rot.. I tried not to water as much because of what happened last year.. I am about to give up!

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Don’t give up! You’ll figure out the sweet spot with time.
  
  Reply
John Britt

Will milk treatment also work for squash with blossom end rot?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  In theory, yes.
  
  Reply
- Yalips
  
  You should use a good buttermilk. Drink the first half, let sit out for three days then water with 1/3 to 2/3 solution
  
  Reply
Tom Gross

Use Tums around your plants. I put 3 - 4 tablets around each plant about an inch underground and around my soaker hose (in case of no rain, my soaker hose will dissolvethem). Rain will slowly dissolve them over a couple of days so every few days repeat over the same 2 week period. Good luck

Reply
Pam

I am so sorry to say that all five of my plant s have lots of little tomatoes that ALLLLL have blossom end rot. I watered so diligently ...2x a day in the beginning and now once a day. I added lime in the beginning- added more lime last week (after rdg article saying calcium was oprob the problem and to add lime!) Now I read this ~ will give it a try. We are in VA and about to bake from heat ~ leaves curling- ... end rot - not being much fun! Will try the powdered milk .... ugh. Shouldn't be this hard.

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Brenda

Caution using powdered milk....attracts ants!! Now I have to deal with that problem.

Reply
Veronica Turner

Is this the same for courgettes, mine have got blossom rot .

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I’ve never had blossom end rot on my zucchini, so I don’t actually know. However, it should work in theory. Try it, the milk won’t do any harm.
  
  Reply
Jennifer Berry

Hello, We have 1% Milk. Would this work as well? If so, does it need to be diluted or just pour from the jug? Thanks in advance :)

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Either will work, but if you pour straight from the carton, don’t use as much.
  
  Reply
Diana Murray

If using 2% milk from fridge do I still have to add water to it..or can I just pour the milk on the soil and like how much ...2 to 3 red Solo cups full ???

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  You don’t have to, and 1 solo cup is sufficient!!
  
  Reply
Kathy

I use grownoxes, no yard. Do I pour the powdered milk solution in the bottom part that hold the water or the top part that holds the soil?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I wouldn’t want to unintentionally funk up your boxes, so water on the soil portion with the milk solution.
  
  Reply
Dani

Hi Kristen, I’m growing my tomatoes in pots in the conservatory, too cold in Ireland for outside, but the room gets too warm as well when it is sunny, probably how this all started? I have BRE in 3 of my plants. How often should I use the milk solution please? And will the milk solution be all absorbed by the plant? My concern is if it turns bad with the heat and starts to smell, as this room is a continuation of our kitchen. Many thanks ? Dani

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  In this case, I would skip the powdered milk and do it with bonemeal instead. And you only need to do it once. Best of luck!!
  
  Reply
Michele Mouco

I tried crushed Tums this morning. Can I switch to powdered milk? Since I did it this morning when should I do the powdered milk?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  You probably don’t need to double up. The watering is more important than the calcium. The addition of something for extra calcium is just a one time thing.
  
  Reply
Patty Kelly

Hi Kristen, I tried the powered milk and it worked. Thank you so much for the information. Happy gardening everyone.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Hurray!! I’m so glad it worked.
  
  Reply
Jerri Davis

Thank you so much for the great info. I have about 250 tomato plants and just found the rot. I’m going to buy the milk tomorrow!!!!! Wish me luck❤️

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Good luck, and that’s a lot of tomatoes!
  
  Reply
Gloria D Wilson

Unfortunately I have this blossom end rot every year. It’s so disappointing. I really believe it’s because my tomato ? plant is in a pot. I’m planning to buy the powdered milk and see if that helps. I’ll remove the two tomatoes that just started growing .

Reply
Cathy M

We just discovered blossom end rot on our big tomato plant. The plant is next to some peppers in a patio raised bed. Will it hurt the peppers to put the milk in? Should we just put the milk by the base of the tomato’s only?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I don’t think it will hurt anything, it should be fine if it gets on the peppers by accident.
  
  Reply
Jane

Hi and thanks for the tips! However I went to buy powdered milk and read the "nutrition facts" and the only brand offered as a delivery item at the website I was looking at has ZERO Calcium 0%! Just fortified with A & D. And very expensive. So my question is would calcium pills/tablets work? I have tons of those :-) Thanks in advance!

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I know you already found your answer, but yes!!
  
  Reply
Jane

Oh just read a comment about the calcium carbonate tabs by Arlene. Thanks Arlene!!!

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Judi

For tomatoes in ground how much powdered milk per plant and hope often

Reply
Kami Niehoff

Can you use ground up egg shells for the calcium?

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connie

Thank you for the great tip. We removed many tomatoes with rot and hopefully others will ripen ok. After years of tomatoes, never knew this. We planted more serious this year so good to learn new tools.

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Sandra

Hi Kristen, I just. found 4 small tomatoes with blossom end rot. I don't have powdered milk but I do have powered coffee mate. Can I use that?

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jane callahan

I have plants in hydroponics. Maxikaps. So roots are in water. They are watered with lake water. They have a constant supply of water in big tanks. Can I add the mixture of milk /water in to the tank ?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  I probably wouldn't, I wouldn't want to mess your system up!
  
  Reply
Mary Moore

Get a simple above ground irrigation system set up and put a timer on your faucet. Any gardening section in a hardware store will have all you need to do this. Good luck!

Reply
Sheri McAlinden

Thank you so much for this post! I may have spent more on powdered milk than I spent on the tomato plants, but my harvest was saved! I had such a hard time finding plants this spring that when I did, I panicked and bought too many! When they started to ripen with the blossom end rot I thought I had lost them all! In less than 2 weeks we are harvesting the most beautiful Roma tomatoes!

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Florence Peters

You have the patience of a saint !!! For the 14th time, WHATS the ratio ?? Lol !!! All joking aside, thanks for the tip !!

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Debbie Hoelle

Hey Kristen I’ve been trying to grow pumpkins for three years....ugh... when I described how my blossom on my one and only pumpkin looked.... your website came up! Yesterday it was closed and a little bit shriveled ? I went out this morning to follow all the directions for cross pollination but today the blossom was shriveled again and also had spores surrounding it and it almost look like a dandelion head on the blossom? I thought it was end blossom rot and ready to use the milk method but I thought I’d check to see if there is anything else I should do to save my one and only pumpkin!?! We had a drought this year in Western PA and then a whole bunch of rain which I’m sure complicated it?

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  If it shrivels up, unfortunately, there's nothing you can do at that point. If the weather is too cold and the pumpkins are stressed, you'll just keep getting male blossoms or shrivelled up blossoms. I hope next year is a better growing year for you!
  
  Reply
Nailah

Kristine, I have not use milk but I crushed up 12 generic antacids tabs in a cup and mixed with 2 gallons of water. I poured the 2 gallon mixture over the leaves of my tomato and pepper plants and also in the poured some of the solution in the 5 gallon bucket where the veggie are planted. The next morning the plants had perked up and looking great. I have removed all my blossom end rot tomatos and plan to water with antacides once a week. I also sprinkled Bone Meal into the plant dirt and gave plant a watering before pouring the antacid solution onto the leaves. I assumed the calcium absorbed through the leaves of the plants. Container gardening dirt appears to deplite nutrients quickly and need to be checked and replaced more often than in ground plants.

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  Thank you for this incredibly helpful comment!
  
  Reply
ap

Hi Kristen, I just came across your blog. I have a mini pink rose plant that send out cluster of roses but don't have any scent. I tried planting garlic in the pot but still no scent with the new buds. Can you help, please.

Reply
Debby

Ma read this article earlier today and told me that she did the 'milk therapy while I was at work. ''Good on ya Ma'' ? Relaxing with my 3rd ale, just checked, ,, & there's no f*#$ milk for my morning coffee! !!!! ''Good on ya Ma'' ? i hope the servo is still open.! PS.... could she have used her horrible soy milk instead ⁉

Reply
- Kristen Raney
  
  No, I don't think soy milk would work. It has to be animal milk.
  
  Reply
Doug Green

I'm really sorry to point this out but adding milk or milk powder isn't a real solution to the problem. It's not the lack of calcium but the transport of calcium that's the issue. I wrote about it here https://douggreensgarden.com/growing-tomatoes/

Reply
PW

You are way off base on Blossom end rot. powdered milk will not fix it. Overwatering is the biggest cause along with excess nitrogen which causes lush growth diverting calcium to the leaves instead of the fruit.,damaging the roots by cultivating too close to stem. Last thing you need is mulch on tomatoes in cool/cold early spring weather. It’s the plants inability to take up calcium not a shotsge of calcium in the soil. Please stop with nonsense like powdered milk and get a clue about what you are writing about

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Patti

how much powerdered milk do I add to a gallon of water?

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Judy

How much powered milk to water do I add for blossom end rot on my tomatoes?

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Patricia

How long due you use the powder milk on the tomato plant that has end rot? Also is milk good to use on eggplant.? Thanks

Reply
Becky

What proportions of powdered milk to water

Reply
Francine

How much powdered milk do you add per gallon?

Reply
Turd Burglar

Thank you for the free knowledge! You're the best.

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Ethan Cox

Hi Kristen! I appreciate your info. I've seen where some people claim that crushed tums tablets can also help. Do you have any knowledge of that? Also, is it possible for me to give my plants too much calcium? Thank you and have a great day! Ethan

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Thomas

Using powdered milk is generally a waste of time. Here's a link to an article by Dr Carolyn Male, a microbiologist explaining why (among other things). http://www.webgrower.com/information/carolyn_ber.html

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H Michael Fleming

Thanks for the info on end rot, I will get some powdered milk today! A neighbor tested the soil and said it was low in acidity. Can pine needles (which are plentiful here in SC) be used as mulch and to increase acidity? Thanks for your help. H Michael

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Donna malwitz

How much powdered milk in water to prevent nlossom end rot please? Thks

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George Hamilton

Odd thing is I'm growing in Earthtainers where the watering is automatic as long as the chamber is full. Also used lots of garden lime when planting. Will try the powdered milk. Thanks

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Sue Dendy

How often do you treat plants with powder milk for blossom rot? And what are the measurements?

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Phyllis Brown

you say to water with powdered milk but you don't say how much powdered milk to add to water? Please give amounts to add.

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Rhonda Sacks

So should I pull all brown bottom tomatoes from the plants and be sure to water more often? I have three very large tomato plants in pots with irrigation holes in the bottom of the pots. We also used miracle grow soil control soil thinking it would help control the moisture. I will try watering twice daily. It has been very hot and humid. What else do you suggest I do to prevent the rot on the bottom of the fruit?

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Reene Murphy

What are the proportions of water to powdered milk for the end blossom rot

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Jacquelyn DeMenno

Great Article!!

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Rev. Daniel Mohr

What is the ratio of powdered milk to water?

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Jo-Ann King

How often do you put the powdered milk in. It seems to be helping, and we are watching the watering.

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Anne Stone

I plant 5 tomato plants down in the alpaca poop pile and they are thriving!! BUT... I put alpaca poop in 4 - 5 gallon buckets and planted my tomato plants in them and mulched them well. I have been watering the plants consistently unless it rains, then maybe skip those days with sufficient amount of rain. So, these plants in the 5 gallon buckets have blossom end rot even though they are growing in alpaca poop. Some of the bottom leaves turned yellow which indicated that they were getting too much water. (I did drill holes in the bottom of the buckets for drainage so there would not be any root rot.) So, why am I getting blossom end rot?? I will try what you said about using the powdered milk in the water when I do water them even when it is raining. Any other recommendations for blossom end rot in container gardening???

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Marie

Why powdered milk for tomato rot. Can you use plain carton milk?

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Peggy Lankford

How much milk

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Cindy

Hi! Thanks for the tips! How often should I water with powdered milk and what strength should it be...like making a regular batch of powdered milk? Thank you!

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Joan Berry

Rot at the bottom of my tomatoes, Why.

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william j hynes jr

i am 70 yo now and i worry about blossom end rot. i love your powdered milk solutu ion. i was grinding up eggshells in the blender and drinking them mixed with skim milk. now i will try powdered milk instead, as some of the eggshells disagreed with me.[i think not ground fine enough.kudos to your great article.

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Debbie

How much powered milk to water?

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Ann

My beautiful Pink Berkeley Tie Dye plant produced its first ripe tomato & it has bottom rot. I going to follow your directions to the letter & email you & everyone else I know. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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Maria

Hello, thank you for all this info. I container garden in Brooklyn, NY & I just noticed 2 new tomateos had "BER". I garden in containers & I want to try the powdered milk technique. Can you please tell me how muck powder milk I needto use, how often & for how long? Finally, can I use powdered gpat's milk instead? Thank you, Maroa

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- Joe
  
  Yes you are a bad person
  
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JESSICA L HAYSSEN

How much powdered milk to water ratio do you recommend? Thanks

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Carol Flanagan

Thank you for your advice on how to fix blossom end rot. How much milk powder should I add to a 5 gallon watering can? Also, how often should I use this water mixtt?

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gloria halper

Thank you for info on blossom end rot on tomatoes. You said lack of calcium and inconsistent watering account for 80% of the problem. What else could it be to capture that 20% that I think we might be in. thank you!

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Juanita Posten

How much powdered milk per gallon of water??

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Glenda Cook

Should I pick my green tomatoes that are still good and let them ripen in the house? Almost all my green tomatoes are good yet.

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Audrey

How much powered milk should I use per large potted tomato plant Thanks

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Trish and Holden

I have my tomato in a pot and it looks so healthy except now the tomatoes are starting to ripen this nasty black sort of rot has arrived which is so disappointing. It is not caused because of lack of water in my case though. Would calcium milk in the watering can be the same as me having to buy milk powder please?

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Terry

"Instead, mix powdered milk into your watering can for a quick hit of calcium that doesn’t resort to using lime. Lime should only be used if you know you have a soil PH problem." Doesn't that = pouring milk into your soil? Won't that spoil or stink/attract vermin/bugs? I mean, if you put powdered milk into water, isn't that the same as watering with regular milk? What ratio if I do this? Also, I'm in Australia and not sure of the soil ph. I used basic bagged garden soil + some compost...I read using baking soda can adjust ph, is that better than lime? PS: I also love tomatoes but not raw! :)

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Linda

Hi Kristen! I like your idea of using powdered milk to end bottom rot. How much milk to how much water should I use. Also, I have planted beef steak tomatoes in containers because I live in a retirement community in Florida with small yards. Could that be part of the problem? The plants are 4 feet tall now with bottom rot and blossom fall. Thanks for your advice😊

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Harry

I'm not finding where you posted the recipe - how much powdered milk do I mix with water before watering in to tomatoes plants

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Chrystal

How much powdered milk is added?

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Mar

I'm sick over this as I took precautions at planting and still ended with some blossom end rot. I'm in Zone 10. You suggest milk at watering to help the plants with this rot issue. How much milk to a gallon of water is necessary for watering plants already w/blossom end rot.

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Barbara

Dear shiftingroots, I order the cut flower plan not realizing it cost. I am sorry, but I do not want to purchase these items at this time. Please delete this unwanted purchase. Barbara

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Camilla Sherr

Hi there, thanks for your informative website, here's my amazing tip for you: calc-carb, a homoeopathic remedy, is super efficient in getting that much needed calcium into your tomatoes! In ultra-diluted nanoparticles.

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Alyssa

Might I suggest writing a new post with the revised information? It was disheartening to learn at the very end of my reading here that I had basically wasted my time. You don't have to sacrifice views by only taking down this post. You can write a new one to replace it...

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Delmar Seemstter

My Dad has problems with blossom end rot almost every year, I don't seem to have that problem. I am wondering if it's because he puts new soil from the cow lot on almost every year? It should be great growing conditions but maybe too good? Also his garden gets direct sun all day?

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Denise Beall

Thanks so much, I really enjoyed this article.

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