Question of the Week – Blossom End Rot

This week, the question was: What’s going on with this watermelon?

This watermelon is suffering from blossom end rot. This physiological disorder is also common in tomatoes and peppers. Blossom end rot results from a localized calcium deficiency in the fruit; however, this may not necessarily indicate a calcium deficiency in the soil. Blossom end rot can occur even when calcium levels in the soil are adequate. The most effective way to prevent blossom end rot is to maintain uniform soil moisture. Hot, dry weather, like we were experiencing until recently, can make it really difficult to maintain uniform soil moisture. For more info, see this article from Clemson’s HGIC.