Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is when the end of your vegetable that is away from the plant rots and turns black. It occurs on the end of the vegetable that had the flower. The cause of this is a calcium deficiency, but adding calcium to your garden is not effective for managing this problem. Not all of your produce should be affected by this problem, they tend to grow out of these conditions later in the season. Maintain moisture and mulch to help with this disorder.
Tomatoes Cracking in the Garden
Tomatoes can sometimes crack upon development. This occurs when we see a heavy rainfall right as the tomatoes are developing. There is nothing to do to fix cracks in the tomatoes, you can still use the rest of the tomato, but check it first for small dermestid beetles that may be feeding inside the fruit. There are crack resistant varieties that you might plant next year if you have problems with cracks every year.
Storm Damage
A large storm with heavy winds blew through the area at the end of July and it broke many tree and shrub branches. If you haven’t had time yet, go out and clean up those branches and check the areas where they broke out of your trees. Get up into your tree to clean up those breaks, making them a smooth pruning cut. This isn’t the optimum time for pruning, but corrective pruning should happen immediately to reduce the incidence of diseases and insects and to help that tree seal quicker. Don’t treat that wound with anything, just allow it to seal itself.
Fall Gardens
Environmental Stress
About Nicole
Email: nstoner2@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/gage-county-horticulture/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleStonerHorticulture
Twitter: @nikki_Stoner