Blossom-End Rot in Tomatoes

Any gardener gets discouraged when they see a dark, leathery patch develop on the bottom end of their vine-ripened tomatoes. The blemish indicates blossom-end rot, a calcium-deficiency disorder that often afflicts tomatoes. This Idaho Green Thumb How-To tells you the basics about this frustrating condition, including what it is, what causes it, how to discourage its development in your garden and how to manage it if it does. Color photographs help you distinguish its identification in other plants and from other disorders that can plague the red fruit.