Zucchini blossom end rot

 

My zuccs have BER!  As I understand it the problem is due to deficiency of
calcium in the plant which can be brought about by uneven water availability
or lack of calcium in the soil.  Well my zuccs have not been watered
unevenly, they have neither been saturated not allowed to wilt and they are
well mulched. The soil has been amended with lime and gypsum.  They are
growing strongly with a multitude of flowers and fruit setting. One odd
thing is that normally this strikes on the fruit when they are quite small
but this time they are getting nearly to cutting size before it starts.  As
a short term thing I am cutting them early which makes for nice tasty fruit
but a small harvest.

Any ideas from experience?

Any references to a detailed explanation of how BER happens, in particular
how uneven watering results in a mineral problem?

David

 



<http://urbanext.illinois.edu/search/searchresults.cfm?cx
3441887324743
351507%3Afnavtnakbe4&q=blossom+end+rot&sa=Search&cof=FORID%3A11&siteurl=u
rbanext.illinois.edu%2Fhortanswers%2Fdefault.cfm>

 From above URL 4th hit down

 "When the soil moisture experiences wide swigs in moisture (wet to dry)
that is when the plant has a hard time picking up calcium. To prevent
this condition you need to water so soil moistures stay fairly constant
or better yet use some type of mulch over the bed to even out soil
moisture levels. This is the best way to prevent blossom end rot. "

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

 



<snip>


You may have a polllination problem David
I have had similar problems over several years with  zucchini, pumpkins and
melons.
Basically a lack of bees to do the pollination
We have gone from a situation of bees everywhere down to severely limited
numbers
(Not sure of the cause; possibly insecticides, but not sure.)
This has meant hand pollination of the female flowers
Others in our locality have the same problem.

An extract from this URL may be appropriate:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40740300.tip.html#81945718

"RE: Zucchini Rotting on the Vine
This is a common problem in climates where there are not enough bees to
pollinate the plants. You may have the zucchini in an area where the bees
don't bother with it. When the flowers are not cross-pollinated, the
zucchini grows but rots at about 4-5 inches long. If you can, take a Q-tip
and rub some pollen from one flower to the next when they first open up. Do
this several times and the zucchini should then grow properly! (06/30/2006)
"

HTH
anm

 

anm wrote:

I have plenty of bees, I see them every day, right now they are working on
the brassicas and other veges that have gone to seed next to the zuccs.   I
usually have plenty of mature pumpkins and other bee pollinated crops
although the pumpkins are not flowering yet.  This seems at first face to
not be the answer.


Well in the interests of science I am going to give this a try.  I will
report on the results.  Thanks

David

 


Could there be a problem with water penetration due to the mulch?  I know I
have to be quite careful of mulch on our low pressure, gravity fed, country
water supply and fluff the mulch every now and then or otherwise the
watering isnt' even.