BER, Understanding the Cause - Page 2

jtjmartin · September 9, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

You might try this link as well.

Mike Dunton of Victory Seeds asked me to write it.There may be a few minor changes I'd make,but BER,both internal and external,have always existed.

http://www.webgrower.com/information/carolyn_ber.html

Carolyn

Carolyn:

Excellent article . . . but it will take me some time to give up my calcium!

I guess - like most things in life - there's no simple solution to cure a complex problem.

Jeff

Ricky Shaw · September 9, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

You might try this link as well.

Mike Dunton of Victory Seeds asked me to write it.There may be a few minor changes I'd make,but BER,both internal and external,have always existed.

http://www.webgrower.com/information/carolyn_ber.html

Carolyn

The best short wrap-up ever on BER, and so much more that applies beyond.

**coronabarb** · September 9, 2016

Thank you SO much, Carolyn!

MadCow333 · September 12, 2016

I've read elsewhere that calcium must get into the plant from the soil via the root system, and that hot weather can cause BER because it drastically slows the plant's respiration. That seemed to fit with the ber syndrome we tomato growers experienced here this summer. It snowed in early May, then pitched us into upper 80s and low 90s weather for about 3 weeks. I had ber in round hybrid tomatos, and my Heinz romas were nothing but ber until recently. The San Marzanos apparently were spared only because they never even grew or blossomed until after the heat wave subsided.

**carolyn137** · September 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadCow333

I've read elsewhere that calcium must get into the plant from the soil via the root system, and that hot weather can cause BER because it drastically slows the plant's respiration. That seemed to fit with the ber syndrome we tomato growers experienced here this summer. It snowed in early May, then pitched us into upper 80s and low 90s weather for about 3 weeks. I had ber in round hybrid tomatos, and my Heinz romas were nothing but ber until recently. The San Marzanos apparently were spared only because they never even grew or blossomed until after the heat wave subsided.

Please go back to my post #14 and read the link I posted there and read forward.

The BER problem is complicated and in that article I discussed almost all the issues that cause it to happen which are many.

Carolyn

Bart · September 13, 2016

Dumb question.......what is C++?

I'm guessing it's calcium but it's not mentioned in the Victory Seeds article.

**carolyn137** · September 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart

Dumb question.......what is C++?

I'm guessing it's calcium but it's not mentioned in the Victory Seeds article.

I first posted C++ in post #3.

It means the ionic form of calcium,not linked to another compound such as Ca Nitrate,or Ca Chloride,etc.

Calcium moves within plants and thesoil in the ion form which is C++, the pluses ++ indicating the electrical charge on that molecule.

Carolyn

Bart · September 13, 2016

Thanks!

Nematode · September 14, 2016

Switched media this year and had BER on peppers and tomatoes. Not devastating, but definitely worse than in previous years.
The media was very wet, I am running on the assumption that too wet can compromise calcium uptake.

GrowingCoastal · September 14, 2016

Oh, Nematode! That might be it, that is, why my Early Girls had BER this year. I added compost to the container mix and it made the soil wetter for longer. Too wet, I think. Maybe ok for a hot climate but not here.

ginger2778 · September 14, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematode

Switched media this year and had BER on peppers and tomatoes. Not devastating, but definitely worse than in previous years.
The media was very wet, I am running on the assumption that too wet can compromise calcium uptake.

Not to mention that in new media the calcium hasn't had a chance to dissolve in yet

Nematode · September 14, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Not to mention that in new media the calcium hasn't had a chance to dissolve in yet

Hi Marsha,
I deliver all nutrients in liquid form daily (hydroponic).
Calcium Is available at all times.

ginger2778 · September 14, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematode

Hi Marsha,
I deliver all nutrients in liquid form daily (hydroponic).
Calcium Is available at all times.

Oh. I was thinking it was the powdered stuff.

Gerardo · September 14, 2016

I'm going with your assumption too Nematode, some varieties don't like wet all the time, and I'm seeing it with 100 Pudov.

Gerardo · September 14, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Oh. I was thinking it was the powdered stuff.

I use three forms, CaNitrate (fast) dol lime (mid), crab meal (long), almost everyone happy.

September 9, 2016	#18
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	Thank you SO much, Carolyn! __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

September 12, 2016	#19
MadCow333 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NW PA 6A Posts: 159	I've read elsewhere that calcium must get into the plant from the soil via the root system, and that hot weather can cause BER because it drastically slows the plant's respiration. That seemed to fit with the ber syndrome we tomato growers experienced here this summer. It snowed in early May, then pitched us into upper 80s and low 90s weather for about 3 weeks. I had ber in round hybrid tomatos, and my Heinz romas were nothing but ber until recently. The San Marzanos apparently were spared only because they never even grew or blossomed until after the heat wave subsided.

September 13, 2016	#21
Bart Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: No. VA zone 6/7 Posts: 8	Dumb question.......what is C++? I'm guessing it's calcium but it's not mentioned in the Victory Seeds article.

September 14, 2016	#24
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Switched media this year and had BER on peppers and tomatoes. Not devastating, but definitely worse than in previous years. The media was very wet, I am running on the assumption that too wet can compromise calcium uptake.

September 14, 2016	#25
GrowingCoastal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Vancouver Island Canada BC Posts: 1,253	Oh, Nematode! That might be it, that is, why my Early Girls had BER this year. I added compost to the container mix and it made the soil wetter for longer. Too wet, I think. Maybe ok for a hot climate but not here.

September 14, 2016	#29
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,594	I'm going with your assumption too Nematode, some varieties don't like wet all the time, and I'm seeing it with 100 Pudov.