My tomato plants were a mess until I switched up my watering game

For the first two years on my west-facing balcony, I'd just give my tomatoes a quick splash from a watering can every evening. They grew, but they were always a bit sad and I'd get maybe a dozen cherry tomatoes total. Last spring, after the third plant got blossom end rot, my friend in Tucson, who grows amazing peppers, told me to try deep watering. So I got a cheap plastic bottle, poked a few holes in the cap, and buried it neck-down next to each plant. Now I fill those bottles up twice a week, and the water goes straight down to the roots. The difference is crazy. The plants are way bushier, no more rot, and I'm picking handfuls every few days. It's like they were just thirsty the whole time. Has anyone else tried something like this with bigger pots, maybe for peppers or eggplants?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretf4012d ago

Oh man, I know that struggle with blossom end rot all too well. What a smart fix with the bottles.

noahchen12d agoMost Upvoted

My neighbor swears by crushed eggshells, but I've never tried it myself.

xena_anderson1d ago

Actually, blossom end rot isn't a disease you can fix. It's a calcium issue caused by uneven watering. The bottle trick helps keep water steady, which lets the plant take up calcium properly. Eggshells break down way too slow in the soil to help with a current rot problem. The real key is keeping the soil moisture consistent all season long. Have you tried using mulch to help with that?