Garden Happenings. . .

Below is a prime example of the beginnings of Blossom End Rot. BER, simplified, is a calcium deficiency in the tomato plant which causes it to rot from the blossom end, hence the name. The condition is typically exacerbated by extreme pH imbalances, either high or low, or by intermittent watering or drastic swings in the moisture content of the soil. Other culprits can be too much nitrogen in the soil or even physical damage to the root system. In Mississippi, central and south central, BER is usually a LACK of calcium in the soil. Our soils are generally clayey and we add raw, ground limestone (agricultural lime) during initial soil bed preparation to help "break down" the clays and add the necessary mineral, however this methodology is very slow and when the plant is making fruit and BER appears, there is no time to waste.

Mix up a slurry of ag lime and water and apply it to the base of each plant affected. To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as overdosing the plants with too much calcium, but use good judgment. If you're out there slopping the stuff around like Inspector Clouseau investigating the latest crime, surely something bad will befall your plants. As a rule of thumb, less is probably better than more in this case. And should you splash a bit about the leaves and fruit, spray the areas liberally with water. Lime will burn your plants with direct contact.

I am expecting a bumper crop of tomatoes for the first harvest, so any of you so-called friends who never send me Christmas cards or Birthday greetings can rest assured that if my gifts are mailed by the end of next week, we might be able to work something out.

And finally, below we find the beautiful surprise turnips and there are a few whoppers in there. I'd give some of these away too, but I know that none of you jokers like turnips, so tough tooty.