Blossom End Rot

As my squash are starting to flower and produce fruit I am noticing that there are several small fruits on many plants that are looking rotten on the ends.  The plants still look fairly healthy, though some of the zucchini have had a mottled look ever since they started growing true leaves.

  After doing a little research I discovered that this problem is called bloosom end rot and is usually due to low calcium in the soils.  Lucky for me I can fix that problem.  Since we have no shortage of egg shells around here I am going to try to make my own calcium supplement for these plants.  I found a recipie for making calium foiliar spray by boiling egg shells in water.  Once the mix has sat for 24 hours you just strain it and spray it on your plants.  The plants will absorb the calium through their leaves.  I am also sidedressing the plants with crushed eggshells so they can absorb more calium when I water them.  I removed the rotting fruits to help the plant stop putting energy into growing a fruit with no future. 

There are still many healthy looking fruits on the plants so hopefully I can stop this little problem right from the start.

 

I have also had this problem with my pumpkins that have made an attempt at setting fruit.  I didn't really amend these beds before I planted in them so I am not surprised that there is a nutrient deficiency in the soil here.  Little by little my garden will let me know what it needs and I will do my best to pay attention and add things accordingly.  In this case I am giving all my squash plants the calcium spray and eggshell treatment.  This fall the beds will get amended with homegrown compost if I have enough.  Next year this area of the garden should do great if I can keep up with the weeds.