I am growing my first garden. I had to pick one green/red tomato today because they have black spots. Why?

Question

What are these black spots?

Answer 1

Tomatoes get different kinds of black spots. All can be cut off after you pick the tomato and the rest of the tomato should taste fine. One common problem is blossom end rot. If the black spot is on the bottom of the tomato where the blossom had originally been it will grow in size, somewhat sunken in appearance. This is caused by a lack of calcium. You can buy a calcium spray to spray right on your plants which will help stop and prevent this. Again, once the tomato ripens you can cut off the black spot. Tomatoes also have black spots that look more like lines, crevice or zipper-like appearance. This is called catfacing and can be caused by anything that damages the fruit at the beginning of its development:cold, heat, low moisture, too much nitrogen. These spots are unsightly but can be cut off before eating. Also, make sure your tomatoes are tied up off the ground, as slugs love to dine on them if they lay on the soil.

Answer 2

You probably are watering your plants so the foliage is getting wet. You need to water tomatos at the base of the plant.

So, cut off the affected leaves and fruit and throw away. Water at the base, and enjoy the rest of your tomatoes.

Tomatoes adjust themselves to soil conditions, so if you save some seed from one of your tomatoes and dry them, you can plant them again next year, and the plant will actually be more ready to grow in your soil conditions than the one you planted this year. Do this for three years straight and you have a hybrid tomato that you can name after yourself.

Answer 3

Look at the entry on our blog entitled "Why are my tomatoes turning black?"

Visit our blog at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/gardening-blog.html

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 4

If they are on the bottom then it could be blossom rot. could be bug bites. do you have a county agent? If you do take the tomato to that person and they can tell you. If not take it to a nursery and ask if they know.