I see where they’re coming from, but I’m not sure it would do a whole lot. Blossom end rot is a calcium deficiency usually caused by inconsistent watering. I suppose an antacid could provide some additional calcium, but so do eggshells and Blood&Bone mixes.
barriedalenick
It probably doesn’t work. Most soils have sufficient calcium (5th most abundant element in the crust) and as mentioned already BER is normally a water transport issue not a calcium availability issue. It doesn’t matter how much calcium is in the soil if the plant cannot transport it to where it is needed.
RedElmo65
I’ll use egg shells.
manyamile
Please read the link in veggiebot’s comment below mine if you want actual information on blossom end rot.
And no, that doesn’t work. It’s a terrible garden myth that won’t die.
!ber
Historical_Ad2666
End rot is caused by improper watering which leads to poor calcium intake to the plant. Don’t need to do that
Dwagner6
Ah yes, planting a root bound tomato in the worst looking soil, but at least it won’t get heartburn.
bostonsgardener
Only the tropical fruit ones work.
Rude-Butterfly9480
Yep, l used expired Tums last year, it fixed my blossom end rot issues but one tablet per plant was not enough for the whole season. I had to add more later in summer.
nola-rye
I add bone meal also. Plus it can boost the quality of the blossoms. Good for Pepper plants too.
jesrp1284
BER isn’t usually because of the lack of calcium in the soil, but the plant’s inability to use it due to inconsistent watering. I’ve lost quite a bit of fruit to it this year because of the weird Midwest weather.
ASecularBuddhist
Ahhahahhahhaaa 🤣
Instead of aerating the soil (to prevent BER), people are putting Tums in the ground. Way to go Internet 👍🏼 Better stock up on crushed egg shells /s
T-Rex_timeout
If your plants need tums for more than a few weeks they should really consult a doctor to check for h. Pylori or other issues and try Nexium.
ImAMindlessTool
use bone meal in your fertilizing schedule.
OzarkGarlick
As others stated a water transport issue more usually.
But hell for arguments sake let’s say it is a calcium deficiency of the soil. A 40lb bag of lime is considerably cheaper than the equivalent amount of calcium contained in tums.
hatchjon12
Correct, it’s useless.
mdixon12
This doesn’t work this way. BER is caused by a lack of BIOAVAIABLE calcium in the soil, and given that most soils are abundant in calcium it’s soil PH or moisture content that’s the issue. Unless a soil analysis states a calcium deficiency no ammendment is necessary.
Also that tums doesn’t have enough calcium to support a growing plant, nevermind abundant fruit production. Tomatoes need at minimum 152lb of calcium per acre.
mfraziertw
I grind them up but yeah it works.
Peter_Falcon
if you want the plant you are growing to uptake minerals then feed the soil with compost and the microherd with break down all the nutrients in that soil, and you will have healthy plants.
i’ve been doing this and no digging since 2017 and my plants are pretty impressive
shortredbus
May as well do what the Native Americans did and throw a bait fish in the hole.
Axotalneologian
considering the cost of antacid tabs and plain agricultural lime at about 5 to 8 dollars for a 50 pound bag, it seems an awfully stupid way to go about it.
And that assumes that it’s sufficient to do the job, which I doubt.
One bag of lime is sufficient to treat dozens of plants for years and years and years.
Some claim that end rot is watering issue. This “can” be the case but only if (A) there is a pre-existing watering issue and (B) there is sufficient water in the soil.
I’ve seen end rot many times in my well-watered tomatoes and adding calcium solves the problem every single time.
recoil1776
If they are that worried about their soil being low in nutrients, they should amend and fertilize the soil with a bit of everything, and that will help.
tom8osauce
I started Roma tomato plants for myself and my sisters this year. All of us had bad blossom end rot, including the sister who swears by the Tums trick. If you have low calcium in your soil, maybe it would help, but I’m sure there are other options.
ackshualllly
This is what all my neighbors who don’t garden suggest.
They don’t know why, they just saw it on the internet. It’s got as much beneficial scientific evidence on its side as rain dances.
yuppers1979
I prefer egg shells, save em all year for tomatoe and pepper beds.
greeksurfer
definitely too good to be true
ThrenodyToTrinity
Once again, social media is not a reliable source of facts, but is a great way for people trying to get karma/clicks to get attention by spreading lies people want to hear.
gogomom
Your having issues with blossom end rot, blight or black spot then your not cleaning out the excess leaves near the ground and/or allowing dirty water to splash back onto the plant and fruit.
Prune and mulch – issue mostly averted.
HonkinChonk
I don’t do one with every plant, but a dissolve a few tabs in water and dump the water across all the plants a few times a summer.
28 Comments
I see where they’re coming from, but I’m not sure it would do a whole lot. Blossom end rot is a calcium deficiency usually caused by inconsistent watering. I suppose an antacid could provide some additional calcium, but so do eggshells and Blood&Bone mixes.
It probably doesn’t work. Most soils have sufficient calcium (5th most abundant element in the crust) and as mentioned already BER is normally a water transport issue not a calcium availability issue. It doesn’t matter how much calcium is in the soil if the plant cannot transport it to where it is needed.
I’ll use egg shells.
Please read the link in veggiebot’s comment below mine if you want actual information on blossom end rot.
And no, that doesn’t work. It’s a terrible garden myth that won’t die.
!ber
End rot is caused by improper watering which leads to poor calcium intake to the plant. Don’t need to do that
Ah yes, planting a root bound tomato in the worst looking soil, but at least it won’t get heartburn.
Only the tropical fruit ones work.
Yep, l used expired Tums last year, it fixed my blossom end rot issues but one tablet per plant was not enough for the whole season. I had to add more later in summer.
I add bone meal also. Plus it can boost the quality of the blossoms. Good for Pepper plants too.
BER isn’t usually because of the lack of calcium in the soil, but the plant’s inability to use it due to inconsistent watering. I’ve lost quite a bit of fruit to it this year because of the weird Midwest weather.
Ahhahahhahhaaa 🤣
Instead of aerating the soil (to prevent BER), people are putting Tums in the ground. Way to go Internet 👍🏼 Better stock up on crushed egg shells /s
If your plants need tums for more than a few weeks they should really consult a doctor to check for h. Pylori or other issues and try Nexium.
use bone meal in your fertilizing schedule.
As others stated a water transport issue more usually.
But hell for arguments sake let’s say it is a calcium deficiency of the soil. A 40lb bag of lime is considerably cheaper than the equivalent amount of calcium contained in tums.
Correct, it’s useless.
This doesn’t work this way. BER is caused by a lack of BIOAVAIABLE calcium in the soil, and given that most soils are abundant in calcium it’s soil PH or moisture content that’s the issue. Unless a soil analysis states a calcium deficiency no ammendment is necessary.
Also that tums doesn’t have enough calcium to support a growing plant, nevermind abundant fruit production. Tomatoes need at minimum 152lb of calcium per acre.
I grind them up but yeah it works.
if you want the plant you are growing to uptake minerals then feed the soil with compost and the microherd with break down all the nutrients in that soil, and you will have healthy plants.
i’ve been doing this and no digging since 2017 and my plants are pretty impressive
May as well do what the Native Americans did and throw a bait fish in the hole.
considering the cost of antacid tabs and plain agricultural lime at about 5 to 8 dollars for a 50 pound bag, it seems an awfully stupid way to go about it.
And that assumes that it’s sufficient to do the job, which I doubt.
One bag of lime is sufficient to treat dozens of plants for years and years and years.
Some claim that end rot is watering issue. This “can” be the case but only if (A) there is a pre-existing watering issue and (B) there is sufficient water in the soil.
I’ve seen end rot many times in my well-watered tomatoes and adding calcium solves the problem every single time.
If they are that worried about their soil being low in nutrients, they should amend and fertilize the soil with a bit of everything, and that will help.
I started Roma tomato plants for myself and my sisters this year. All of us had bad blossom end rot, including the sister who swears by the Tums trick. If you have low calcium in your soil, maybe it would help, but I’m sure there are other options.
This is what all my neighbors who don’t garden suggest.
They don’t know why, they just saw it on the internet. It’s got as much beneficial scientific evidence on its side as rain dances.
I prefer egg shells, save em all year for tomatoe and pepper beds.
definitely too good to be true
Once again, social media is not a reliable source of facts, but is a great way for people trying to get karma/clicks to get attention by spreading lies people want to hear.
Your having issues with blossom end rot, blight or black spot then your not cleaning out the excess leaves near the ground and/or allowing dirty water to splash back onto the plant and fruit.
Prune and mulch – issue mostly averted.
I don’t do one with every plant, but a dissolve a few tabs in water and dump the water across all the plants a few times a summer.
I have 10000000 tomatoes every year!