Skip to main content

Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes and Other Vegetables

Written collaboratively by Rhoda Burrows, former Professor & SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist; and Mary Roduner.

Blossom end rot is a disorder of tomato, pepper, and eggplant that can be very damaging. It may occasionally occur in summer squash, including zucchini. At first glance, damage from this disorder may not be obvious. However, home gardeners can be frustrated and distressed when they notice dry sunken decay developing on the bottom, or blossom end (opposite the stem), of the fruit of affected plants. Fruit may be affected throughout the season, but the first fruit produced in a season are often most severely affected.