Did you have veggie problems last year?
Amend your soil now to prevent it from occurring next year.
Did blossom end rot affect your tomatoes and peppers this year? An article recently published by Michigan State University Extension addresses this common problem and several ways to protect your plants.
Photo credit: Michigan State University Extension
Blossom end rot often affects fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and summer squash. Plants with the disorder will have dark spots on their fruit. It is caused by a lack of calcium. Plants need a constant, consistent supply of this mineral to flourish. Several factors can contribute to a calcium deficiency.
Some of these include, the soil which may not have enough calcium available to meet the plant’s requirements. Inconsistent watering can contribute to the problem by robbing roots of a continuous flow of calcium from the soil. Or environmental conditions can be so ideal the plant grows too quickly for its roots to absorb enough calcium to meet its need.
Fall is an ideal time to correct the soil conditions that cause blossom end rot. You can complete a soil test to determine the exact mineral content of your soil. However, most gardens will benefit by the addition of calcium once every other year. In this heavy clay area of Ohio, it is important to increase your soil’s calcium without increasing the pH. 
To do so, add gypsum (calcium sulfate) to your soil at the rate of one pound of gypsum for every five square feet of garden area. Powdered gypsum can be worked into the soil using a rake. Avoid working wet clay soils as it can harm the existing soil structure. However, if wet soil is all you have, it is still best to apply gypsum now, allow the freeze/thaw ground motion to work the material in, and finish up by tilling the soil in spring.
You may not be able to completely eliminate blossom end rot, but this can greatly decrease its effects on your plants.
Meadow View has gypsum in stock. If you have any questions about blossom end rot, stop by and ask any member of our knowledgeable staff.