Cucumber Blossom End Rot: Complete Treatment Guide
What is Cucumber Blossom End Rot?
Symptoms
- Dark, water-soaked spots at blossom end
- Spots become sunken and dark brown
- Affected area becomes leathery
- May develop secondary mold
- Fruits become inedible
- More common in young fruits
What Causes Cucumber Blossom End Rot?
- Calcium deficiency
- Irregular watering
- Root damage
- High soil salinity
- Excessive nitrogen
- Poor calcium uptake
- Soil pH imbalance
How to Treat Cucumber Blossom End Rot
Organic Treatments
- Apply crushed eggshells
- Use calcium-rich organic amendments
- Add bone meal
- Apply gypsum
- Use compost tea
- Add dolomitic lime if pH is low
Chemical Treatments
- Apply calcium nitrate
- Use foliar calcium spray
- Apply balanced NPK with calcium
- Use calcium chloride solution
Cultural Controls
- Maintain consistent moisture
- Mulch to retain moisture
- Avoid root damage
- Reduce nitrogen fertilization
- Improve soil drainage
- Monitor soil pH (6.0-6.8)
How to Prevent Cucumber Blossom End Rot
- Test soil before planting
- Add calcium before planting
- Use proper irrigation
- Maintain even moisture
- Don't over-fertilize
- Choose resistant varieties
- Use mulch
Recommended Fertilizers for Cucumber Blossom End Rot
- Calcium nitrate
- Bone meal
- Gypsum
- Balanced NPK
- Dolomitic lime