Has anyone had any experience of this... it's a first for me. Having asked the best gardener I know , he seems to think it is caused by either overwatering or underwatering....
But which is it ?
Put white spirit on then scrape spots off with your fingernail. Oh dear sorry, wrong thread.
Seriously I was always told the black spots were due to over watering.
At this stage I haven't actually smelled them ... that's ae job for tommorow. Going by the links it would suggest underwatering. But as they all get drenched together, you would think that other plants would suffer if they are underwatered ?
Looks like blossom end rot to me. Caused by irregular/under watering. Surprising how much water they need. I've got a grow-bag with three plants in it, watering about 7litres a day plus capful of tomorite.
We are on the south coast in sussex and seem to have had non stop sunshine for weeks on end. I am watering with a hose pipe most days. Each plant gets a proper soaking as we are constantly getting over 90 degrees farenheit in the tunnel. Today it was 106 degrees when I got there at midday.
I got this one year when in France. It seemed to be associated with the variety. It was not resistant to virus, trying to remember the name, began with 'M'. Tasty, but prone to this. 'Marmande', I think. Anyway, that was a virus.
Today I have seen all the people I would take any notice off and they have said the same ..Blossom end rot. The one person I would ask if there were no others said it is down to irregular watering and the reason that only one plant is affected is because it's roots may be formed very shallow, therefore it may not be receiving as much water as the rest.
Sounds a reasonable explanation I thought.
He also said the answer to not letting it happen again would be to sink a 5-6" plantpot upside down in the soil when I put the plant in the ground in the first place. When watering I am to fill the plant pot a few times, this will allow the main root to get a good drink and not just the surface roots. With it being in a poly tunnel the surface dries out very quickly and therefore the water may not have been getting down to the main root.
Thanks for all the answers.