Blossom end rot (physiological)
Physiological / stressBrown/black leathery patch on blossom end of fruit; linked to uneven water/calcium uptake rather than a single insect.
Often on
Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons — especially fast-growing fruit.
Symptom tags
Signs in the garden
- Damage is on the fruit end opposite the stem, not random holes in leaves.
- Often appears after dry spells or irregular watering.
What often helps (general)
- Keep soil moisture steadier (mulch, consistent irrigation).
- Avoid over-fertilizing with ammoniacal nitrogen that can interfere with uptake.
- New fruit often improves once watering stabilizes; severely affected fruit can be removed.
When to escalate
If every fruit on every plant fails across varieties, test soil and irrigation depth — not every fruit blemish is BER.