I had the same problem with a couple of my tomatoes that rotted on the vine...but the rest seem fine so I have hope they will ripen normally. I know my mom told me how to handle blossom-end rot, but I forget, I'll ask again when I see her later this week.

Thanks, Julia!

ok, my mom said that blossom-end rot can happen for two reasons - the plant is too dry from not enough water, or lack of calcium. to give the plant more calcium, you can crush up eggshells and regularly apply some on the soil just before watering, or even "water" the plant with a little milk, though that is more expensive than the eggshell method. good luck!

Thanks so much for asking, Julia - I think I just can't get the plant enough water in the heat of the day, but I will try the eggshells!

I like watered-down milk better. You might be able to get out-of-date milk at the bodega - ours sells it cheap the day after (shh!) but after then they'll give you a single-serving bottle for free if you ask.

If you think they're drying out around mid-day, you could try a shade cloth directly over them where it will offer a little shade around noon, or a self-waterer (which can be an upside-down liter bottle half buried in the dirt, with a hole cut in the bottom to add water in the morning.)

Wow, thanks for all the ideas Rosa! I will try the milk and this bottle thingy. How exactly does it work? Will I be able to fit it into my plastic bucket without damaging too many of the plant's roots? How big of a hole do you drill into the bottle? Like a pinprick or a quarter or do you cut the whole bottom off? Do you fill it all the way up? This is very intriguing!