DSS recognizes retiree
Gay Humphrey, an Income Maintenance supervisor in the WFFA and Day Care unit at the Lenoir County Department of Social Services, will retire from the agency on June 28.
Jackie Brown, chairwoman of the DSS Board of Directors, and the entire membership honored Humphrey at the May 23 Board meeting.
Humphrey was recognized for her years of service and dedication to DSS.
Gardening Guru: Do your tomatoes have blossom-end rot?
If you are anxiously waiting to pluck that first tasty tomato, I hope a black section on the bottom of the fruit will not surprise you.
This common physiological disorder — blossom-end rot — is most prevalent on tomatoes but also occurs in peppers, eggplant, squash and some melons. The first symptom is a slight water-soaked area on or near the blossom end of the fruit which soon darkens and enlarges in a widening circle until the fruit begins to ripen. The area may be a mere speck or involve half or more of the fruit.
The condition is symptomatic of a calcium deficiency in the fruit, typically caused by low soil calcium, lack of calcium uptake from the soil, or a low ratio of calcium with other nutrients, such as potassium and nitrogen.
Another cause, excessive nitrogen, stimulates vegetative growth and increases the transpiration surface, further preventing calcium accumulation in the fruit. This disorder is usually most severe following extreme fluctuations in the water supply; the fruits are the last to receive adequate calcium. Ninety percent of the calcium is in the fruit by the time it is about thumbnail size. So, when a calcium deficiency occurs on the blossom end of the fruit, the cells collapse producing the sunken lesion.
Several options can help reduce blossom-end rot. A soil test can determine the pH and exact amount of lime (as well as fertilizer) needed to bring soil pH to 6.5. Apply potassium, phosphorus and magnesium as recommended to maintain balance with the calcium.
Plant later in the season when soil temperatures are warmer. Mulch to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature and provide a more uniform water supply.
Avoid deep cultivation and hoeing that can cause root pruning. Do not prune tomatoes severely, and keep water supply uniform and regular. Tomato plants require 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during growth and fruiting.
Remove affected fruits when symptoms are first observed. Use foliar sprays on young developing fruit. Apply calcium chloride — four tablespoons per gallon of water every 3 to 10 days — during cooler morning temperatures to the point of run-off.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center, 1791 Hwy 11/55. Reach her at Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.