Expert: Don Battales - 7/20/2008

Question
one year, we had amazing butternuts, without really tending the garden at all.since then it seems,blooms are dropping off with no fruit , or, if fruit is growing, once the flower falls off, it starts to go brown and rot from that spot where the flower fell off.(or did a bug get into it ?)
this has been the third year i am having this problem, also, i have had some tomatoes that are turning almost black at the bottom. is it a bug ???
i have pepper plants, with flowers, but none have started to grow into fruit??
i felt sure it was bugs, and i hate to say, i have tried sevin dust ( i really tried it as a last resort).thanks if you have any ideas, Miriam.  

Answer
Miriam:

You have a case of blossom drop. Normally this is caused by a fungus or bacteria.

I recommend that you contact your local nursery and tell him you have blossom drop and recommend a fungicide or spray for the plants. This is difficult to deal with.

Best wishes.

Don