If you have planted fruits and vegetables, you have most likely come across a situation where they started rotting out from the bottom, or started to have mildew.

Blossom-end rot

For tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash and other fruit, this is a common occurrence known as blossom-end rot. Blossom-end rot happens when the tissue of the bottom of the fruit breaks down and rots, the bottom is known as the blossom end, therefore the term, blossom-end rot. This is a problem because once tomatoes have this disorder, they become a target for different insects and bacteria.

[Picture Source: The old Farmers Almanac]

In our house, we don't cry over spilled milk when it comes to our garden. We end up utilizing that old leftover milk that stays in the kids sippy cups, or that milk we just didn't drink fast enough in the fridge.

[Picture: My kids Sippy Cup with leftover milk]

Milk works because Blossom-end rot occurs when vegetables are low in calcium. Milk being high in calcium helps this problem. Other homesteaders have used egg shells.

Powdery Mildew

Another problem you may encounter is powdery mildew. This occurs with many different types of plants and its from different strains of fungi carried in from the wind. As you can see, my vines for my pumpkins and cucumbers have spots of powdery mildew. Milk also works to remedy and you know what's interesting? Scientists aren't sure why it works! They think it may be the proteins in the milk interacting with the sun, but either way, it works great!

[Picture: Spoiled Milk from the fridge]

[Picture: My daughter all of a sudden thinking that spoiled milk would have been delicious]

When you start to see your vegetables start to get bottom-end rot or powdery mildew, it's okay to lose that glass of milk over it.

What other remedies have you used? Would love to hear tips and tricks from other green thumbs.