If blossom end rot is something going awry at the base of the fruit, Greenback is something going wrong at the stalk end.
But unlike BER which can affect indoor and outdoor plants Greenback is a disorder which manifests itself in greenhouse grown tomatoes.
The symptoms are that whilst the rest of the tomato ripens, the area around the stalk does not. It remains resolutely green or yellow and tougher in texture.
A combination of factors including too little potassium and phosphorous and too much direct sunlight and high heat are to blame.
The solution lies in addressing the plant’s feeding regime and greenhouse set up. Shade can be provided by external blinds or the application of a product such as Cool Glass and vents and doors opened to bring in cooler air and lower the temperature.
Or approaching from a different angle there are tomato varieties bred not to succumb to this disorder including Shirley, one of the UK’s top 10 classic tomatoes varieties.
