Garden Glossary

Blight

Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term blight. The word blight can either refer to a particular disease, or the actual injury on the plant. Blights often appear as spots, lesions, or even death of the plant. Most blights are caused by a fungus. Using a fungicide can prevent infection to new tissue, it can not cure the existing damage.

Blossom End Rot

Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines blossom end rot. This is where the blossom end of a fruit, like tomatoes, rots while still on the plant. This happens because the plant does not have enough calcium. The lack of calcium in the plant can be caused by a lack of calcium in the soil, but more likely it is caused by dry soil, or the wrong pH. Plants absorb water from the soil. This water carries nutrients with it. If there is not enough water the plant won’t get the nutrients, like calcium, that come with it. Also, for the calcium to be available to the plant in the soil the pH needs to be correct.

Bolt

Horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly defines the gardening term bolt. Plants are said to bolt when they begin the process of setting seed. This usually occurs when environmental conditions favor setting seed. This term is usually applied to cool weather plants like leafy greens, root crops, and similar plants were the desirable part of the plant is not the seed. Once the plant has started to bolt cutting off the flowers will not stop the process. Most plants that bolt are annuals that are programed to grow, set seed, and die in one season.