Question
Hi Nick.  A couple weeks ago, you advised me about a tomato with Blossom-
End rot.  I have since removed the bad fruit and added calcium and fertilizer
to my containers and the plants appear to be doing better.  i also started
watering 'to the root ball', or until water comes out the drain hole of the
container. I do this every  3 day or so.

However, while the plants are doing ok, I'm a bit concerned.  The soil in the
containers seems to have picked up an odd consistency. The surface picks up
an almost crusty and compact look, rather than being just like dirt.  I've been
scraping at it with a shovel to loosen it up, but am wondering if I should just
leave it alone?

Weather in Boston has been warm and humid.  The plants get only a few
hours of direct sun per day in my shaded yard.  Other than the rotted fruit,
my Better Blossom plant has  2 green fruits (no flowers) and my cherry
tomato plant (which is growing very tall) has yielded 3 cherry tomatoes, has 4
green ones, and several flowers.   

I plan to add one crushed calcium tab per pot per week, and fertilize (Mother
Natures Cuisine) approx monthly.   Should I continue to water until water runs
out the bottom every 3-4 days? Or when the soil appears dry?   Another
interval?

Should I allow the soil to get 'crusty'? or Should I scrape at it and try to keep
it more loose?

I know I wrote a long letter.  Thank you very much,
Scott

Answer
Hi again Scott, tomatoes like a lot of water, so don't worry about giving it too much, worry more about them wilting from lack of it; the limited sun they are getting concerns me, this will definitely take its toll on the amount of tomatoes you get. The crusty soil baffles me somewhat, what type of soil did you initially use? you may have to cut it with some perlite, or vermiculite to loosen it up. Nick