For the past two years I’ve been having this problem with my squash. I’m not a plant pathologist, though I have had some success identifying diseases and insects based on past experience and lots of google searches.

However, I have a great friend who has been working in the field of plant pathology for decades. Because the visual symptoms of this particular disease are so distinct, I was sure he could identify it through photographs. So I uploaded the photos to flickr, and shot him off an email.

Less than 24 hours later I had my response: blossom-end rot.  It turns out that this isn’t a disease at all but is instead related to soil conditions. The principal factor causing this response is a lack of calcium, which is required in fairly large amounts for healthy cell development. Several variables can affect calcium uptake in garden soils, including over-watering (which, because of forgetfulness, I’ve been guilty of from time to time), an unbalanced pH, low organic matter content, nitrogen saturation, or simply a low amount of available calcium in the soil.

Ideally, I will be able to take a soil sample from each of my garden beds for laboratory analysis. This will help to give me a better idea of calcium and other nutrient levels so that I can effectively implement best management practices. Then, in late winter-early spring, I plan to fertilize, certainly with a calcium supplement like bone meal or dolomitic limestone.

However, by focusing purely on the technical aspects of the problem we run the risk of missing the revolutionary nature of the information exchange just described. In fact, the diagnosis and solution of this problem represents information intensive agriculture at its finest.

Using digital photography and internet technology like flickr and email, I was able to leverage my existing network of contacts for rapid identification of a common problem with which I personally had no prior experience. Granted, this might not be the case with most plant diseases, which usually require a laboratory and specialized personnel, but it clearly demonstrates the low-cost, chemical free nature of rapid information exchanges in agriculture.

Once the problem has been identified, a google search on squash blossom end rot reveals a plethora of information for assesing the situation and making appropriate management decisions.

Liberating ourselves from chemical intensive agriculture will be a lengthy process, and google searches and email won’t be enough to combat what is, at its core, a socio-economic problem. However, it is crucial to achieve maximum leverage of available technology so that chemicals can be replaced with information, knowledge, and ultimately wise stewardship of our natural resources.