It is not uncommon for tomatoes to crack on the vine, and this can happen at any stage – green or ripe. If you grow tomatoes, chances are you’ve seen beautiful tomatoes ripen, only to find that the tomatoes you’ve always wanted to use for BLT suddenly cracked overnight (don’t worry, they’re still edible!). ）。
Learn about the causes of tomato cracking and how to prevent it.
Why Do Tomatoes Split
In simple terms, the reason for tomato cracking is either too much water or too much fluctuation in plant moisture. When tomatoes turn from drought to heavy rain, a sudden amount of moisture causes the inside of the tomato to grow faster than the outer skin, which causes the tomato to crack.
While both forms of cracking have the potential to allow pests to enter the fruit or promote rot, concentric cracking is sometimes not serious.
If the split is only on the surface and does not reveal the inside of the tomato, you can leave it to ripen on the vine, but pay close attention. Green (young) tomatoes that are cracked are more likely to rot before ripening than tomatoes that are cracked in the late growth stages.
How to Prevent Tomatoes From Splitting
Keeping the plant moist at all times helps prevent cracking. By minimizing the effects of sudden rainstorms, your plants won’t be hit with too much water after a sustained drought.
You can’t always prevent tomatoes from cracking; A downpour can bring inches of rain to your garden in a matter of hours, and whatever you do can cause tomatoes to crack. But you can reduce the likelihood of tomatoes cracking by doing the following:
- Regular deep watering: Tomatoes need about an inch of water per week, so water your tomato plants every two to three days during the summer. (Finger test: Stick your index finger into the soil one inch.) If the soil is wet, there is no need for watering. If the soil is dry, water. ）
- When watering, water only plant roots, not leaves: When watering, water only plant roots and avoid splashing soil on leaves to prevent soil-borne diseases such as wilt and leaf spot. Water thoroughly or use drip irrigation.
- Pick tomatoes early. Tomatoes that have begun to change color will ripen on or under the vine, so they should be picked before the storm hits and placed on the windowsill to complete the ripening process (the side benefit of picking early is that there are fewer chances of pests eating the fruit).
- Mulch: Provide plants with two to three inches of organic mulch, such as straw, pine needles, or crushed bark. Mulch helps to keep the soil moisture content stable and reduces cracking.
- Find crack-resistant varieties: Check plant labels or seed catalogs for crack-resistant varieties. Many hybrids are disease resistant, highly yielding, and do not crack easily.
- Provide good drainage: If tomatoes experience heavy rain, growing tomatoes in raised beds or containers with drainage holes will provide the best drainage for the plants. Both the raised bed and the container drain well – make sure to use high-quality loose soil that won’t compaction. Since nutrients are lost from the container when moisture is lost, use organic fertilizer according to the instructions on the label.
- Correct fertilization: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer and do not overfertilize your tomato plants. Specially formulated tomato fertilizers are high in phosphorus and potassium and low in nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can cause tomatoes to grow too fast and crack.
What to Do After the Tomatoes Are Splitting
If your tomatoes are cracked, it’s important to pick them as soon as possible. Cracked tomatoes are more susceptible to rot and pests. To move unripe cracked tomatoes out of the reach of pests, leave them indoors to ripen them.
While you may not be able to completely avoid tomato cracking, don’t worry – in many cases, tomatoes are still edible. Carefully inspect the tomatoes for signs of insects or decay, and throw away any tomatoes that have a sour taste or oozing liquid.
Don’t eat the tomatoes if they’re soft, it’s an early sign of rot. Cut tomatoes can’t be stored for too long, so eat them immediately or cook them to enjoy the fruits of your hard work in the garden.