This set of forums is an archive of our old CGI-Based forum platform (UBB.Classic) that was never imported to our current forum (UBB.threads); as such, no new postings or registrations are allowed here.

Please instead direct all questions and postings to the our current forum here.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#73275 October 8th, 2006 at 02:48 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
I am just wondering what causes most of my tomatoes to split. The bigger tomatoes split at the top, the cherry tomatoes split on the side. They did it all summer, cold or hot, wet or dry. Also, how do I prevent it for next year? Any help on this is appreciated. Thank you.

#73276 October 8th, 2006 at 05:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
J
Member
Offline
Member
J
Joined: Aug 2005
Some varieties are more prone to cracking than others. Some show concentric cracking, while others only laterally. It is more common with cherrys too, but in general, environmental conditions are the main cause. Specifically moisture. We had a very wet season this year and most of my fruit showed some cracking. They sure don't taste any different though. You can try making it a point to pick ripe and almost ripe fruit just before heavy rain or thunderstorms are expected. Also, make sure your beds offer well draining soil. Other than that though, there really is nothing you could do to prevent it.

#73277 October 8th, 2006 at 09:22 PM
Joined: May 2006
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: May 2006
I heard it was too much moisture as well. I think melons and squash crack sometimes too!

#73278 October 9th, 2006 at 02:32 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Compost Queen!
Offline
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
Also keep on top of picking ripe fruits..'

*If they're ripe and ready, pick'em..
Don't leave 'em hangin'...*

That way it also ripens the other fruits behind it too..

#73279 October 9th, 2006 at 03:31 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
After the first disappointing harvest, when I noticed the cracks, I started to pick them just as they were starting to turn. That helped especially with the cherry tomatoes, but I still ended up tossing many tomatoes because they seemed to go bad almost as soon as they cracked. I noticed that the majority of the cracking occurred with my beefsteak tomatoes.

So, basically, avoiding the 'extreme dry to exteme wet' cycle that they had by watering them when it's dry and picking them before they can get overly soaked by the storms is the 'cure' so to speak. Thank you all very much.

#73280 October 9th, 2006 at 05:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Gheer, what about planting only the varieties that say they're crack resistant?

#73281 October 10th, 2006 at 06:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Now there's an idea...it never occurred to me that they would make a crack resistant variety. Please don't laugh too hard...this was my very first garden. smile

#73282 October 10th, 2006 at 06:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
As I read my last post, I realized that it sounded awfully sarcastic and smart alec like...I was smiling when I wrote it. I really have never thought to look for that variety...I hope I didn't come off as snotty. wink

#73283 October 10th, 2006 at 08:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Compost Queen!
Offline
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
I didn't take it that way..
It is very hard to be a new gardener..
That's why we strive to be nice here...
I know I learn new things every day here..
And if you don't ask those questions,
you'll never know..
So, don't worry... kissies thumbup flw flw flw clp

#73284 October 10th, 2006 at 08:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
J
Member
Offline
Member
J
Joined: Aug 2005
Connie, do you know what varieties you grew?


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.019s Queries: 33 (0.011s) Memory: 0.7681 MB (Peak: 0.8363 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 22:27:23 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS