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Q&A: Cracks in Tomato Fruit
Answer: Tomatoes need a regular supply of water to thrive and produce healthy fruit. Cracking can result because they are stressed for water. It also occurs more frequently in the western US because of hot sun and dry conditions. How often to water depends on your soil's characteristics. You want to keep it uniformly moist, but not soaking wet, to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. Mulch over the soil helps keep moisture levels even. You can also try providing the plants with afternoon shade. Choosing a smaller tomato variety can help significantly, because they mature faster and don't develop cracks as easily. The big beefsteak type tomatoes are more likely to crack before they mature. Also, try some varieties that are labeled as crack resistant.
Content provided by the National Gardening Association
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Posted Comments:
10-18-2009 21:13
David Pardue wrote:
Cracked Tomatoes
Just like Cabbage, tomatoes will crack when they have been through a dry spell and then you have a wet period. The tomatoe takes in more water than it grows and this causes the cracking in the tomatoes!
10-18-2008 13:20
Jim Allen wrote:
Cracked Tomatoes
Many years ago I lived in the St Louis MO metro area. The only place I had to set tomato plants was right along the East (back) side of my house and four feet past the end of the house. Using all the same type of tomato I set four behind the house and two in the four foot section past the end of the house. They were all maintained is the exact same way. The four behind the house received the morning sun until noon. The other two were in the sun all day. What a difference!! The crop from the partial shaded four were about triple per plant than the total sun ones. Also, the fruit of the shaded ones were perfect while the other two plants produced many cracked ones. I fully agree with you to try to keep them our of the hot afternoon sun.
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