gardening: primitives discuss tomatoes with split tops

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x9622

Oh my.

One has to go to the link above to see the photographs.

bearfan454  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-27-08 01:17 AM
Original message

Almost every Early Girl I've picked so far has a split top

after which photographs

I have to cut off the entire top.

hippywife  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-27-08 09:54 AM
Response to Original message
1. I'm not sure
   
but they say that is due to uneven watering.

Gormy Cuss  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-28-08 07:45 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Yes, and weather will do it too.
   
It happens when the fruit tries to grow too quickly for the skin to keep up. My Northeast region relatives see lots of cracking after periods of heavy rain.

In our dry climate here it happens most often at the end of the season when the nights are really cool and the days warm.

TheBorealAvenger  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-29-08 06:46 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. Stab the soil with a trowel around the plant with maturing tomatoes to prevent excessive water uptak
   
...and to prevent the tomatoes from splitting and allowing disease.

asdjrocky  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-27-08 12:35 PM
Response to Original message

2. I've heard that it is due to very hot, or very cold weather as well.
   
I have many split top tomatoes, by the way they still taste great, and I've read that it's because in extreme heat they ripen too fast and the skin can not catch up. I've also noticed that the ones deep inside the bush tend to do better because they don't get as much sun.

I dunno.  Anybody here know?

I'm inclined to go along with the hippowife's explanation.

[Flame]

Sounds about right....I'm not a great big tomato grower...my big maters seem to split like that.   However, my grape tomatos...dang.  We have enough of those to make great healthy snacks about every other day!!

[Wineslob]

I can't grow "maters" very well where I live, just not enough sun (I still try).  I do recall where either over-watering, or getting the tomatos wet will cause this.....I think.

[Inga]

The heat ,variety, and uneven moisture are all causes why the tomatoes are splitting. I've grown them for many years. Hopes this helps. If you will mulch,water properly, anduse large,flat fruited varieties.