By Jeff Floyd
Certified horticulturist and arborist
If you’re a gardener, then you surely have tomatoes on the vine by now. Soon, these much-prized red globes will be letting you know if they’ve enjoyed their growing conditions. One indicator that they may be unhappy is vertical splitting along the entire length of the fruit. What causes cracking or splitting on tomatoes, and does it mean they are unsafe to eat?
Many problems in the garden begin with water. This is especially true of tomatoes. Tomatoes are generally a reliable producer; after the fruit has set and the temperatures stay somewhere between fifty-five and eighty-five degrees, they’ll grow predictably. But a lot is happening inside tomatoes that we can’t see.
When they take up water at an even rate, their skins naturally stretch without problems. However, during long hot dry spells tomatoes become very thirsty. This prepares them to take up water as quickly as it’s introduced. When tomatoes are filled with water quickly, their skins are unable to keep pace and will eventually rupture. Cracking usually starts near the stem which is where water enters.
Ideally, tomato plants should get about one to two inches of water regularly. If they’ve been receiving less than one inch of water per week and are suddenly exposed to heavy rainfall or excess irrigation, they’ll probably begin to split. Insects may be attracted to the crack, but they will not usually cause much damage.
Proper watering and good drainage are important. Raised beds are excellent for allowing water to move past roots quickly. Whether you’re growing tomatoes in raised beds or directly in the ground, don’t allow the soil to remain constantly soggy. Fortunately, cracked tomatoes are perfectly safe and tasty. Of course, as with all fruit harvested from the garden, be sure to wash them before serving.
