skip to main content

Growing Tomatoes

Cherry Tomato Cracking Badly

RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)

9 years ago

This year I grew two varieties of cherry tomatoes, Husky Cherry and Sweet 100. They both grew to very large size and I had to top them. Or they would grow to 8' tall.

Early of the season, about 10% of them would crack when stored in frig. But later in the season, some of them would just crack on the vines, some cracked in room storage and more would crack when stored.

I do not think I watered them too much. Did I miss anything in the soil? I did not feed the plants this summer. I do not know if that makes any difference.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

digdirt2
9 years ago
While some varieties are more prone to cracking than others, cracking is generally caused by inconsistent soil moisture levels - one extreme to the other. It often follows heavy rains or periods of over-watering following a dry period.

Not sure why you would ever store them in the frig as that is never recommended for tomatoes, but the changes in temp extremes could also contribute to some cracking.

You'll find many discussions here about 'cracking', its various forms and causes, and tips on how to prevent it. The forum search at the bottom of the page will pull them up for you.

One of the most frequent recommendations is earlier picking. Picking at color break and letting them finish ripening inside on the counter is one of the best and easiest ways to prevent splitting. It is especially important to do before heavy rains are forecast.

Dave
daniel_nyc
9 years ago
This year I grew eight varieties of cherry tomatoes. They grow 12+ ft.

Same thing here: little cracking early in the season, more cracking on the vines later in the season.

So, now I pick up the riped - or even green, if necessary - cherry tomatoes and I keep them inside. On the vine they can crack OVERNIGHT; inside it takes 3-4 days or even one week to crack. Most donÃ¢ÂÂt crack at all inside.

Some of my medium-size and especially large-size tomatoes cracks easily on the vine, and don't crack inside.

Watering does influence cracking. Reducing the watering, not only make less cracking but also improve DRAMATICALLY the taste of the tomatoes.

Overwatering make tomatoesÃ¢ÂÂ¦ watery and tasteless.
Related Discussions
Cracking cherry 'maters
Q
Comments (1)
Cracking is caused by excess moisture - heavy rain or overwatering - as the fruit matures. It causes the fruit to swell and the skin cracks. Cherry tomatoes are quite prone to cracking. It doesn't usually harm the fruit but the only way to prevent it is by stabilizing the moisture levels in the soil as much as possible. Drip irrigation systems help, and does heavy mulching of the plant. If they are in containers then you need a well-draining soil-less mix. Unfortunately, we can't control the rain. ;) Dave
...See More
I need a suggestion for cherry tomatoes
Q
Comments (6)
I used to grow Sweet 100's because when my kids were growing up they loved to eat them straight from the plants. But the loss of fruit from splitting really got to me. I've been growing Sweet Baby Girl for 2 years and am really pleased. The plant is a little more well behaved and I had absolutely no splitting. The taste is great! I also grew Riesentraube for the first time last year. The fruits are somewhat larger and it has more of an old fashioned tomato taste. No splitting with this one either. My daughter actually preferred it to Sweet Baby Girl. They are both keepers for me. Good luck! Darleen :)
...See More
Cherry tomatoes split after picking?
Q
Comments (4)
You are flirting with a high cracking potential by growing hydroponically. Excess water is one of the main causes of cracking. I've even had green tomatoes crack from excess water. Picking cherry tomatoes as soon as they ripen is difficult if you don't have the time but that will reduce the number of cracked fruits also. Have you considered changing varieties? Sun Sugar has far less cracking incidence than Sungold in a similar type fruit. Tami-G or Favorita are about par or slightly better than Supersweet 100. A red grape, Cupid and a larger saladette type, Juliet, hardly ever crack but keep in mind that a skin so tough that it won't crack may draw other palatability complaints. You might hear different reasons why the fruits crack but the simple explanation is that they outgrow their skin. Washing, as you mentioned, allows water to pass thru the skin causing the same swelling beneath the skin. Rain water is the same as tap water. I suspect that if you must rinse a saltwater solution would minimize cracking.
...See More
Cracked tomatoes in Houston
Q
Comments (1)
Tomatoes will crack following a rain or watering IF you have not been providing enuff water for the plant. What you are seeing is a growth spurt. Either increase the watering or harvest BEFORE a rain storm.
...See More
seysonn
9 years ago
I don't know why your tomatoes cracked while in the frig. But as Dave said some varieties (with thin skin, IMO) crack more readily. I had both Sun Gold (thin skin) and unknow variety (thicker skin). The latter never cracked.
The simple solution to cracking, as I have experimented and is true is just pick them as they turn color(say 50%). Then leave then in the room temperature (65F to 75F ?), on the counter, in the basement ... They should get nice color without cracking .
digdirt2
9 years ago
I had to top them. Or they would grow to 8' tall.

Daniel made a very good point about the height. If you can't deal with an 8-12 foot tall plant, which is perfectly normal for most indeterminate varieties, then you may want to re-evaluate the support system and the spacing you are using before next year. Either that or just stick with determinate varieties.

Dave

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Plant Black Cherry Trees for the Birds and Bees

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant Prunus serotina in the Central and Eastern U.S. for spring flowers, interesting bark and beautiful fall color

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floors: Zebra, Tiger, and Teak Wood, Oh, My!

Get the Pros and Cons of Exotic Woods: Hickory, Cherry, Rosewood and More

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

BEFORE AND AFTERS Reader Project: California Kitchen Joins the Dark Side

By Mitchell Parker

Dark cabinets and countertops replace peeling and cracking all-white versions in this sleek update

BLACK Cooking With Color: When to Use Black in the Kitchen

By Jennifer Ott Design

Consider sampling Caviar or Cracked Pepper on your kitchen walls or cabinets for richness and impact

KITCHEN DESIGN Guest Picks: Silliness in the Kitchen

By Kristin Guy | Dine X Design

20 ways to crack a smile while cooking up something seriously delicious

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS 7 Low-Maintenance Countertops for Your Dream Kitchen

By Christine Tusher

Fingerprints, stains, resealing requirements ... who needs ’em? These countertop materials look great with little effort

EDIBLE GARDENS 8 Surefire Vegetables and Herbs for Beginning Gardeners

By Abundant City

Learn the edible plants that are popular and easy to grow in a backyard or container garden

GARDENING GUIDES Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well

KITCHEN DESIGN Palatable Palettes: 8 Great Kitchen Color Schemes

By Jennifer Ott Design

Warm and appetizing or cool and relaxing? These 8 paint palettes can help you choose the best colors for your kitchen

Sponsored

More Discussions

Has anyone heard of a storage tomato? Looking at Giallorosso di Crispi

4

"Purple" tomatoes?

4

What tools and materials for planting tomato

0