I water my tomatoe plants every other day plus i use grass clippings under them and they still split. WHY?

Answer 1

Tomatoes need even moisture, not excessive moisture. Watering every two days borders on the side of excessive. Cut back on your watering fequency. Mulching is also a good practice to help maintain an even moisture, but if you use weed & feeds or pesticides on your lawn, you may be transporting these chemicals to your garden with the grass clippings. Read the label on your lawn weed & feed and pesticides to see if grass clippings can be safely used in your garden.

Cracking can also be caused by other factors. Heavy pruning can cause cracking and some varities are just prone to crack no matter what you do. Try a varity next year that is resistant to cracking. Many of the newer varities like Burpee's Big Boy & Supersonic are crack resistant

Answer 2

In my experience, tomato plants should be watered every 5-7 days and deeply. My preference is to use a soaker hose and leave it on approximately four to six hours, either late evening or very early morning. It is important to have the soil completely wet. Just watering around the plant is not enough as the moisture goes into the surrounding drier soil so your plants are not getting the water you think they are. Ever notice how much better everything looks after a good rain? That is why, a thorough watering.

I took my watering schedule from my grandfather who was an excellent farmer. He set water late in the day, left it on the fields for 24 hours to have complete and deep watering, then repeated a week later (all summer of course). He had the best produce around.

The grass clippings are good; I use them myself. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, and, as it decomposes, it keeps the soil warmer which promotes growth and health.

A helpful page for tomato plants is at:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tomatoproblemsolver/index.html

Answer 3

Every other day is to often. I had tomato's planted at our cabin and could only water them twice a week because I had to travel to far to water them any more then that. It was the most beautiful tomato plants I ever grew. They were huge and had tons of tomato's on them. With the grass clippings around them they retain the water for a long time.

Answer 4

I think you are getting the idea that you are watering too much. Bottom line is the tomatoes split because their moisture content is too high. Take the advice of the previous posters and they'll be fine the next time you attempt to grow a tomato plant.

Answer 5

I can say with almost 100% certainty that the cause of your tomatoes splitting is that they are getting way too much water. There are two main reasons for splitting and that is irregular watering and too much water. Since you are watering in a regular basis then the only really cause it too much water. Watering once a week is usually fine.
Just make sure you give it a nice big drink.

:P

Answer 6

the heat caused the peels to split, kind of like roasting a tomato. there is liquid in a tomato and when it gets hot the liquid expands thus breaking the skin.

Answer 7

They lack calcium in the soil..You can a fertilzer or treatment at your local greenhouse or plant supplier place. Do not overwater, youmay be washing the nutrients that the plant need out of the soil.

Answer 8

I'm not sure of the technical word for the problem, but I do know the cure. Mississipi lime. Best to use it at planting, but an application now will help.

Answer 9

water them at night , no sun less stress o n the plant