what causes my tomatoes to split?

Answer 1

inconsistent watering and too much water at one time. I water my tomatoes once a week and for a certain amount of time. Too much water at once after a prolonged period of being dry will cause them to split every time. Just start watering them on a regular schedual and they will stop splitting.

Answer 2

Splitting is usually caused by irregular watering or by over watering during periods of rapid growth, and also by planting a variety of tomato that has a tendency to crack.

If your tomatoes have gone through a dry spell and you try to make up for it with frequent waterings, the inside of the tomato will plump up faster than the outside can stretch and grow. As a result the outer skin of the tomato splits open or cracks.
http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/f/TomatoCracks.htm

A heavy rain or a jolt of irrigation when produce is ripening can also cause it to split.

You can prevent splitting by watering them on a regular schedule & by mulching around the tomato plants to maintain ground moisture, Pick damaged tomatoes right away & cut off the part where it's split.

For future plantings, keep in mind that some varieties, usually the older varieties, are more prone to splitting than others, & plant varieties that are resistant to cracking. Also, select short-season varieties, which at maturity will weigh 4 - 5 ounces and are mature in 65 -70 days, such as
Early Girl. Some of the Heirlooms in this size are Rutgers and Yellow Pear. As a general rule, medium and small tomatoes do better than large fruited ones, especially in hot weather.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070825&Category=COLUMNS38&ArtNo=708250301&Ref=AR

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Radial cracking (when the fruits split top to bottom) is caused by inconsistent watering. Concentric cracking (when the tomatoes split around in a circle) is caused by water sitting on the fruit too long.

Answer 4

Tomatoes need regular watering but not over watering; once or twice a week is usually enough. Irregular watering causes uneven fruit growth and splitting.

Answer 5

When tomatoes split, it is almost always because it rained or you watered them. When it rains, the tomato fruit will soak up too much water and split their skins. When you water tomatoes, you water the base and occasionally mist the tops.

Answer 6

Often inconsistency in soil water level. A sudden heavy rain can really mess up some tomatoes. Or you may have let them get too dry, they are really sucking up water now. A soil mulch helps keep the ground evenly moist by retarding evaporative loss.

Cracked tomatoes are still edible, but insects will also take note, so eat them first.

Answer 7

warmth will reason the floor of a tomato to separate open that's brought about by over exposure to the sunlight. watering does not have any bring about this. that's basically like once you could tomato's while the floor gets warm they split open and start to peel. the only situation that would help that's some shad in the process the main well liked element of the day.

Answer 8

Eratic watering officially - although this year has been a nightmare in the tomatoe department. Shall we all keep our green fingers crossed for next year??!! Seriously tomatoes are water greedy beyond belielf - then again too much watering and not enough heat is also bad. Oh I don't know ........ gardening I've been at it for years and I'm still mystified!!

Answer 9

Usually it's because they are getting watered erratically. A sudden surge of water, after they have been without can be a factor in their splitting skins. A steady watering every day is recommended. After saying that, mine have split now and again for no reason

Answer 10

too much water at a time