One day my tomatoes seem perfect. When I look again a few days later, I see that their skins are cracking. Some tomatoes appear to be more prone to cracking than others, particularly my large heirloom varieties. I don’t always have this problem when growing tomatoes. Am I doing something wrong?
Tomato cracking is very common in the South and is mainly caused by sudden fluctuations in soil moisture. This can be due to periods of excess rain/watering followed by periods of drought/infrequent watering and humidity. Cracks result when the fruit expands quicker than the skin can grow. Basically, the tomato bursts at the seams.
Types of cracks
Tomatoes can crack in two different patterns. Cracks that appear in a circular pattern around the top near the stem are called concentric cracks.
Cracks that run vertically along fruit are known as radial cracks. These are the most severe type. You see the line down the middle that looks like stitching? Well that is a sign of the tomato trying to repair itself. Cool, huh?
Sometimes a single tomato will have both types of cracks.
Are cracked tomatoes edible?
Well…..it depends. If you pull cracked tomatoes when they’re still green, they are likely ok to eat after they’ve been allowed to ripen indoors. However, if a ripe fruit is oozing and has a unpleasant smell, toss it in the compost pile.
Simple ways to prevent tomato cracking
- Water consistently.
- Mulch to conserve soil moisture.
- Check your tomatoes daily.
See you in the garden!