Tomato splitting occurs on already mature tomato fruits which are ripening or just about to. One way to avoid such losses is by picking your tomatoes early as they will ripen indoors just as they would have ripened on the tomato plant vine .
Another thing we asked ourselves was, why do tomatoes split?
The favorite answer is tomatoes split when they receive an inconsistent amount of water . Though cracking is more common in ripe tomatoes, it can affect green tomatoes as well. Heavy rain tends to be the culprit when it comes to cracking, especially for tomatoes that grow in dry conditions.
The next thing we wanted the answer to was: why are my Tomatoes splitting?
Here is what our research found. when this occurs, the inside of the tomato gets a sudden urge to grow more rapidly than the outer skin is capable of keeping up with. This growth spurt results in split tomatoes. There are two types of cracking evident in split tomatoes. One is concentric and appears as rings around the stem end of the fruit.
Also, how do I Stop my Tomatoes from splitting?
In short, to avoid split tomatoes, use a consistent and even watering schedule, avoid periods of excessive drought , provide adequate drainage, and pick tomatoes promptly when ripe. Beyond these steps, you can also try planting crack-resistant varieties and bottom pruning for better airflow.
Then, why do tomatoes split in the middle when growing?
Some think that tomatoes split because of fluctuations in the amount of water they get . If it’s been very dry, and then all of a sudden you get a couple of inches of rain, the insides of the tomatoes grow faster than the outer skin and the tomatoes crack.
Another frequently asked question is “What makes tomatoes split or crack on the vine?”.
One way to consider this is essentially, tomatoes will split or crack from sudden changes in soil water content, which can cause the inner fruit to grow and expand more quickly than the skin of the tomato, causing it to break (or split) open .
Another answer is You can’t always prevent tomato splitting; a rainstorm that dumps several inches of rain on your garden in a few hours will result in split tomatoes no matter what you do. But you can make it less likely that your tomatoes will split by doing the following: Water Regularly and Deeply .
What happens if you eat split Tomatoes?
Split tomatoes can quickly become infected with molds, or insect damage . If your tomatoes have just split open they are often just fine to use but you’ll want to pick them right away and uses them up fast because they won’t last as long as normal. If the tomatoes have small growth cracks that are healed over this is just fine.
Are split Tomatoes Bad for You?
A split tomato is a source of concern for many farmers and consumers, it can be annoying growing tomatoes and when it’s time to watch your beautiful harvest ripen, only to look one morning and discover they have split, this could also attract fruit flies and develop other unhealthy bacteria, fungus and mold inside.
Here is what we learned. that said, if it looks minimal, eating tomatoes that are split open is fine , especially if you cut out the area surrounding the crack. If you have cracking tomatoes, it’s best to eat them right away if that is the eventual plan rather than let them linger.
What kind of tomatoes do not split open when ripe?
Generally, plum-shaped tomatoes and smaller slicers are less likely to split open when they are ripe. Try growing tomato varieties that are more split resistant like: Sungella – cherry, yellow, vine, 55 days, open-pollinated Pink Bumble Bee – cherry, pink striped, vine, 70 days, open-pollinated.
Depending on the severity of the cracking the tomato can still be eaten. A tomato that has split open can attract fruit flies , and develop fungus, mold, and bacteria inside. Skip the cracked tomatoes if you’re doing any tomato canning.
Why do my green tomatoes keep breaking off?
This isn’t a problem you would typically notice on green tomatoes because the skin is still growing and secondly the skin is a lot stronger and less susceptible to break open. This is why it is very unlikely that you would lose tomatoes to cracks . It is important to know your tomato.