Vegetables: Tomatoe Trouble

Replies: 17 Views: 233

Author

Comment

lals
Framingham, MA

August 21, 2008 6:36 PM

I have had vegetable gardens my whole life, my parents were actually farmers back home in MT.

But since I started my first garden here in MA, I can't seem to get tomatoes to ripen, without these cracks forming? Picture attached. All my grape tomatoes are wonderful, but full size all crack.

Any ideas, I am stumped. Doesn't look like a bug is getting them. Just looks like cracks? Starts when they are still green.

Thank you!

View Larger

linux_guile
Pueblo, CO

August 22, 2008 9:21 AM

Cracking is caused by inconsistant watering. when the tomato plant dries out a little the skin of the tomato gets tough and then a good watering causes a growth spurt and the skin cant stretch enough. you could try watering more freequently with a smaller quantity of water. also adding alot of organic material(compost) to the soil always helps.

Les_Cooper
Brazoria, TX

August 23, 2008 10:29 AM

These are stress cracks. Other possibilities include too much fertilizer, and extreme heat.

Les

CapeCodGardener
Mid-Cape, MA
(Zone 7a)

August 23, 2008 2:57 PM

I'm interested in this thread because I have several heirloom tomatoes in Earth Boxes, which are supposed to be immune from the possibility of over-watering or fertilizing. Yet one of mine (Mortgage Lifter--which so far is the only one to ripen) is turning out to have many of these stress cracks on the tomatoes.
We haven't had too much extreme heat--in fact, we've had more rain than usual, but this doesn't affect the Earth Boxes I don't THINK (but then I'm still a newbie.)

Les_Cooper
Brazoria, TX

August 23, 2008 6:08 PM

In my limited experience with tomatos, our heavy rains caused spitting of the skins in the red part. Your photo show cracks in the green stem end. I think it is not from water. It's more characteristic of high heat.
Here is a little more info:
High temperature cracking is probably due to a heat caused breakdown of cutinized epidermal tissues around the stem end and can occur under conditions of adequate uniform soil moisture. Increased exposure due to lack of foliage can result in higher fruit temperatures. When low soil moisture conditions are followed by an irrigation,
the sudden increase in water content of fruit cells may create internal pressures sufficient to crack fruit. Prevention, therefore,
lies in selecting varieties for maximum resistance, avoidance of high fruit temperatures
and maintenance of uniform soil moisture conditions.

Les

Les_Cooper
Brazoria, TX

August 23, 2008 6:33 PM

This one notes high nitrogen and low potassium.

Growth Cracks

Two types of growth cracks affect the stem end of tomatoes: concentric and radial. Concentric cracking produces circular cracks around the stem end of the fruit. Radial cracks spread outward from the stem scar. These cracks typically appear as the fruit matures. Growth cracks often appear when conditions drastically change the rate of growth, such as wide fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Dry weather followed by heavy rains causes radial cracking in many tomato cultivars. Cultivars vary in their ability to withstand cracking depending on the strength and "stretchability" of the skin. Very susceptible cultivars will crack while still green, those that are somewhat resistant often don’t crack until the fruit has reached the breaker stage. The earlier the fruit cracks, the deeper the cracks become. High nitrogen and low potassium are often implicated in fruit cracking and therefore, proper plant nutrition and adequate, regular irrigation will reduce the likelihood of growth cracks.

Les

lals
Framingham, MA

August 24, 2008 10:31 AM

Thank you for the information. Very helpful. Here in MA this year, we have been remarkably stable with temperature. We have not had any heat spells, and it has rained more than I can ever remember. Every day, almost like Florida afternoon showers.

So I am thinking I need to water on days it doesn't rain. Every day watering? Or every other? What is consistent.

The other part being High Nitrogen and low potassium. What do I do about that?

Again, thank you so much. This site and its participants has always been really helpful.

Larry

Les_Cooper
Brazoria, TX

August 24, 2008 11:08 AM

What is consistant? It would be not allowing the plants to go dry. They need a continual source of water but not too much.

Nitrogen-Potassium ratio. Boosting potash would bring the ratio into balance. My favorite is hardwood ashes. Try a handful sprinkled around each plant and watered in.

Potassium is what makes our skin soft and pliable. Perhaps it will do the same for the stem end of the tomatos, allowing the skin to stretch without cracking.

Les

lals
Framingham, MA

August 24, 2008 2:56 PM

You mean burn some hardwood into ash, and sprinkle it around. Fascinating.

I'll give that a shot, plus it gives me the chance to burn something. Double the fun.

Thanks again!

Larry

lals
Framingham, MA

August 31, 2008 11:12 AM

Is potash the same as potassium?

Thanks,
Larry

Les_Cooper
Brazoria, TX

August 31, 2008 8:06 PM

Main Entry:
pot·ash Listen to the pronunciation of potash
Pronunciation:
\ˈpät-ˌash\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
singular of pot ashes
Date:
1748

1 : potassium carbonate especially from wood ashes 2 : potassium or a potassium compound especially as used in agriculture or industry

Moonglow
Corte Madera, CA
(Zone 10a)

August 31, 2008 9:48 PM

larry, i hope your tomatoes are getting better.

GrannySal
Walloon Lake, MI

September 21, 2008 11:34 AM

I have one tomato plant (out of 6) that is doing the same thing. We purchased it at a local farmers' market as a "green tomato" plant. All of my plants are on a watering system and get the same amount of water and sun, so I think this is indicitive of whatever species it is. The flavor is still wonderful. I made fried green tomatoes while they were still green. Now, they are a pinkish red.

CapeCodGardener
Mid-Cape, MA
(Zone 7a)

September 21, 2008 2:43 PM

Quoted:

I made fried green tomatoes while they were still green.

Forgive a sort-of-tomato related question: GrannySal, I have had to take out some of my tomato plants and remove the fruits to ripen on their own--they are Mortgage Lifter heirlooms (when ripe a sort of pinkish red) but some are still rather small and hard and green. Can I use these immature tomatoes to make fried green tomatoes even though they are smallish? I've never made fried green tomatoes but they sound delicious!
Thanks in advance.

quiltygirl
Wildomar, CA
(Zone 9a)

September 23, 2008 11:28 AM

Yes, Granny. How do you make fried green tomatoes.

GrannySal
Walloon Lake, MI

September 24, 2008 4:57 PM

Here is my recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes:
Slice 1 large green tomato. Dip each slice into a beaten egg with a little milk, salt and pepper added. Then dip in cornmeal with a little Parmesan cheese added. Fry in olive oil until gently browned on each side. Flavor has a little tang to it.

My tomatoes were from a "green tomato" plant, although they are now starting to turn pink. I don't see why you couldn't use any green tomato.

CapeCodGardener
Mid-Cape, MA
(Zone 7a)

September 24, 2008 7:14 PM

Thank you, Granny Sal! I've got a lot of green tomatoes that are terrific candidates.
Ummmm. And your recipe sounds sort of healthful (olive oil, after all!)

quiltygirl
Wildomar, CA
(Zone 9a)

September 25, 2008 11:22 AM

Thanks Granny Sal. Sound yummy, ALMOST makes me want to pick my tomatoes green - but since I have had so few this 1st year, maybe not.

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other Vegetables Threads you might be interested in:

Subject	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Are there any veggies I can plant now? (November)	BelCanto	5	Nov 21, 2008 12:04 PM
How to improve the soil now for a Spring planting	rreznikoff	18	Nov 20, 2008 8:15 AM

Other Forums you might be interested in:

Flowers

Gardening Questions

Houseplants

Landscaping

Vegetables

What's This Plant?