Why are my tomatos splitting?
Question:i have 6 brandywine plants(heirloom). i was told that if you get them wet when watering that it would make them split. i use soaker hoses to water with so they don't get wet and the plants get plenty of water. what else can it be? i l;ive in northern utah and it has been in the upper 90's to low 100's for over a month, could that have anything to do with it?
Answers:
heat stress, and wet, dry conditions causes this. Try using some Miracle grow and keep the roots cool as possible. A lot of times what happens to us in the mid west is that we have extremes of heat in the days and cool in the evenings, they get kind of stressed. Expansion, contraction going on.
If you have to, you can always get the tomatoes while green and eat fried green tomatoes before they go to waste.
I'm sure it has to be the extreme heat. If you are watering them at regular intervals then it has nothing to do with that. And as far as getting them wet, well I do all the time and mine are beauties.
We've had plenty of rain so mine get wet. :))
Tomatoes will split when they experience rapid growth. For instance, If they go through a dry spell, and then get a lot of rain, they will grow so fast they will split. Also, use of fertilizer (in the same manner) will cause this. It will not hurt the tomato, as it will usuall 'skin-over' where it split.
You may be over watering them.Tomatos only need to be watered when topsoil is dry.Even in hot temperatures this should only be done one or twice a week.A good idea is too put a mulch round plants and keep mulch wet.I make a mulch from the herb Comfrey. This is a wonderful herb for tomatos. It will grow very easily and quickly, and you pull the leaves off, and put in bucket of water. Steep for a week or two until it stinks, then use as natural fertiliiser. Great for tomatos and plants. I also use leaves as mulch.But try ordinary newspaper. Just keep mulch wet.As I said don't overwater.
It is overwatering and the heat. Pick them earlier during these periods and mulch heavily. There is no cure for this.
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