Beefsteak Tomatoes have cracks?
Question:I live in a desert environment (summers are above 110 degrees for most of the summer...120 not uncommon). My Beefsteak Tomatoes develop fissures when they are green, and the fissures seem to grow with the fruit. Is there a way to prevent this, or have I made the wrong choice for tomatoes?
Answers:
The splits are caused when the "meat" of the tomato grow faster than the "skin". This can be caused form excessive amounts of water at one time...not "over watering". Over watering will cause bottom rot. Try to water the plant just enough to keep the soil moist. Dumping two gallons of water at a time and two days apart will cause them to crack. The other answer about keeping them out of the afternoon sun is correct,,,,but not to prevent them from cracking. I have twelve plants that are in full sun until nearly 2:30pm. After that they are shaded. They are all doing great.
too much sun and not enough water..Put them somewhere where they will get sun till about 2 pm, then filtered light the rest of the day.Also water them more..put in a drip system works best.
your in the desert and you wonder why the tomatos have cracks?
bugear has the right idea. You need to keep the moisture consistent. If the plants start to get dry the skin gets tough. Seeing the dry plants, you dump a whole lot of water on them, the insides of the tomatoes swell, and the tough skin cracks.
Water every morning and every evening. You will think you are over watering...just keep watering. In a hot climate tomatoes can drink a lot of water.
Beefsteaks are notorious for this, as long as they ripen, eat em.
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