Split tomatoes: why do they crack and how to avoid it?

It sometimes happens that, during the fruiting of tomatoes, we observe the bursting of certain fruits. We can then see splits or cracks on the surface of the tomato when it becomes ripe. Fortunately, there are several methods to protect yourself from this inconvenience.

What are the causes of bursting on tomatoes?

Tomatoes often split after sharp changes in water supply, such as heavy rain following a dry spell. The fruit expands faster than its skin can stretch. Splitting itself is not a pest or an infectious disease, although damaged fruit can subsequently rot.

Water allows the plant to develop properly and obtain good fruiting. That said, when it is provided in excess, the fruits can grow too quickly, which is far from being beneficial to them. The problem comes from the fact that the too rigid skin of the tomatoes cannot adapt to the size of the fruit. This ultimately results in its breakup. Furthermore, this phenomenon tends to appear during the summer, when temperatures are at their highest.

How to reduce splitting

Keep soil moisture as even as possible. Check the root zone and water sufficiently during dry spells without saturating the soil. A correctly adjusted drip system can help, but still needs checking.

Mulch reduces evaporation and can soften fluctuations in soil moisture. It is not a drip irrigation system and does not replace watering. Inspect split fruit and discard any that is rotten or mouldy.