Why Do Tomatoes Crack?

Everyone loves a good tomato but sometimes there are problems. Take cracking in tomatoes for instance. Cracking in tomatoes might seem concerning but the answer to why this happens is very simple: inconsistent moisture! Often tomato cracking can appear when there has been a dry spell followed by significant rainfall. The fix is also very simple, be more consistent with watering!

When there is a dry spell make sure that you are giving your plants adequate moisture. A good irrigation plan can help with that with either a drip line or soaker hose around the plant. You can set up the irrigation so that it waters in the morning by using a timer or just going outside in the morning to turn on the hose. During periods of heavy rain you will want to make sure to turn off your irrigation so you do not water too much. Remember it is the consistent watering that will prevent the cracking from occurring!

Mulching your tomato plants will also greatly reduce the evaporation from the soil which keeps the moisture around your tomato plants better regulated. A layer of straw, wood chips, grass clippings or other mulches slows the evaporation from the summer heat

Can you Eat a Cracked Tomato?

Usually you can eat a cracked tomato just fine if the crack is not too big or damaging. If insects or rot have set it it would be better to get rid of the tomato. If the tomato crack is just starting to split then you can eat it just fine. You will want to eat it soon though because it will decay faster than an uncracked tomato. A slightly cracked tomato is still edible.

What’s a Good Crack Resistant Tomato Variety?

Also when you select your tomato plants research which ones are crack resistant. One tomato I love to recommend is the Woodle Orange Tomato which has always been VERY crack resistant for growing in my garden. I’ve grown Woodle Orange Heirloom Tomatoes for 10 years now and NEVER had any big issues with tomato cracks.

Why Do Tomatoes Crack?

For a little more info check out the video below. Thanks for watching and reading Growing The Home Garden.