What Are Those Cracked Tomatoes?

Cracked Fourth of July Tomatoes 

If you recently have seen your tomatoes split or cracked in this way, you might wondering if they are lacking of food, or maybe some pest has attacked your crop. The truth is that this is quite common by fluctuations in watering . Due to heavy watering after a long period of no water. 


When it begins to ripen during a spell without water, the outer skin will thicken and toughen up. A sudden influx of water will cause the tomato to swell or continue growing on the inside. This swelling will then cause the skin to rupture resulting in a split or crack . Exposing the flesh can invite disease. 

Chart information taken from the "Vegetable Gardener's Bible" by Ed Smith

That is why, in our recent garden meeting we talked about the importance of watering, considering that humans need 75% of water in our bodies, and:

• Corn       70% of water
• Potato    80% of water
• Tomato  90% of water

Keeping the right amount of watering in our crops, it will prevent stress and malfunctions in our vegetables.