Why are my tomatoes rupturing?

SixPapaCharlie

SixPapaCharlie

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Any gardeners here?

Last year was my first attempt at a vegetable garden. It actually produced a lot. I had peppers growing like mad and Zuccinis the size of my leg.

However, all of my tomatoes would split open about the time they were close to ready.

We are putting stuff in the ground again this weekend and I wonder if anyone knows what might cause this rupturing. They would all just split open on one side.

Hoping to prevent that this year.
 
Google it, there's a reason but I can't come up with it right now.

Definitely don't show them any porn, that causes it too.
 
Could be too much water at the wrong time.
 
The skins toughen up in the heat, then too much water inside the fruit splits them open -- at least that's what I've been told.
 
Actually it's your neighbors - they sneak in to your garden and cut small slits in the tomatoes so you will think they are bad and throw them out. Then they will raid your garbage for them.
 
Could be not enough sun, or too much sun. or too much water.
What do the blossom ends (the side opposite the stem) look like? If the blossom end is showing a little rotting, the might need a little calcium.

But stop showing them that vegetable porn anyway. They don't appreciate it.
 
Especially the cucumbers. Those get abused enough after they're harvested.
 
Too much water once they are getting red. Pick them at the breaker stage..meaning when they turn pink. Once they turn pink they have all the size and flavor they will get and are considered vine ripe at that stage.

Also if they go from being to dry to lots of water they will split. We own a 6000sqft greenhouse and we do tomatoes ( over 800 plants going as we speak). We started picking in March and will have them through July. We have some of the same problems with bursting and my watering is all automated.

The attached picture is the perfect time to get them off the vine.
 

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This is what 800+ plants look like. We started seeds in mid November and this picture was taken on jan 25 of this year. Now the plants are about 12 feet long.
 

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It's more impressive that they grow on the ceiling.
 
Tomatoes have feelings too! Did you curse near them? Say something scary? Some bad naughty words could have upset them . Prof. Irwin Cory would know.tomatoes used to be wonderful but now, the ones you buy are tough and tasteless.I read it's due to them being able to be put thru a picking machine without bruising them . Whatever the cause, most are lousy.
 
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Jimmy cooper said:
Tomatoes have feelings too! Did you curse near them? Say something scary? Some bad naughty words could have upset them . Prof. Irwin Cory would know.tomatoes used to be wonderful but now, the ones you buy are tough and tasteless.I read it's due to them being able to be put thru a picking machine without bruising them . Whatever the cause, most are lousy.
Click to expand...

Ours taste like they came right from the garden. We pick daily. Picked 4500lbs last month!
 
If I could only justify avgas as an efficient way to deliver maters I'd take you some! Haha our tomatoes have made a trip up to Maine once so it's not far fetched.
 
MAKG1 said:
You have to stop singing Puberty Love in front of them.
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Technically sir, the tomato is a fag.

We passed a stand on the road last year with a sign advertising "Vine-ripened apples." I'm not sure what kind those were.
 
MAKG1 said:
You smoke tomatoes?

I guess no one ever saw that incredible Hollywood masterpiece, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes....
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That's where that like comes from. Great helicopter scene in that movie. I don't think it will ever fly again.
 
From the thread title I was betting on something that should be in Medical Matters.

"Doc Bruce! My tomatoes are ruptured!" :yikes:

-Skip
 
I just had a good mater sandwich the other day.. YUM!!!!

I do hope none of you guys refrigerate your maters. That's a no no!
 
Tomato slices alternated with fresh mozzarella slices, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, and seasoned with a bit of salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and rosemary, is about as close to heaven as one can get in this world.

By the way, your tomatoes are splitting because you're picking them too late and/or watering them too much after they start ripening.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
Tomato slices alternated with fresh mozzarella slices, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, and seasoned with a bit of salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and rosemary, is about as close to heaven as one can get in this world.

By the way, your tomatoes are splitting because you're picking them too late and/or watering them too much after they start ripening.

-Rich
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YES!

Or dipped in flour with salt and pepper and fried along with ham and eggs. As for sex please google cyd Charisse. Now that's a tomato!
 
simtech said:
Too much water once they are getting red. Pick them at the breaker stage..meaning when they turn pink. Once they turn pink they have all the size and flavor they will get and are considered vine ripe at that stage.

Also if they go from being to dry to lots of water they will split. We own a 6000sqft greenhouse and we do tomatoes ( over 800 plants going as we speak). We started picking in March and will have them through July. We have some of the same problems with bursting and my watering is all automated.

The attached picture is the perfect time to get them off the vine.
Click to expand...

Not only honeybees but gardening too. I have 72 tomatoes in my little greenhouse along with peppers, herbs and flowers.

Do you use bumblebees or just let them self pollinate?
 
RV10flyer said:
Not only honeybees but gardening too. I have 72 tomatoes in my little greenhouse along with peppers, herbs and flowers.

Do you use bumblebees or just let them self pollinate?
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We are too small of an operation to justify the cost of bumble bees. I pollinate with a back pack leaf blower. I can cover 4000sqft of tomato plants in about 15 minutes.

Our operation is a good size. We pulled 4500 lbs last month and we sell to co-ops, restaurants, produce markets, farmers markets, and on site sales. Good thing our season is only march to July 4th!
 
simtech said:
We are too small of an operation to justify the cost of bumble bees. I pollinate with a back pack leaf blower. I can cover 4000sqft of tomato plants in about 15 minutes.

Our operation is a good size. We pulled 4500 lbs last month and we sell to co-ops, restaurants, produce markets, farmers markets, and on site sales. Good thing our season is only march to July 4th!
Click to expand...

Carpenter bees are excellent pollinators of nightshades in general. It may be too late in the year, but I know a few guys who put up softwood nest boxes to attract carpenter bees. The bees prefer old wood to new wood. The guys I know who do this usually knock down an old shed that's already infested, and move it to where they want the bees to pollinate.

-Rich
 
Few years ago, I had over 100 nice red apples on my tree. Had been pretty dry, so I gave the tree a good soaking of water. 2 days later, almost every apple was split. Im sure same thing happens to tomatoes.

Joe
 
All those posts and no answers. Great ways to use them though. Nothing like a good fresh beefsteak tomato on a burger fresh off the grill.

I'd research it some more, but I believe your soil needs more CALCIUM to keep them from splitting before they ripen on the vine.
 
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