Why do tomatoes crack in a greenhouse when ripe

Many summer residents are interested in the question of why tomatoes burst. What influences and how to avoid this trouble. Spoiled fruits do not have a marketable appearance and are unsuitable for long-term storage.

Why do tomatoes crack in a greenhouse when they ripen

Most often, tomatoes are grown for their own pleasure. I want them to look nice. Annoyance is caused by cracked, green and ripe fruits. Gardeners immediately begin to look for the reason.

Fruit cracking is not an infection. But it is worth considering that something in development is going wrong.

A sharp change in moisture percentage has a big impact on tomatoes. As a result, the delicate skin bursts, but subsequently it is tightened. The tomato is at great risk during the period of violation of the integrity of the structure of the fetus. At this time, the causative agent of an infectious disease can easily enter it. And thereby destroy not one tomato, but possibly the entire plant. Greenhouse tomatoes are more susceptible to cracking than outdoor tomatoes.

How it happens

Modern greenhouse covering materials heat up and dry out the soil during the day. At the same time, plant growth slows down, the skin of tomatoes gradually becomes rougher.

In the evening, during abundant watering, all the liquid from the soil is sent to the fruits, organizing their growth. Those, in turn, unable to withstand the pressure, give cracks. Then, the plant in an accelerated manner, seeks to overgrow the resulting crack.To prevent infection from getting inside. Green tomatoes suffer the most from this, but ripe fruits do not bypass the attack.

How to avoid it

Experienced gardeners recommend that the tomatoes do not crack the following points:

Dosing the amount of irrigation water. Divide the required volume by 3-4 times. Thus, watering will not have a detrimental effect.
When the weather is sunny for a long time, water every 3-4 days, on cloudy days every 4-5 days.
On sunny days, ventilate the greenhouse more often. (If not grown outdoors)
Shadow the greenhouse shelter, using a special mesh, or lime milk.
If the night temperature is less than 13 ⁰С, then it is possible to water not earlier than 11:00 in the afternoon. During the summer heat, on the contrary, watering is carried out in the evening.
Mulch the roots. This will retain moisture longer and prevent possible cracking.
Organize drip irrigation, water will be dosed, so there will be no such problem as cracks in the fruit.
Purchase varieties that are not prone to cracking.

Gardeners often wonder why greenhouse tomatoes burst and how to prevent it. Most often, the main reasons are that young novice gardeners make the following mistakes.

A plant with a large number of ripening fruits is watered more abundantly and more often. Do not forget that a developed root system takes water from a deeper layer of soil. Based on this, you need to water once a week, preferably right under the root.
Tomatoes are fed with more concentrated fertilizers. But it is best to take 20 gr. solution in a bucket of water.
Excessive leaves and stepchildren are often removed. Only 3 leaves per week can be harvested from one bush.
If the leaves turn yellow or curl, start watering more often. This should not be done, perhaps the reason is different.

These listed mistakes lead to excess moisture in the soil, causing the tomatoes to begin to crack.

Misnutrition

Visible deformations of the plant are most often perceived as drying out, but you should pay attention to the features and the following signs.

The plant stops growing, old leaves lighten. The fruits begin to sing ahead of time and remain small. The tomato lacks nitrogen.
The plant slows down growth, the leaves are small with curved edges of a purple hue. There is a shortage of phosphorus.

Old leaves look like they've been burned. Soon they turn completely yellow and fall off. Gradually, younger leaves begin to turn yellow. Black stripes appear in the fruits. Potassium deficiency.
Yellowed leaves begin to deform, dead tissue appears in places. Calcium deficiency.
The shoots are underdeveloped, the ovary crumbles, and the leaves on the plant turn white. The tomato lacks copper.
Growth points die off, stepchildren grow. The plant becomes more lush. He lacks boron.
Older leaves are covered with yellow spots, later they turn brown. And then they completely fall off. Tomatoes lack magnesium.

After carefully studying the plant, it is better to feed. Than without the need to supply plants with unnecessary moisture. Then cracks will not appear.

Tomato varieties not prone to cracking

Metered watering and timely fertilization can affect the process of cracking tomatoes. But there is another way to get rid of this problem, choose varieties that do not burst. Yellow tomatoes are the most susceptible to cracking.

The most common tomatoes that do not crack:

"Bohemia" f1, a large-fruited tomato, withstands long transportation and keeps well.
"Asteroid" large-fruited, resistant to major diseases.
"Ladyfingers" small tomatoes marinate perfectly whole.
"Pear", large-fruited, lie for a long time.
"Pink honey", very large tomatoes.
"Crimson Vicomte" small in size, very unpretentious.
"Rio Grande", medium-sized fruits, unpretentious and resistant to hot climates.
"Vladimir" f1, large-fruited, unpretentious tomato variety. The fruits are stored for a long time.
"Khutorskoy pickling", late, but the tomatoes lie up to 5 months.

The listed varieties are not all currently available. Before buying a new variety, you should read the description on the seed pack or on the Internet.

Why do tomatoes crack, the reason may not be clear. It is important to carefully monitor whether the plants are he althy and whether there are enough nutrients in the soil. And most importantly, during the period of active ripening, try not to fill the tomatoes with water.