What can I do to prevent tomatoes from bursting?

When tomatoes crack in a greenhouse, any gardener wants to fix it as quickly as possible. First, it's important to identify the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon. Sometimes it's caused by an incorrectly selected variety, sometimes it's a matter of care, and in other cases, split fruits indicate a plant infection.

Reasons why tomatoes crack when ripening in a greenhouse

 

Split tomatoes lose their appeal and marketability. Furthermore, cracks allow bacteria, dust, and viruses to enter the fruit. Reasons why tomatoes burst include:

• a variety with an excessively thin skin;
• diseases;
• lack of moisture;
• sharp changes in temperature and humidity;
• overwatering tomatoes when they have already begun to turn red or in hot weather;
• lack of nutrients during fruit formation.

Watering the bushes

Caring for tomatoes requires proper watering. Fertilize the soil frequently, but in small amounts. Infrequent and excessive watering is especially damaging in hot weather. The bushes absorb all the moisture, causing the fruits to swell faster than the skin can grow. Consequently, cracks form on the surface. In hot weather, water the plants in the evening, every three days. During the day, be sure to ventilate the greenhouse.

Optimal climate in the greenhouse

Glass and plastic structures can become extremely hot in summer. Temperatures in enclosed spaces can reach 50 degrees Celsius. This is important to avoid. Excessively high temperatures can cause plants to wilt, inhibit fruit development, and make the skin more susceptible to cracking.

To maintain a favorable microclimate, the greenhouse must be ventilated by opening doors or vents in opposite walls.

Fertilizers, nutrients

To ensure healthy and resilient plant growth, pay close attention to fertilizing. Potassium and nitrogen supplements are best applied as a solution every two weeks.

Both an excess and a deficiency of nitrogen fertilizers can cause fruit cracking. However, most gardeners agree that tomato cracking is caused by insufficient fertilization and a lack of essential nutrients.

Leaf removal, pinching, and side-sonning

Once a sufficient number of ovaries have formed on the bush, pinch the bushes to stop growth. It is also recommended to promptly remove side shoots and excess leaves. These procedures help direct nutrients primarily to the fruit (the plant does not waste energy on leaf growth and development).

However, some experts claim that pinching and plucking leaves promotes cracking of tomatoes. Moisture that should have gone into the leaves or stems is instead directed toward the fruit, causing them to grow rapidly. Therefore, no more than three leaves should be removed from the bush weekly.

Tomato diseases

The fungal disease fusarium causes leaf drying and cracking in tomatoes. Treatment is carried out with special preparations. Other diseases that can cause cracking include early blight, rot, and late blight.

Why is cracking tomatoes dangerous?

Cracks in the skin are unsightly. These vegetables lose their marketable appearance. But the main danger is that they open the door to infections and viruses. Most often, the cracks quickly heal with brown tissue, and the tomatoes continue to grow and ripen. However, crack prevention should not be neglected.

How to Prevent Tomatoes from Cracking – Prevention

Following proper agricultural practices helps ensure a crack-free harvest. Key recommendations:

• ventilate regularly;
• avoid over-watering of soil and air;
• fertilize plantings in a timely manner;
• pinch off side-children of bushes moderately;
• It is important to control the temperature;
• carry out disease prevention.

Tomato varieties that are resistant to cracking

Many varieties are resistant to cracking, even under unstable conditions and microclimate. Hybrid varieties with juicy flesh and very thin skins are especially prone to cracking. Varieties that are not prone to cracking include:

1. Favorite.
2. Centaur.
3. Vasilievna.
4. Bohemia A.
5. Grushovka.
6. Pink honey.
7. Lady fingers.
8. Vladimir F1.
9. Rio Grande, etc.

Advice from experts

Experts recommend carefully selecting varieties for growing in your region and adhering to the following rules:

• clean the greenhouse in the fall, do not leave plant remains, carry out disinfection;
• plant potatoes and other nightshades away from the tomato greenhouse;
• use chemicals to combat diseases strictly according to the instructions;
• periodically inspect the bushes for signs of disease or micronutrient deficiencies;
• Mulch the soil around the bushes with mown grass or sawdust.

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Conclusion

When growing tomatoes, you want a healthy and beautiful harvest. It's important to choose the right variety, suited to your climate and your resources. Also, don't neglect preventative care and proper maintenance. By following basic watering and fertilizing recommendations, you can often avoid burst tomatoes.