Why did the tomatoes grow crooked and ugly?

A deformed, lumpy, flattened tomato with folds and dents is not only unsightly, it's also unsuitable for canning and difficult to eat raw.There are several reasons why tomatoes grow gnarled and misshapen. These could include the temperature at which they ripened, insufficient light, or diseases affecting plants in the nightshade family.

Symptoms of uneven tomatoes

You can tell a tomato will grow deformed even before it begins to ripen and long before it develops. Several symptoms can help identify these developmental changes:

1. Uneven tomatoes arise from fused and oversized flowers. As they grow, the plant's shoots and branches may begin to bend, and their side shoots will fuse together.
2. Tomatoes that will later grow deformed are covered with deep grooves early in their development. These grooves can be seen or felt by running your fingers along the skin of the vegetable where it attaches to the branch.
3. Crooked tomatoes grow on plants that are affected by rot.

To reduce the risk of unsightly vegetables appearing, it is necessary to remove fused inflorescences and side shoots and monitor the plants.

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Symptoms that should alert the gardener include the following:

• wilting of leaves in the lower part of the plant;
• the appearance of a white coating on the soil, leaves and stems;
• formation of rot on leaves and fruits.

All this indicates that the plant lacks minerals, heat, light, or is suffering from one of the diseases that affect nightshades.

Causes of uneven fruits

There are several reasons why tomatoes appear misshapen. Often, these vegetables are the result of poor care due to inexperienced gardeners, or, less commonly, due to a genetic mutation.

The main reasons for the formation of gnarled tomatoes include the following:

• lack of micro- and macroelements in the soil;
• excess moisture in the soil;
• lack of light, heat;
• poor care;
• fasciation;
• genetic mutation;
• variety unsuitable for the growing area;
• diseases.

A plant deficient in micro- and macronutrients is unable to produce a good harvest. Plants that are poorly fertilized produce small fruits mixed with malformed ones. A deficiency in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and copper weakens the tomato plant's immune system, causing it to become diseased, produce poor yields, or even die.

Tomatoes love moisture, but too much of it is detrimental. Improper watering can cause leaf burn or rot. Water tomato plants only in the morning, when the sun is out. This will allow all the moisture to evaporate during the day, and the sun's rays won't burn the leaves that still have water on them.

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Vegetables that lack light and warmth develop poorly, producing small and uneven fruits. This can be avoided by planning your plantings. Choose a shade-free spot for your tomato beds, and plant the bushes so that each plant receives even light.

Tomatoes whose seeds were taken from malformed, crooked fruits or hybrids will grow the same way. Non-regional tomato varieties can produce malformed fruits.

Malformed tomatoes are caused by fasciation. This is a deformity that occurs during fruit formation, causing the fruit to fuse with the trunk, branch, or adjacent fruit. Often, unsightly tomatoes emerge from a disproportionately large flower. This flower, called a double or queen flower, is the first to appear on the bush. These flowers are usually removed before the fruit has formed.

Poor care and diseases that affect nightshades also lead to the formation of tomato deformities.

If a tomato is deformed underneath and its skin is unevenly colored, it's most likely due to a fungal or bacterial infection. Often, the inside of such tomatoes will also be altered: the flesh may be soft or, conversely, tough and tasteless. Such tomatoes are not suitable for canning and should not be stored.

Treatment and fertilization of tomatoes

If tomato deformities are noticed early, the plants will need urgent fertilization. A chemical-free, natural fertilizer containing potassium and superphosphate is suitable for this purpose. You'll need 10 liters of water and one tablespoon of each.

If the deformation is severe and is caused by poor soil, you can prepare a fertilizer consisting of the following components:

• mullein or bird droppings – 20 grams;
• potassium sulfate – 25 grams;
• saltpeter – 15 grams.

All components must be mixed, left to infuse for 4-6 hours and then added to the water for watering the beds.

During treatment, tomatoes need not only fertilizing, but also adherence to a watering regime.

1. If tomatoes are cracking and becoming deformed at the same time, it is recommended to water them less frequently with less water (approximately half the amount).
2. If a white coating appears on the soil and the bushes become covered with rot, watering is also reduced by half.
3. If the fruit is deformed and growing slowly, and the leaves on the bush are curling and wilting, you need to water the tomatoes with plenty of water, preferably warm water.
4. If the deformation is caused by a disease, treat the beds with a potassium permanganate solution. This solution kills the fungus but does not accumulate in the fruit.
5. If tomato plants are deformed due to excess moisture and insufficient soil, you can fertilize them with ash (sprinkle it under the plant) or water them with a solution. To prepare the solution, you'll need water (half a bucket) and dry ash (a glass). Let the solution sit for two to three hours.

Tomato bushes are watered at the roots.

Prevention

Once a tomato has formed, it's nearly impossible to correct its deformity. However, it's possible to prevent such fruits from appearing in the first place. Preventative measures to avoid crooked tomatoes include the following:

1. Selecting seeds before planting or germination.
2. Selecting a hybrid or variety (they must be zoned).
3. Compliance with planting deadlines.
4. Regular feeding.

One of the main reasons for malformed tomatoes is planting them in a region unsuitable for a given hybrid or variety. If you plant a southern variety in a northern climate, the tomato plant will lack warmth and light, and its fruits will grow unattractive. The same thing will happen if you rush and plant tomatoes prematurely.

You shouldn't buy tomato seeds if last season's tomato bushes produced oddly shaped or blemished fruits.

It's not recommended to leave double buds, as they produce gnarled fruits. Such large buds also reduce overall yield.

Poor pollination can also cause deformed tomatoes. This is a common problem for owners of plots located near large cities, where insects are scarce.

If your tomato plants are growing in a greenhouse or in an area with few insects, you can pollinate them yourself. All you need is a soft, fluffy brush. To prevent deformed tomatoes, regularly fertilize the soil with mineral, nitrogen, and organic fertilizers and treat the plants for pests.

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It's impossible to avoid deformed tomatoes. Even gardeners who grow vegetables commercially can get them. However, following the general rules for growing, watering, and fertilizing tomatoes can help reduce their deformity.