What causes tomato fruit cracking

Tomato fruit cracking is a fairly common disorder at present. Many growers report that their tomatoes cracked for no apparent reason, and they do not know why. In fact, cracking is generally caused by the following reasons. Let's take a look at these causes together below.

1. Unstable temperature

Large temperature fluctuations can easily cause fruit cracking, and this happens both in open fields and in greenhouses. In open fields it often occurs during the transition between seasons, while in greenhouses it is mostly caused by poor control when ventilating. When the temperature is unstable, the tomato's skin becomes very brittle and stays in a taut state, no longer as elastic as it is under normal conditions. When it can no longer hold, cracking naturally occurs.

2. Weather changes

Weather changes are also a common cause. For example, if the weather is relatively dry for a long period and then it suddenly rains continuously for a while, this situation will occur. This is because during growth, the ratio of the growth rate of the tomato's skin to that of the flesh is disrupted. Originally the two grow in balance, but then the flesh grows far faster than the skin, and in the end cracking naturally occurs. This situation mostly happens when the rainy season arrives.

3. Excessive fertilizer use

For tomatoes, fertilizer is not a case of the more the better; it needs to be applied in the right amount. For example, nitrogen fertilizer and the like can easily cause tomato fruit cracking. Nitrogen fertilizer mainly promotes the growth of the tomato's flesh. When too much nitrogen fertilizer is used, the flesh grows too fast, while nitrogen fertilizer does not noticeably promote the growth of the skin. In the end, the skin cannot contain the flesh, and cracking forms. When you feel that the skin of certain tomatoes is rather tight, you should beware of cracking.

4. Improper use of pesticides

Pesticide use is also a factor that easily leads to fruit cracking. Tomatoes encounter many diseases in daily cultivation, and growers generally use pesticides to deal with them. When the pesticide concentration is too high, cracking will occur. The concentration of some pesticides inhibits the growth of the skin and may even cause the skin to shrivel and lose elasticity, but the flesh does not shrink along with it. In the end, when the skin contracts, it is stretched to its limit by the flesh and then splits open. So when using pesticides, you must absolutely prepare them according to the instructions.

The above are some of the causes of tomato fruit cracking. You can check whether the cracking in your own crop is caused by the reasons above. If so, it is best to adjust your growing methods appropriately to prevent cracking.