Tomatos again

[DavidF]

I am sure I have seen a similar post on here, but can't find it. Our first "Sungold" cherry tom has ripened, but split all the way around. I seem to remember a a post by DaveO thata this is caused by irregular watering???? I have a "Mister Landscaper 1/4" irragtion system (brilliant by the way!) in the veg bed that comes on every two days for 30 mins. Is that too often, not often enough, too long, too short, too irregular....... TIA

[FredP]

every day for 1 hour. works here and the maters is comin in fast!

[Woodman2k]

I'm watering with a system every morning at 5 am and everything,maters,cukes,beans,carrots,canalope,wat ermelon is going great.Just picked/dugup 5 lbs of tators and the corn is at least 5 feet tall.Forget those prices in the grocerie store.

[TracyP]

Originally Posted by Woodman2k

I'm watering with a system every morning at 5 am and everything,maters,cukes,beans,carrots,canalope,wat ermelon is going great.Just picked/dugup 5 lbs of tators and the corn is at least 5 feet tall.Forget those prices in the grocerie store.

Greg, you know the rules, no pics. Didn't happen

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by DavidF

I am sure I have seen a similar post on here, but can't find it. Our first "Sungold" cherry tom has ripened, but split all the way around. I seem to remember a a post by DaveO thata this is caused by irregular watering???? I have a "Mister Landscaper 1/4" irragtion system (brilliant by the way!) in the veg bed that comes on every two days for 30 mins. Is that too often, not often enough, too long, too short, too irregular....... TIA

Wow that is hard to say not knowing the type of soil, drainage, plant spacing and amount of water given out by said irrigation system. It is always better to water more and less often than less more often. That helps establish a deeper root system. If I had to guess I would say that you are doing both no-no's. 30 minutes of run time for a drip??? system that probably puts out water in the rate of gallons per hour isn't enough for a good soaking, and every other day is great if you're giving the plants a good soaking (which it sounds like you are not).
There are calcium/magnesium suppliments that you can mist the plants with that will help with the clefting.


Dave

[PLC'woodart]

I heard that Epsom salt helps with that kind of thing - Is this true

Phillip

[Kdub]

i think cracking, or i would call it splitting is caused by too much water just before ripening. did you happen to get any of that rain sat night? or water more than usual? i've seen it happen on cherries as well as regular size tomatoes. they still taste good. if the rain did it there's not much you can do about it.
kurt

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by PLC'woodart

I heard that Epsom salt helps with that kind of thing - Is this true

Phillip

I would think that the Mangesium and other minerals in Epsom salts would provide what is needed, but I wouldn't know the ratio to use to make the spray

Dave

[DaveO]

I just found this, it might answer a lot of questions about tomato fruit problems - http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...Tom_ComDis.htm

HTH,
Dave

[DavidF]

Thanks everybody. Yes, we did get the heavy rain so that might have done it. It seems the type of cracking we have is from the rapid uptake of water. I have adjusted the irrigation to give a watering everyday to keep the soil moisture content fairly stable so we shall see....