tomatoes splitting open, why is this?

[eastkentspur]

both before and after picking

both outside in pots and in greenhouse

two varieties: gardener's delight and sun gold

[zazen999]

Too much water usually, mine are splitting outdoors but the greenhouse ones are ok....

[Gemmalaveen]

I have 5 varieties all outside in rather small containers (will use florist buckets next year!) and only the tomatoes on my Moneymaker plant have split, also both before and after picking.

My two Gardener's Delight plants have fared beautifully with loads of fruit and no splitting at all!

[reetnproper]

I've always thought this happens when too much water is given (or rained) at one time, especially after a dry spell or when the compost has gotten a tad too dry.

Reet
x

[Keith2202]

It is to do with erratic watering/too much watering. Some varieties are more prone than others though, I was given a load of Sungold last year and lots of them split, quite a few of my Gardeners Delights are splitting this year too.

[taff]

I think sungold are prone to that.

[hamsterqueen]

my sungold and gardeners delights have split following the deluge of teh past few days

[MalUK]

If the tomatoes are exposed to an unusually high level of sunlight, i.e. the leaves have been removed or it's just an unusually hot day then that will do it too.

[Flummery]

Sungold always split when very ripe - whatever you do in regards to watering! some are just thinner skinned than others. Don't blame yourself all the time. Sometimes it's the variety, not just your watering technique.

[ddiogyn]

I read an article somewhere where the author advised picking tomatoes at first blush and ripening off the vine in order to avoid splitting, author also said that some claim flavour is affected if not allowed to ripen on vine...

[womble]

My outside GD have split due to the deluge of rain we've had in the last few days.
My greenhouse toms are all fine.

Not only is it down to variety, but also the strain, I've got a strain of GD (which I haven't grown this year, as I wanted to try another strain) which splits very easily, the fruits are very juicy, but the strain I've tried this year doesn't split at all under normal conditions.

My friend is growing sungold and none of hers has split, as far as I am aware.

[Flummery]

Mine sometimes split as I pick them, or as I pull off the 'spider' at the end. Ok if you're eating them straight away but they don't keep.

My F4 sungold selections don't split. I didn't save seed from any that did!

[DORSETFOODIE]

I've grown Sunbaby again this year as they are delicious and another small red tomato whose name excapes me - that deluge caused almost everyone of the red ones to split but the Sunbaby had less casualties and the green toms are almost without exception unaffected - maybe the shape helps? I've pulled off all those that are damaged and fed and I'm hoping a few warm days will help them out.

[StephenH]

My 'Purple Ukraine's have all split bady, but none of the others - 'Cost. Fiorentino', 'Tigerella', and 'G. Sunrise'. I assume that 'P.U.' is prone to splitting.

[Magiccat1978]

A few of my Sungold (indoors) have split but not many compared to the harvest I've had from them and one of my Black Krim (outdoor in the ground) which I guess may be down to the rain because I havent had to water them for ages