There splitting of tomatoes it is a rather common problem when the fruit ripening period arrives. Many farmers, in fact, perhaps because they are at the first experiences, often wonder why the peel of tomatoes it is marked by obvious cracks. These are vertical lines that furrow the outer part of the skin, called epicarp. We tell you right away that it is tomato split it does not affect its qualities, therefore the fruits are edible. However, we must pay attention to the problem and understand its causes, also because it can be the entry point of other diseases, and it is also easy to feast on parasites. So let’s see why do tomatoes crack and what are the countermeasures that farmers must implement in the organic garden.
The split of tomatoes
The cracking of the skin of tomatoes is counted among the physiopathies of this plant, as well as the curled leaves and the apical rot (the latter is the pathology that turns the tomatoes black underneath). The cause of the cracks is a sudden water change, due, for example, to a strong and continuous rain. If precipitation is accompanied by a sharp temperature excursion, the occurrence of the problem is more likely. The split can also be caused by a bad one irrigation of the vegetable garden. In fact, many give the plants abundant water in the hot hours of the day, and this can lead to the opening of the fruits.
Problems due to the climate
In spring and summer it is easy to have a normal sunny day, with temperatures above 30 ° C. And it is equally easy for this to be marred by a sudden and violent afternoon thunderstorm. This trend, by the way, is bound to increase across Europe. In addition to the water bomb, in these cases we also witness a sudden drop in temperatures. The particular thing is that these phenomena are transient and occur in the early afternoon. It therefore happens that temperatures start to rise again within a few hours. On a day like the one described, the ambient humidity even exceeds 90%. Very problematic for the tomato plant.
What the peel of split tomatoes looks like
The splitting of tomatoes usually takes place during the ripening period, that is when the peel changes color and softens. The fruit has evident cracks, which have a circular or radial trend with respect to the point of intersection of the peduncle. These cracks (splits) are usually superficial and affect the skin, but in severe cases they can also affect the pulp. In this case, the risk is the onset of mold and rot that make the fruit inedible. Additionally, this can attract parasites such as ants.
Remedies for tomato cracking
A good farmer can take actions to avoid the problem of splitting tomatoes. First of all, you have to water the tomatoes regularly, without exaggerating in the frequency and volumes of irrigation, absolutely avoiding water changes. It is advisable to give water early in the morning or in the evening, avoiding the hot hours of the day. To this observation one can object to the fact that natural precipitations cannot be controlled and the much feared water bombs can be avoided. What we can do, however, is to improve the drainage of the soil, so that the water does not stagnate in the field for long. To do this they can stuff the tomatoes after a heavy rain. Therefore, it is possible to create, always with the hoe, adequate drains for the runoff of excess water.
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