Why are my cherry tomatoes "bursting?"

sarahg · August 16, 2011

Nearly all of my cherry tomatoes appear to be bursting (see photo). Is it from a pest or too much water or what? I'm a real newbie so any advice will be appreciated.

Zana · August 16, 2011

My guess is too much water as they're doing their final ripening. But others might have other ideas.

Zana

PS and Welcome to Tomatoville Sarah!

kath · August 16, 2011

Yup- too much rain lately. I'm a little over an hour north of you and almost every tomato in my garden with any color is bursting...we've had over 5" of rain since Sat. night.

Tom C zone 4/5 · August 16, 2011

Cracking-spliting=too much water.

ContainerTed · August 17, 2011

Too dry and then too wet. Tomatoes can draw up water and pump it into the fruit much faster than the tomato's skin can expand. Lot's of water and then lots of sun are the worse. The sun heats up the insides, which expand ...... and ...... Kapow!!!!!!

Mudman · August 17, 2011

We had a storm come through last night that was dropping 2-4 inches per hour and it was very slow moving. So as the storm was approaching I ran out to the garden and using my shirt as a basket, grabbed every blushing fruit, saving them from disaster.

kath · August 17, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudman

We had a storm come through last night that was dropping 2-4 inches per hour and it was very slow moving. So as the storm was approaching I ran out to the garden and using my shirt as a basket, grabbed every blushing fruit, saving them from disaster.

Hurray!

The last three times I've harvested, it's been in the pouring rain- luckily without thunder and lightning.

Not easy to use a marker on wet fruits.

tjg911 · August 17, 2011

so why is it the ripening cherries burst but not the green ones? i suspect the skins are firmer on the green ones.

tom

August 16, 2011	#4
Tom C zone 4/5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 253	Cracking-spliting=too much water. __________________ Beyond the mountains, there are more mountains.

August 17, 2011	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Too dry and then too wet. Tomatoes can draw up water and pump it into the fruit much faster than the tomato's skin can expand. Lot's of water and then lots of sun are the worse. The sun heats up the insides, which expand ...... and ...... Kapow!!!!!! __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

August 17, 2011	#6
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	We had a storm come through last night that was dropping 2-4 inches per hour and it was very slow moving. So as the storm was approaching I ran out to the garden and using my shirt as a basket, grabbed every blushing fruit, saving them from disaster. __________________ Mike

August 17, 2011	#8
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	so why is it the ripening cherries burst but not the green ones? i suspect the skins are firmer on the green ones. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

August 16, 2011	#2
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	My guess is too much water as they're doing their final ripening. But others might have other ideas. Zana PS and Welcome to Tomatoville Sarah!

August 16, 2011	#3
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Yup- too much rain lately. I'm a little over an hour north of you and almost every tomato in my garden with any color is bursting...we've had over 5" of rain since Sat. night.