what makes tomatoes have tough skin sometimes

videorov · June 1, 2017

Just wonder why tomatoes sometimes have tough skins on them and to prevent
it????

zipcode · June 1, 2017

From my experience exposure of the fruit to full sun is one of the main culprits. Also, in general just other stress factors, like drought, high temperatures, lack of nutrients, wind...

videorov · June 1, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipcode

From my experience exposure of the fruit to full sun is one of the main culprits. Also, in general just other stress factors, like drought, high temperatures, lack of nutrients, wind...

Yes I have them in Full sun and its been hot.

West coast of Fla.

Worth1 · June 1, 2017

If they are anything like me it is from a hard upbringing.
Worth

AlittleSalt · June 1, 2017

I had a salad today with tiny cherry/currant tomatoes in it. Tough skin was all they were. I figure they were grown in a greenhouse.

Cole_Robbie · June 1, 2017

Sometimes it is because of the genetics of the variety. Tough skin makes for a longer shelf life. Otherwise, I think drying out too much will make the skin tough. I have a yellow tumbling tom that is making ripe fruit in the greenhouse right now, but the moisture has been inconsistent and the skin is tough on the fruit.

dmforcier · June 1, 2017

This can be addressed with cooking. Blanch a tomato to remove the skin. The innards should still be fresh from the garden.

Otherwise offer your guests toothpicks.

slugworth · June 1, 2017

genetics
4th of july hybrids have tough skin.

McGee'sX-Roads · June 1, 2017

Sometimes fruit can get dull rough skin around the shoulders like russetting. That is generally caused from the too much water or the plant staying a little too wet and the fruit expanding rapidly causing tiny little cuts to the skin, if you look at it under a magnifying glass you will see they are actually cuts on the skin. It feels rough and generally goes soft within a day or 2 of it ripening around the shoulders.

Not sure if that is what you are talking about, but could be a water issue.

zeroma · June 1, 2017

Genetics is what I think. The tomatoes bred for sale in grocery stores need a long shelf life. Not many of the open pollinated and heirlooms I've grown have the tough skin

z

Gardeneer · June 1, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by slugworth

genetics
4th of july hybrids have tough skin.

I also think that genetics is the biggest factor. That is obvious from the varieties bred for commercial growers in greenhouse
Growing conditions can also influence to some extent. .

Dewayne mater · June 2, 2017

I believe heat/sun is the biggest factor. My cherry tomatoes especially get smaller and thicker skinned every year as we move from warm spring temps to hot summer temps.

slugworth · June 3, 2017

I have 4th of july hybrids from saved seed.
I will see if I have to spit that skin out on that generation.

Tormato · June 7, 2017

My guess is hot and very cool temps, causing continual expansion and contraction of the fruit (day and night).
While I have no proof, the only time I've had SunGold with tough skins is with the above happening.

videorov · June 7, 2017

Im getting ready to replant some new Better Bush tomatoes which grow great and
have real strong stocks to just about hold themselves up. Easy to manage.
They grow fast from seed too. The weather had been real how with not lots of rain
and watering was harder. Now we are getting the rain and cooler and should
do well now with new plants going in. These Better Bush are determinate type and I like them.

June 1, 2017	#1
videorov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bradenton, Fla Posts: 21	what makes tomatoes have tough skin sometimes Just wonder why tomatoes sometimes have tough skins on them and to prevent it????

June 1, 2017	#7
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	This can be addressed with cooking. Blanch a tomato to remove the skin. The innards should still be fresh from the garden. Otherwise offer your guests toothpicks. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

June 7, 2017	#15
videorov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bradenton, Fla Posts: 21	Tough skin but taste good. Im getting ready to replant some new Better Bush tomatoes which grow great and have real strong stocks to just about hold themselves up. Easy to manage. They grow fast from seed too. The weather had been real how with not lots of rain and watering was harder. Now we are getting the rain and cooler and should do well now with new plants going in. These Better Bush are determinate type and I like them.

June 1, 2017	#2
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	From my experience exposure of the fruit to full sun is one of the main culprits. Also, in general just other stress factors, like drought, high temperatures, lack of nutrients, wind...

June 1, 2017	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	If they are anything like me it is from a hard upbringing. Worth

June 1, 2017	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I had a salad today with tiny cherry/currant tomatoes in it. Tough skin was all they were. I figure they were grown in a greenhouse.

June 1, 2017	#6
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Sometimes it is because of the genetics of the variety. Tough skin makes for a longer shelf life. Otherwise, I think drying out too much will make the skin tough. I have a yellow tumbling tom that is making ripe fruit in the greenhouse right now, but the moisture has been inconsistent and the skin is tough on the fruit.

June 1, 2017	#8
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	genetics 4th of july hybrids have tough skin.

June 1, 2017	#9
McGee'sX-Roads Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: NC Posts: 21	Sometimes fruit can get dull rough skin around the shoulders like russetting. That is generally caused from the too much water or the plant staying a little too wet and the fruit expanding rapidly causing tiny little cuts to the skin, if you look at it under a magnifying glass you will see they are actually cuts on the skin. It feels rough and generally goes soft within a day or 2 of it ripening around the shoulders. Not sure if that is what you are talking about, but could be a water issue.

June 1, 2017	#10
zeroma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 637	Genetics is what I think. The tomatoes bred for sale in grocery stores need a long shelf life. Not many of the open pollinated and heirlooms I've grown have the tough skin z

June 2, 2017	#12
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	I believe heat/sun is the biggest factor. My cherry tomatoes especially get smaller and thicker skinned every year as we move from warm spring temps to hot summer temps.

June 3, 2017	#13
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	I have 4th of july hybrids from saved seed. I will see if I have to spit that skin out on that generation.

June 7, 2017	#14
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	My guess is hot and very cool temps, causing continual expansion and contraction of the fruit (day and night). While I have no proof, the only time I've had SunGold with tough skins is with the above happening.