Tomato – Cracks on Top

Q: Last year and again this year our tomatoes have this “wood grain” look on the top of the fruit. What can we do to correct this?

A: This distinctive look is caused by alternate wet and dry days. After a rain, the roots absorb water and send it to the tomato. But during the dry days that follow, the skin does not grow enough to contain the pressure of sap inside the fruit.

The pressure causes the skin to split as you see.

Make sure your soil doesn’t stay soggy after rainfall. Consider adding gritty sand to the tomato bed before you plant next year.

As long as the fruit does not rot underneath the cracks, the tomatoes are perfectly healthy to eat.

See Tomato Cracking