Need help with Tomato Vine issues.

Question

We are getting lots of veggies but we are noticing our large tomatoes are all split on the top, in an X fashion. Not too deep, but noticeable. We thought perhaps we were watering too much (we live in So. Cal where it is very hot) as we water once a day, good soaking. We have cut back to watering every other day but the new ones still are split.

Also, could this be the end of a 'season' for tomatoes? Our leaves went from looking straight and dark green to wilted and a little brown in spots. The stems just don't seem the same as they did and there are no new yellow flowers meaning we don't see any new tomatoes popping up.

Could I be doing something wrong? My soil levels all came back perfect over the weekend when we tested and before we water we stick a little wood piece in the soil and it has been coming out dry.

Also, I am a first-time gardener and am very confused about tomatoes. Some people say they produce for one season then you have to replace them next year, as they will die. Mine are called 'Indeterminate' so does this mean they are dying and have to be replaced? A friend of mine has never had to replace his and he gets tomatoes year-round. So, info on this would be great! Thank you, all!!

--BTW, this is an organic garden, so if anyone recommends a fix, please keep it organic.--

Answer 1

Fluctuations in the temperature, fertilizer levels, or amount of water can cause the tomatoes to grow in spurts rather than at a gradual pace. A plant goes through a “hardening off” period after it has a spurt of growth, which would not occur if all of the growing elements (fertilizer, water, heat, etc.) remained somewhat constant. This “hardening off” happens to the fruit and the skin.  Once the skin has hardened off, if the fruit has another growth spurt, the skin will not be able to stretch to contain the fruit inside it, hence the cracking or splitting.  Your goal should be to keep your tomatoes growing at a steady, consistent pace, avoiding the hardening off period until they are ready to pick.

Here are some tips to help regulate the fruit development and avoid the cracking:

Water regularly and deeply. If you get a period of heavy rain, then you should reduce supplemental water. If you go on vacation, don’t soak them before you leave and let them go dry until you return, and soak them again. Use a sprinkler (drip preferably) on a timer, or hire the neighbor kid and give him a five minute training course on how to water consistently.

Be careful with the fertilizer. Buy a good vegetable fertilizer and follow the instructions, or better yet, use composted humus from your compost bin on a regular basis and avoid commercial fertilizers. Compost will both regulate the soil moisture and provide a steady level of nutrients. In either case, don’t load up with fertilizer in the beginning of their growth and then fertilize them again as the fruit sets. Use lighter doses on a more frequent schedule and never more than the manufacture says to use.

Watch the sun exposure. Like I said earlier, fluctuations in temperature are harmful. Mother Nature has control of the macro climate, but you can control to some degree the micro climate temperature. As some tomatoes mature, they tend to drop some of their leaves, and in some cases, it is even beneficial to remove some leaves. If lost leaves is the case with your vegetable garden, just make sure that fruit that was previously shaded is not exposed to direct sunlight when the temperature heats up. A simple shade structure should suffice.

Answer 2

A lot of times the cracking is due to uneven watering. I'm in SoCal too and keeping things evenly watered is a pain! Indeterminate means that the plant will keep growing and not stop at a certain size. Most tomatoe varieties don't overwinter and should be treated as annuals, they are originally from the tropics. Go to the site listed below, they have great info pages on Tomatoes, they are where I get my heirloom seeds.

Answer 3

It seems to be due to problems with watering and uneven growth rates. As long as the cracks aren't too deep it's not really the end of the world. some of my tomatoes have small cracks on thier tops and I just avoid those parts. they are very tough and dry.  The link below has some suggestions.  My advice is, if it's not severe, just keep watering regularly and hope for the best.   I would advise getting one of those garden watering kits that drip water right at the base of the plants. Then set that on a timer so that it's getting perfect even water at regular intervals.  I have mine set to water every morning at 5AM for about an hour. These kits also save water because it's a much slower drip then watering with the hose, but the water goes right to the roots where it's needed.  

About replacing the plants once a year... I don't know very much about your location. I live in NJ and since we have cold winters here, nothing survives the winter. I replant from seedlings every year. Although I do know that there is a giant tomato plant in Disney world that they have been growing for years and years. I believe it's in the Guiness book of records.