What causes deformities in tomatoes?

Question

I have a row of tomato plants, all of them get the same sunlight, the same quality of soil, and the same treatment. The strange thing is, is that all of my plants are growing big beautiful tomatoes except one plant in the middle. Most of it's fruit is deformed where the tomato is split into different parts or it looks like someone took a slice out of them. It is hard and brown in the deformed spots. I thought deformities occured once in a while with any plant not all the time with one plant. I'm a first time gardener, please help. Has anyone else ever had this problem? If so what should I do?

Answer 1

Some tomato varieties such as beef-steak tomatoes always split into many  parts and look deformed but perfectly good to eat. Some tomato varieties such as supermarket  round or Roma  tomatoes look perfect but taste like cardboards. The hard brown spots are call brown rots and is caused by lack of calcium in the  soil. I would throw them away.  Adding some lime to the soil before planting the tomato plant would cure that.

Answer 2

Mother Nature just plays her tricks. You did nothing wrong. They're OK to use.

Answer 3

It is possible that this particular plant is not receiving the same amount of watering as the others.  Split fruit and the hard brown spots can be caused by this.  Irregular watering is the main cause of tomato problems.

Blossom end rot causes the hard brown deformed spots, again caused by calcium deficiency due to irregular watering.

Split fruit is caused by irregular watering when the soil dries out and then gets too much water.

Check your watering system to ensure the middle bush is receiving the same amount of water as the rest.

Answer 4

Usually inconsistent watering.

Answer 5

http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/det...

usually called 'cat-faced tomato'.... can come from bugs deforming the flower, a virus, or just chance...

http://www.organicgardening.com/featurep...