Tomato Cracking from Rain: Management Tips

Splitting tops = rapid water uptake after dry spell. Rain fluctuations cause skin to expand faster than it stretches.

Reduce Cracking

• Mulch heavily to buffer soil moisture.
• Water consistently (don't let dry out completely).
• Harvest at first color (breaker stage); ripen indoors.
• Choose crack-resistant varieties ('Jet Star', 'Mountain Magic').

Later-set fruit often cracks less as plants mature.