Question
What would cause a Bush Champion tomato to appear to have ripe/red fruit on the outside, yet have hard green aeas in the center of the tomato (along with red/ripe areas)?

Thanks, Sara

Answer
Sara, uneven watering will cause tomatoes to ripen unevenly. This is especially prevalent when long periods of dry weather are followed by heavy rains, especially when it remains wet over a prolonged period.

This problem can be corrected by growing the tomatoes in a fertile soil that is raised at least 8" to improve drainage. You should also mulch the plants with dried grass clippings, peat moss, or straw, to retain moisture and cool the soil. Finally, be sure to fertilize once every 10 days with a water-soluable fertilizer high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen.

The good news is that this problem will correct itself once the weather stabilizes. Just follow the steps I've outlined, and be sure to supplement enough water to meet the plant's requirement of 2" per week.

Good luck, and please write again if you ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike