Why are my tomatoes splitting? After all the effort you put into growing these tropical nightshades—juggling soil temperatures, pests, pollinators, and diseases—it’s frustrating to see a beautiful fruit crack and burst apart just as it ripens. Tomato splitting is a common but preventable problem that can leave your harvest ruined if not addressed. Fortunately, the cause is simple, and with a few small changes, you can protect your crop.
What Causes Tomatoes to Split on the Vine?
The explanation for why are my tomatoes splitting is pretty simple, even though it doesn’t seem like it at first. At first, you might suspect some sort of insect problem—perhaps insects chewing the skin of the tomatoes and splitting them. Also, you’ll oftentimes see some sort of rot setting in around the tomato split—so maybe it’s some kind of plant disease causing the tomato skin splitting. But it’s not either of these initially. It’s all about water.
Everybody loves those factoids about tomatoes being 95% water (the fruit, not the plant). And it’s true—a tomato has a lot of moisture inside. And as long as the plant is receiving a consistent, regular amount of water on a schedule, splitting should be at a minimum.
It’s when watering amounts are inconsistent that the problems arrive. For instance, maybe you have a busy week and don’t water the garden for several days. Then you have dry soil, and water it really well to make up for the lost days. While this may be okay for some of your garden plants, for your tomatoes, this spells trouble. The plants will drink up the new, excess water quickly, deliver it to the fruits, where the fruits can’t handle the influx, grow rapidly, and basically “explode” in a very gentle fashion.
The same thing can happen if there is a heavy rainstorm, when a large amount of water is dropped in a very short amount of time. Regardless of how consistent you may be with your watering, a major downpour can easily mean split tomatoes tomorrow. And it’s after the split occurs that you see insects and rot take over.
5 Easy Ways to Stop Tomatoes from Cracking
So what can be done? Plenty! Here are five tips to keep your tomatoes in tip-top shape.
1. Water on a consistent schedule.
2. Mulch around your tomato plants’ base to help keep moisture levels steady.
3. Pick tomatoes before a rainstorm, even if they’re not quite ready. It’s better to have them ripen on the counter than to split and rot.
4. Choose a variety that isn’t prone to splitting—those lovely cherry tomatoes tend to split easily, as do some thin-skinned heirlooms. Popular hybrids are sometimes more split-resistant.
5. Use raised beds. The extra drainage can help tomato plants from becoming waterlogged.
Why Are My Tomatoes Splitting: Final Thoughts
Tomato splitting can be disappointing, but it doesn’t have to ruin your harvest. By understanding why your tomatoes are splitting—and taking simple steps like consistent watering, timely harvesting, and choosing the right varieties—you can protect your plants and enjoy more flawless fruit. A little planning goes a long way toward keeping your tomatoes intact and your summer garden thriving.
This article about why are my tomatoes splitting was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
