Tomatoes

[radstockjeff]

I have a lovely crop of tomatoes (Moneymaker) but the skins are "damaged" as shown. This does not detract from the taste.
I have watered the plants regularly and also fed them on a regular basis. Can anyone please tell me what the cause of the skin problem might be?

[Tresagreen]

Looks like growth cracks Jeff. Caused by lots of hot weather, followed by heavy rain or watering. Not detrimental to health T

[EWW]

When I had a greenhouse a few years ago I used to grow mainly Toms. One crop I had the same problem with the skins splitting just like that.

I had a job at the big greenhouses in Terrington owned by a Dutchman and his son.I was changing a transformer there that had blown up.
I asked him why my toms were splitting and he told me it was all down to the amout of water I gave them. As a tom is just about all water
he reckoned that they needed exactly the same amount of water each time. If you gave each plant a pint during watering and the next
time you gave two pints the water intake would be to much and split the skins. Its a bit like me drinking ten pints of lager and me belly
swelling up.

[radstockjeff]

Thanks for those thoughts folks.
They do taste rather nice!

[EWW]

I used to keep a salt celler and a bottle of vinegar in my greenhouse. It was either a plash of vinegar, or a pinch of salt
with every one I ate straight off the vine. No shop bought tom can come close.

[radstockjeff]

What's been at this one? Could it be a snail or is it just a skin defect?

[EWW]

Could be a fungus called "Anthracnose". If it is its another watering problem.

[radstockjeff]

EWW, thanks for that comment. This is the only one affected (so far).

[Tresagreen]

Looks like it could be the same as this Jeff. I am not able to look at it any further, because for some reason I can't get on to the Pinterest website.

[radstockjeff]

It looks as though something has just peeled and eaten the skin from around the top of the tomato nearest the stalk.. The flesh under the skin has not been touched.

[EWW]

I use pinterest all the time and it took me quite a few tries to get on.. and I was logged on Ms Green.

[Tresagreen]

Could be tomato moth caterpillars Jeff, they are active at night, so if you look for them you will need a torch.
Waiting on a reply from the experts, will keep you posted. T

[Tresagreen]

http://www.getseedy.co.uk/2011/08/hands ... uitdamage/

[radstockjeff]

Thanks for that T, no more damage last night.

[Tresagreen]

Hi Jeff, just got confirmation. It's those little blighters alright, so if you find any SQUISH them and feed them to the birds. T