Any idea what kind of tomato this is and what's wrong with it?

Pam
by Pam
I bought this tomato plant from our local high school and it was not tagged with the name of the variety
This happens to the top or bottom of almost every one.
The others usually split like this!
  12 answers
  • Nadine Mealey MacDonald Nadine Mealey MacDonald on Aug 16, 2017

    Apparently it's caused by a lack of water during its principal growing period. Water often and deeply.

  • Alyssa Alyssa on Aug 16, 2017

    I'm not sure of the variety, but the top picture looks like early blight or possibly weather checking. You might want to go to this site to check your tomatoes' symptoms against the chart: http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomFrt/TomFrtKey.html


    As for the split skin, tomatoes split when they get excessive water, especially if it comes after a dry spell. If heavy rain is coming and your tomatoes are almost ripe, pick them before the storm hits.



  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Aug 16, 2017

    Here's an article that should help you figure it out.


    http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/blossom-end-rot/5354.html


    Good luck!

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Aug 17, 2017

    The split is what Alyssa says, from too much water after inconsistent watering, or not watering frequently enough and getting a heavy down pour or long soaker rain. If you keep the soil moist, especially when the tomatoes are ripening they won't split when it rains a lot. Some kind of mulch helping to retain moisture will help also. I have been lucky this year and only have had two tomatoes split so far and they were cherry tomatoes.

    • See 2 previous
    • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Aug 18, 2017

      I just picked the first ripe one today, but I had heard they were great. I haven't had a chance to cut it yet, but I am definitely looking forward to it.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 17, 2017

    The first on has blossom end rot caused by a calcium deficiency.The second https://www.thespruce.com/why-do-tomatoes-split-2540002

  • Pam Pam on Aug 17, 2017

    Thanks so much. It seems that growing tomatoes would be so simple but every year I have tried I don't get a good yield. I finally realized that the orange tomato was not going to turn red and tried it. It was delicious! I appreciate all the help ladies!!

  • Corinne Acheson White Corinne Acheson White on Aug 17, 2017

    There are orange, yellow and even purple tomatoes now. They are all really good and they tend to be sweeter. I grow them all.

  • Cindy Cindy on Aug 17, 2017

    Hello Pam, Your tomato plants are not getting enough water. I water my garden almost every morning for about 15 minutes. I use a soaker hose (which is really a hose with a bunch of pin head holes running down its length). But, here's the trick, I never let the water get bigger than 6 or 8 inches. It's called deep-root watering. My garden is thriving. I hope this helps you. Good luck.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Aug 18, 2017

    It's called just as you see it. Ugly tomato. Good Luck!

  • Vic28772575 Vic28772575 on Aug 18, 2017

     tomatoes need a lot of water and spray them after the rain with dishwashing soap and water.... one kilo water and 1 tablespoon soap

  • Jta28728063 Jta28728063 on Aug 19, 2017

    It's an heirloom tomato and the bottoms always look like that. The top is from too much water to fast.


  • Joanne Joanne on Aug 20, 2017

    It looks like a lemon boy heirloom tomato. I have 2 of the plants and one has been producing orange looking tomatoes instead of yellow.