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Slits, Splits and Cracks

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  One common flaw you can find in many garden tomatoes is the development of various slits, splits or cracks. One variation of this blemish causes tomatoes to grow in lumpy, irregular shapes with deep creases in them. This is referred to as "cat-facing." A second, unrelated problem causes the tomatoes to grow deep cracks in their skin. These can take two different forms, one being semicircular cracks forming in a ring around the tomato's upper edges, the other being in the form of splits starting at the stem and radiating outward.

  
  

  
  
  
  

Cracking and Splitting

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  Both the circular cracking pattern and the pattern of radiating splitting have the same cause, which is inconsistent water supply. When tomatoes are maturing they are especially susceptible to this problem. It occurs when the soil is allowed to dry out and then rain or a heavy watering suddenly provides an excess of water. The tomatoes take up too much water for their skins to contain, and cracking is the result. You can avoid the problem by watering the tomatoes during dry weather. There are also crack-resistant varieties, which have thicker skins.

  
  

  
  
  
  

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_8588554_do-homegrown-tomatoes-lines-slits.html#ixzz2y2RtM9QO

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