Got a few questions on tomatoes this weekend. Above is sunscald. Usually the result of an over zealous gardener pruning off too many branches. (shame.) Excessive continued exposure to sun causes this. The tomatos cannot move and seek shade, be a better gardener!
Blossom end rot. This is a calcium/water issue. The plant needs consistent, even watering to take up the calcium it needs. No water.....no calcium. The water/calcium that the fruit does receive enters thru the stem of course, and may never get to the bottom of the fruit before it runs out. Remove affected fruit and correct the watering. Plants need 1-2" of water per week excluding rain (this is a recording)
Applied in 2 waterings, like Mon & Thursdays. A daily sprinkling is the WORST thing you can do.
Mulch with straw to help in keeping moisture levels even. Also, applying a fertilizer that contains micronutrients would be great.
Cracking. Dang it. Often caused by a dry period followed by too much water...either you or Mother Nature. You can still eat these. Correct your watering for improvement. Some varieties, like beefsteaks are more prone to cracking than others. Good reason to keep a log of what you bought and how they performed. And like the blossom end rot bottom that rec'd too little water, these guys cracked at the top where the excess water was taken up. In the Horticulture world, this is referred to as 'luxury consumption' when a plant takes up more than it needs.
So many tomato problems are related to watering......it's worth doing correctly. Happy picking!
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