You wait for months in anticipation, awaiting your delightful and delicious reward, and after all the hard work you put into tomato plants. But if you see splits or cracks in your tomatoes after picking; you will be worried, right?

Cherry tomato is a particular tomato vine that is very susceptible to splitting or cracking after picking. And this is a very common problem faced by the most seasoned gardeners.

So, why do cherry tomatoes split after picking? Change in moisture level is a primary reason, and there are a few more causes. But, no one wants to see this and you may look for ways to prevent splitting in cherry tomatoes. Let’s find out!

Causes and Solutions of Cherry Tomatoes Split after Picking

What Influences Cherry Tomatoes to Split?

Cherry tomatoes are known for being one of the sweetest and juiciest varieties of tomatoes that not only taste great on their own but also with other dishes.

Just toss them in your salads, pasta, kebabs, and any other dish for that matter – savory or sweet – and they can enhance the flavor tenfold. Besides, cherry tomatoes are also known to have tons of amazing health benefits.

Enriched in vitamins, potassium, and minerals, they are excellent immunity boosters and are good for your heart and bone health.  Also, lycopene in tomatoes protects our skin against harmful UV radiation.

Despite their great taste, versatility, and health benefits, these bite-sized tomatoes are one of the most delicate of their kind. They flaunt a very thin skin, which pops right in your mouth when you bite. But then again, this makes them more prone to splitting.

While it is always suggested to handle them delicately, here are some reasons why your precious cherry tomatoes are splitting after picking.

Why Do Cherry Tomatoes Split after Picking?

So, what is causing my tomatoes to split? There are several reasons that may cause cherry tomatoes split after picking.

Improper Watering

When your cherry tomato plant receives excessive water, either from heavy rainfall or when you water them, after a series of extremely hot days and dried up the soil, something very funny happens.

As the soil has a sudden influx of moisture, the flesh of the cherry tomatoes sucks up the excess moisture and grows exponentially while the skin does not thicken and fails to support the growing flesh within, causing them to eventually crack open. 

Exposure to High Heat and Humidity

If you notice radical/perpendicular spilled as opposed to the more common circular split towards the top of the tomatoes, chances are that the split has been caused by extremely high temperatures or humidity.

Typically, when temperatures rise above 90 degrees or when they are exposed to direct sunlight, cherry tomatoes can split.

Fluctuating Temperatures

Fluctuating temperatures can mess with the ripening speed of cherry tomatoes and when this happens, splits can become frequent.

How Can You Prevent Splitting The Cherry Tomatoes?

Now we’ll break down several ways to stop splitting your cherry tomatoes.

Water consistently

Watering evenly and consistently is extremely important to prevent cherry tomatoes from splitting. As you can tell already, tomatoes, in general, are habit-centric and once you introduce them to a certain watering pattern, they get accustomed to it.

However, it is advised to water the soil deeply (up to about 1 to 2 inches below the ground) at least once every week and at least once every 2 to 3 days during summer and you are good to go.

Ensure Proper Drainage

Proper drainage is crucial to ensure even moisture in the soil. You can consider harvesting your cherry tomatoes on raised beds if the soil is heavy and tend to trap moisture.

On the other hand, if you are growing your tomatoes in pots, if water collects at the bottom, they can cause root rots and pose other serious problems for your plant. In this case, make sure your pot has holes at the bottom for proper drainage.

Mulching Cherry Tomato Plants

Mulching or spreading a layer of materials on the soil bed is a great way of preventing splitting in cherry tomatoes. Mulching reduces evaporation, which ensures even moisture in the soil. Besides, mulching also helps regulate the soil temperature and provides better soil fertility.

Therefore, spreading 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch, preferably sawdust, straw, and brown leaves can help bring the adversities down, combatting tomato splits in the process.

Use Proper Fertilizer

Choosing fertilizer can be tricky in the case of tomatoes. For instance, fertilizers with high nitrogen levels will cause tomatoes to grow too quickly, leading to splits. Therefore, the rule of thumb is to use fertilizers with lower levels of nitrogen.

On the other side, calcium-rich fertilizers (including aged manure or compost) are a great choice since they help strengthen the skin of your cherry tomatoes, There is however a downside to this – that is your tomatoes are going to have a slightly thicker outside.

Bonus Tips to Keep Cherry Tomatoes from Splitting after Picking

Do Not Let Your Cherry Tomatoes Ripe on The Vine

We understand that it is often difficult to fight the urge to let the tomatoes stay a little longer on the vine because tomatoes that are ripe on the vine tend to taste way sweeter. But then again, the riper they get, the more prone they are to splitting when you pick them.

The ideal thing to do in this case would be to pick them when they are semi-ripe (greenish-red in color) and let them ripe in your home.

Do Not Pluck Your Cherry Tomatoes

As mentioned already, cherry tomatoes are delicate, and plucking them can open them up for further damage. Instead, consider cutting them like rose bush with a pair of garden scissors.

Plant Tomato Plants Sufficiently Apart From Each Other

Planting your cherry tomato plants too near each other will hinder proper airflow, allowing humidity to set in. And as you know already, humidity can cause splitting so it is best to plant them apart.

Do Not Over Trim

Over trimming leaves will keep the fruits away from sufficient shade while they are exposed to direct sunlight, causing them to split. Although your plants do need occasional trimming, make sure not to overdo it.

Take a look at this article where we have discussed the early flowering problem of tomato plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the types of splits in cherry tomatoes?

There are primarily two types of cherry tomato splits- radial and concentric splits. Radial split happens vertically in the tomato plants and this mainly occurs in humid and hot seasons.

Concentric split happens in a circular shape around the stem end. When the circular split is seen, it’s important to harvest the cherry tomatoes soon.

When do I harvest my cherry tomatoes?

Probably the right time to pick your cherry tomato is when they are not yet fully ripe. It is also recommended to harvest cherry tomatoes after heavy rainfall to avoid getting cracks on them.

Should I be worried about my cherry tomatoes splitting?

Apart from visual problems, splitting cherry tomatoes is not a big issue if you eat them soon. However, keeping them that way for long is not recommended since once it is split open, it starts drawing pests and eventually rot.

Are split tomatoes safe to eat?

You may wonder, is it OK to eat split cherry tomatoes? If tomatoes split or cracked, there is a high chance of developing fungus, bacteria, or mold. So, it’s wise to skip these tomatoes.

However, you can eat these tomatoes, if you cut around the split or crack parts and use the good sections for salads, sauces, salsas, and sandwiches.

Final Thoughts

So, why do cherry tomatoes split after picking? This might be caused by heavy rain or dry period, temperature fluctuation, exposure to high heat and humidity, and a few more reasons.

But, don’t worry, you can prevent the problem by following some easy tips. If you are able to regulate the water level and temperature of the soil, you can prevent your cherry tomatoes from splitting and that means some extra effort and keen eyes.

Mulching regularly, picking gently, sticking to a strict watering schedule, and using suitable fertilizers will definitely give you some healthy treats and help you deal with cherry tomato splits.

A video on why tomatoes spilt: