Split Tomatoes

Worry ye not everyone; as there is a spell of warmer weather somewhere in the UK, and that will tempt these lazy toms to ripen...

Know the feeling, and wish them well!

Grew Sungold 3 years on the trot and found them very prone to splitting - no doubt partly my fault although other varieties, including cherry types, have not been a problem.

First time growing Marmande this year - the one in the garden has been very unhappy with its lot and only produced 2 toms, both of which were 'cat-faced', although the ones in the greenhouse have been fine (albeit slow to ripen.)

At few of the Inca plum toms have had slight blossom end rot, which curiously seems to make them ripen quicker - they and any other damaged toms are 'tidied up' and go into the sauces for freezing.

Interesting this, Jay...

We normally expect Sungold to split about now - and they have - quite a lot!

Do you think that it's because they're really a small tom, and therefore susceptible to splitting through uneven waterings (which we invariably do), and that the bigger toms can take the strain better, just because they're bigger?

The toms on The Patch are forcing ahead, and they're in the normal ground and get a watering every now and then.. (bummer - forgot to do that today, other jobs to be done, but it has rained recently...)!

So: split toms = no watering regularly, and I do the same every year, but who cares? Only Mrs Growster, who usually freezes the chaps...