Split fruit
Tomatoes, cherries, plums or apples split open, in rings around the stalk or lengthways. The splits sometimes go mouldy or attract wasps.
After a dry spell, the fruit suddenly takes up a lot of water from rain or a heavy watering, so the skin tears.
What can you do?
- Pick split fruit straight away and eat or use it quickly; it can go on the compost heap.
- In dry spells, water evenly so the soil never dries out completely.
- In rainy weather, harvest tomatoes and cherries a little earlier, just before they are fully ripe.
Prevention
Mulch the soil to keep it evenly moist and choose crack-resistant varieties, especially of tomatoes and cherries. Grow tomatoes under cover so the rain reaches them less.
When to watch out: July–September