Question
We live in Ridgefield Wa. Love cherry tomatoes. The have been ripening and just started to split open, even after we have picked them and brought them inside. 1. Why when we have had not a lot of rain and 2. Any reason why they can't be cook up or eaten plain even with the splits??

Answer
Espey, although excessive watering is usually the reason for tomatoes splitting, it is also a characteristic of many older heirlooms and hybrids when the plant nears the end of their life cycle. Breeders have bred new varieties that are completely resistant to slitting. Unfortunately, you can only purchase these through catalogs that sell seeds and seedlings, such as Park Seed and Burpee.

Even if split, the tomatoes can still be cooked and eaten. Just be sure to pick everyday. This will help minimize the size of the split. I would also pick them when orange and allow them to ripen indoors at this stage of the season. This will also minimize the problem.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike