In article ,
"Paul M. Cook" wrote:

"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
u...
"Paul M. Cook" wrote in message
"Frank" wrote in message
...
On 8/13/2010 7:02 PM, Paul M. Cook wrote:
Despite a very mild summer, temps barely in the low 90s at worst, my
celebrities have come in and are sun split. They have latitudinal
splits
starting at the stem end. They taste great, are rather large compared
to
last year and overall a good crop. But what accounts for the splitting
of
the skin? I just harvested 20 tomatoes and all but 2 were split to
some
degree. Of course organic tomatoes are cosmetically imperfect but I'd
like
to address this next year if possible.


First thought was too much water but googling indicates it is caused by
erratic watering:

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/splittomatoes.htm


I think I'll try growing something easy next time, like orchids.
Honestly, I put all my pots on automatic watering 2 months ago. They get
the exact same 5 minute twice a day from these 360 degree emitters.

I tried to warn you about inconsistent watering in June when you
complained about BER and you didn't believe me then. Rather than take up
orchids, give up on pots and put the toms in the ground. Even if you have
to do a lot or work to prepare the soil, it'll make you life easier in the
end.

And as I've repeated

1) can't plant in the ground - not enough of it - my backyard is 95% patio
2) pots work great for everything else - you should see the cukes and zukes
I got - hugely successful
3) I put all pots on automatic watering way back then and the moisture
meters read perfect ever since
4) I can't do better than perfect
4) you got a problem with orchids?

I don't know how much more consistent my watering could possibly have been.
But if some split tomatoes are the price to pay I guess I'll stick to pots.
They do taste just fine. My yellow pears could not have done any better
with the setup I have. I may just stick to smaller tomatoes since they
seem less fussy to grow.

Raised beds and/or straw bales
http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/straw-bale-gardening.html
Instead of ammonium nitrate you could use 1 lb chicken manure/bale for
conditioning, and if you're following the directions closely, use an
organic 10-10-10 like E.B.Stone.

Both methods should solve your watering problems, because of larger
mass, and the straw bales will work as a reservoir (organics hold
moisture).
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/2/maude
http://english.aljazeera.net/video/m...515308172.html