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Norfolk, UK

Just updated my diary with a few pics.

Checking closely, it looks like there is a tears” in the flesh of the tomato, as the flesh expands and pulls away from the stem of the tomato.

It (so far) seems sound, other than what looks like a gaping hole which could easily become an issue. Some pics:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=296217

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=296218

Any suggestions? Do you sulphur it as you might a pumpkin? And if it recovered, would it still be okay as an official GPC entry or now DMG?

If there’s anything you know that likely causes it, happy to hear that too for next grow. Tomato last I measured was ~ 21.5 or 22 inches around around DAP 38 (But I think in UK we might get to DAP 55 to 60 before ripe).

8/15/2018 11:39:40 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Hey saladdoug, you have people all confused. They are posting replies to your thread all over the board. Good going..make thesebpeople read all the threads. The way I understand the gpc rules is if the tomato is not it is good. Scars do not disqualify. I have had where tomatoes have gotten something similar to pumpkin stem side growth crack. If the tomato is leaking all over the scale it is obviously damaged. I never got a reply from gpc last winter on how to deal with leaves within one inch of stem. I am going with Wixoms opinion on that. We are the hardcore growers...i think the GPC will consider our opinions. We certainly want to make it fair.

8/15/2018 8:13:20 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

oops too long of a post from my cell phone...if the tomato is not leaking it is considered good

8/15/2018 8:14:18 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Other growers chime in..how to decide damaged fruit stus

8/15/2018 8:15:52 PM

Ely Mn

This is actually pretty normal for bigger tomatoes. The Caterpillar blooms especially will pull away a little bit as a tomato grows. No worries at all in my opinion.

8/15/2018 8:28:56 PM

Norfolk, UK

@bnot - thanks! I do what I can. I too hunt the boards to find the replies - works both ways!!

Thanks for confirmation there. No leaking at present, so that’s good news - just that stretching of the flesh as it continues to swell.

@Master P - thanks for chipping in that’s normal, and seen before. A few diary entries show something similar.

Looks like it sometimes slows growth in that segment or that segment ripens first, but hopefully still a good fruit off this one for a first year grow. :)

8/16/2018 2:35:59 PM

Newcastle, CA

Same thing happened on one of my Sutherland tomatoes. the part that the stem tears away from will likely stop growing as much as the side with the stem firmly attached.

8/16/2018 4:23:50 PM

Mn

Yeah it happens - typically that spot will start to ripen first which sucks but not much you can do

8/16/2018 9:31:45 PM