Pick Tomatoes Early

The longer you allow tomatoes to ripen on the vine, the higher the likelihood of splitting. Picking them from the vine just before they are fully ripe is a good way to prevent splitting. To encourage them to ripen once you’ve picked them, place the tomatoes on a sunny windowsill.

Providing your plants with a generous layer of mulch helps your garden beds to retain moisture. When the soil retains moisture more consistently, it will help with the regular water absorption of the plants.

Choose Split-Resistant Varieties

There are many varieties of tomatoes, some of which are split-resistant as well as disease-resistant. Look for these varieties when planting your garden to ensure you’re left with big, healthy tomatoes!

Can You Still Eat Split Tomatoes?

The short answer is yes. If the tomatoes have just split and do not appear to be oozing, rotten, or have bugs in them, they are safe to eat (if you do so that day!). Be on the lookout for split tomatoes that are rotting or have bugs buzzing around them, as the splits allow this bad bacteria to get inside the fruit.

Hopefully these simple yet effective tips will help the tomatoes in your garden to grow big and strong without splitting. Happy gardening!