Cause of voids inside tomatoes this year

cutworm · October 11, 2012

After having spent the last few years narrowing down my favorite all-around variety, Mule Team was consistently the best performer in my yard.

This year, I planted 14 Mule Team as well as 2 Box Car Willie plants.

B.C.W performed well but the overwhelming majority of the tomatoes harvested from Mule Team had large voids between the wall and the meat of the tomato.

These plants were grown from seed I had purchased the year before and had grown last year with no problems.

A fully ripe tomato, when squeezed, felt as though you were squeezing a red pepper---a bit spongy because there was nothing but air behind the wall.

Any ideas?

Thanks very much!

dice · October 16, 2012

"Puffiness" is usually a seed set problem. High temperatures during
fruit set are the usual cause in southern US climates, but rain, low
temperatures during fruit set, and excessive nitrogen in the soil or
growing media can also affect seed set negatively.

cutworm · October 16, 2012

Thanks much for the reply.

Puffiness---that was the descriptor I needed

ddsack · October 17, 2012

In my case it must be low temperatures, because many of the larger varieties get this way in the fall after filling out normally through August. Large hearts seem least affected, I suppose because they are fleshier with fewer seed cavities. Though I do recall seeing it in smaller saladette sized hearts like Little Lucky.

dustdevil · October 17, 2012

I concur with ddsack. I get that when cold weather sets in, but only certain varieties seem susceptible to it...especially large slicers.

October 11, 2012	#1
cutworm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Plympton, MA Posts: 2	Cause of voids inside tomatoes this year After having spent the last few years narrowing down my favorite all-around variety, Mule Team was consistently the best performer in my yard. This year, I planted 14 Mule Team as well as 2 Box Car Willie plants. B.C.W performed well but the overwhelming majority of the tomatoes harvested from Mule Team had large voids between the wall and the meat of the tomato. These plants were grown from seed I had purchased the year before and had grown last year with no problems. A fully ripe tomato, when squeezed, felt as though you were squeezing a red pepper---a bit spongy because there was nothing but air behind the wall. Any ideas? Thanks very much!

October 16, 2012	#2
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	"Puffiness" is usually a seed set problem. High temperatures during fruit set are the usual cause in southern US climates, but rain, low temperatures during fruit set, and excessive nitrogen in the soil or growing media can also affect seed set negatively. __________________ -- alias

October 16, 2012	#3
cutworm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Plympton, MA Posts: 2	puffiness Thanks much for the reply. Puffiness---that was the descriptor I needed

October 17, 2012	#4
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,223	In my case it must be low temperatures, because many of the larger varieties get this way in the fall after filling out normally through August. Large hearts seem least affected, I suppose because they are fleshier with fewer seed cavities. Though I do recall seeing it in smaller saladette sized hearts like Little Lucky. __________________ Dee **************

October 17, 2012	#5
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	I concur with ddsack. I get that when cold weather sets in, but only certain varieties seem susceptible to it...especially large slicers.