Fruit cracking

Fruit swells faster than its skin can stretch when a flush of water follows a dry spell. Ripe and near-ripe fruit cracks most.

Signs

Uneven watering, heavy rain after dry weather, excess nitrogen, and ripe fruit left on the plant.

Tomato, pepper & eggplant; Apple, pear & stone fruit; Cucumber, squash & melon.

Treatment by crop

Cultural, biological and chemical options in the order to use them, and notes written for each crop.

Identification is free. Treatment is on the Home and Pro plans.

Open in the key See plans

Look the plant over, leaf undersides included. Are insects, mites, slugs, eggs, webbing or droppings on it?
No, only damage or discoloration
Where is the problem?
Fruit, flowers or buds
What is wrong with the fruit or flowers?
Cracks, holes, or flowers dropping
What do you see?
Cracks in rings or rays around the stem end

Not a match? Start the key or describe what you see.

More from university Extension: search Extension pages on fruit cracking, or find a plant diagnostic lab through your state's Extension.