Hard Tomato Skin

[megfitz]

Why are the skins of my greenhouse grown Sungold tomatoes hard and have to be spat out, they are watered and fed regularly but for some reason the skins are tough, what causes this and what can I do to improve the rest of the crop?
Thanks for any ideas.

[Togo]

3 main reasons Megafitz. Watering, Temperature, and the main reason Variety. I think that all "plum" tomatoes have a tendency to have thick skins. I don't know whether "Sungold" is a plum variety or a variety that is prone to tougher skins. With a bit of luck Alavahalf may see your post. He is an expert when it comes to tomatoes and I haven't got much time at the moment for doing the web searches. I will have a look in later to see if you get any definitive answers.

[Togo]

Ahh just had a look. Sungold is a cherry tomato so should not really suffer from thick/tough skin. Possibly watering regime or Temperature issues. We have had a hot one for sure.

[Maydup]

Have you grown this variety before?

[megfitz]

Yes I grew this variety last year,don’t remember problems until the very last weeks.
They are in the greenhouse but it has been painted with shading,watered twice a day, roof and Louvre open automatically.
The plants are cropping well ,no bugs (companion planting with marigolds and Basil ) I grow organically, just puzzled as to why the skins are tough.

[Maydup]

A mystery as the conditions sound perfect.

[Togo]

Can I ask Megfitz, is this the first crop mainly from the bottom of the plants. You do sound as if you are geared up for the best results.

[megfitz]

Yes Togo,they have just started ripening from the lower trusses, does that mean the other trusses won’t have the tough skin?

[alavahalf]

At this stage I haven't spoke to a single person who isn't having tomato problems or issues. As a rule I would have in excess of toms by this time, sadly the excess has not materialised. Instead I have around 30 plants that are not very happy .. but stressed. They are sprouting extra shoots, deformed and a lot are very small.
The extreme temperatures have caused the problems .. when both my doors are open in my polytunnel normaly I could keeep the temperature down to about 80f in the summer .. as you know what we have had for the past 8 or more weeks .. I have been getting temperatures in excess of 120f. This is far too hot and even though the plants get watered regularly, they are going into survival mode and to stop themselves splitting, they are putting on an extra thick skin to survive. Our tomatoes are not meant to grow in these extreme temperatures, with the benefit of hindsight we should have been using Spanish seeds for our plants.
Funnily enough I have a couple of tubs sat on the drainer with around 300 toms in them. My problem is the skins like yours are like leather. They taste superb but you have to peel them as you couldn't chew them !
They will get peeled and put in the freezer. Luckily enough I have a few of my favourite tomatos by far, sweet apperetif .. they are perfect and taste amazing.
As I said earlier, I am growing in a polytunnel as on our allotment you are guaranteed blight if you grow outside.

I'm sure you are aware to peel a tom just boil a saucepan and drop the toms in a few at a time for 20-30 seconds or so.. split the skins with a knife and as they are so thick, they will just about drop off in one piece.

[Togo]

Glad you found the thread Alavahalf. Sorry to hear you have a similar problem. Strangely enough my tomatoes this year are brilliant. Grown outside and ripening weeks earlier than usual. Had a bit if bother with Broad Beans not setting behind the flowers to begin with due to the heat, but I put that right by using the fine spray head in the hoselock head. Courgettes and Cucumbers are first class and the sweetcorn has 3 cobs on some stalks, good size too. Unheard of in the past.

[alavahalf]

It has been a difficult year, what with work and lots of overtime the allotment hasn't been getting the time it requires. Really speaking it should have had 3 visits a day in these temperatures.
Dilema time now .. the wind is howling with blue skies. Do I go to the beach .. do I clean the conservatory or do I skin 300 plus tomatoes?

[Togo]

Lol Alava.....I have been busy this morning making things secure. Blowing a gale rain coming down in random torrents and just had the most almighty thunderclap. Normal British summer has resumed.

[megfitz]

Thank you Togo and Alavahalf, it’s looks as if it’s the high temperatures that have caused the tough skins, hopefully if the temperature doesn’t rise too much the fruit on the upper trusses won’t have the problem.
Thank you for your help and advice.