Tomatoes rotting very quickly

12 years ago

This year was bad for blight. I think it was all the rain and very cool nights. So now, most of the leaves are gone off the tomato plants, except maybe a few at the top. The tomatoes are turning red (more like orange) very quickly. I've discovered if I don't pick them early and let them sit in the house a few days, they rot on the vine.
At least I got tomatoes at all! They are mushy inside, but hey.....they're still sort of red. I'm freezing them and no one will know the difference, once they're in soup or chili.

I'm wondering why they're rotting so quickly? I'm guessing that once the leaves are gone, things just can't go as planned?

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Comments (5)

PupillaCharites
12 years ago
If the tomatoes are ripening when you think they out to mature further first to a dishwater color, it sounds to me like the plant is under a great deal of stress and that can send the plant response to ripen at all costs. It is a reproductive strategy to get her babies delivered before she goes and is common in many plants when they no longer can support growth.

Or, they are getting blight themselves, but since you mention orange, not gray, it doesn;t sound like it. But it is confusing since you say rotting, too. Sounds like you may eat them ... Pics would be nice if you are able! See whether the taste is less developed. It is a chance to learn how well the plant can send the fruits out under these sorts of conditions ... a lemonade from lemon sort of experiemnt.
Happy Growing
PC

This post was edited by PupillaCharites on Fri, Aug 29, 14 at 13:52
sheltieche
12 years ago
How much rain did you have and how much watering did you do?
Here in Chicago are we had lots more rain than normal August has. I am not seeing what you seeing in your garden though but I also stop watering in August.
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catherinet
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks!

Yes, we've seen a fair amount of rain, but I wouldn't say too much. If anything bad has happened it's been that we had so many really cool nights. Like I said, almost all of the tomato plant leaves are gone. Here's a pic of what happens to them fairly rapidly, and then they rot where all those light spots are. I've been picking everything rather early. It's not at it's peak of flavor.......but if I didn't pic it, I think I wouldn't be able to use them at a
They seem to deteriorate more slowly in the house. And their flavor definitely isn't developed. But I'm happy just to get enough of them to freeze for the winter. A fair number of them also have big splits in them in a circular manner around the top, and then bugs quickly get in there.
seysonn
12 years ago
Have you seen "Stink Bugs" around ?
They make tiny holes to suck juice. Those holes then become an entry way for the bacteria to get in. Rotting is the result of bacterial/microbial activities.
catherinet
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh man, yes........I have tons of stink bugs all over the garden. This year has been incredibly worse than usual. I guess I had to trade them off for not having any squash bugs this year.
We' re not allowed to have everything we want, right? ;)