SHIIP has new volunteer
Barbara Pope, regional representative and trainer for the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, has welcomed Pamela Eubanks as a new Lenoir County SHIIP volunteer.
Pope presented Eubanks with a Certificate of Completion at a recent SHIIP meeting at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension office.
For more information, call Trudy Pickett, Family and Consumer Education agent, at 252-527-2191.
The Gardening Guru: Growing tomatoes
North Carolina Pest News has reported that tomatoes are cracking after the recent rain. Tomato cracking is one of the disorders of tomato fruits associated with growing conditions, including environmental stress, and caused by non-living factors.
The cracking increase is due to soil moisture fluctuations. The tomato skin may not have enough elasticity to compensate for a period of rapid fruit growth. Eventually, the skin splits and bursts.
The two main types of growth cracks are radial cracking — splitting of the skin from the stem scar toward the blossom end — and concentric cracking, when the skin splits in a circular pattern around the stem.
Radial cracks occur during humid, hot weather. Concentric cracks occur during rapid fruit growth associated with rainy weather following a period of dry weather. The earlier these growth cracks occur during fruit development, the more damaging they are. The cracks can provide the perfect entry point for secondary fruit rotting organisms.
The most important means of control is maintaining a steady, adequate supply of water, especially during hot, dry conditions. Avoid over or under watering. Layer organic mulch to help prevent dramatic spoil moisture fluctuations. Be especially careful if weather is cool and overcast, followed by sunny, hot and dry periods, and then high humidity and rainfall.
Keep foliage healthy and disease free. If the foliage is lacking, cracking can be more of a problem. Removing mature fruit right after heavy rains is helpful.
Plant nutrition is important because high nitrogen and low levels of potassium can contribute to fruit cracking. Some varieties are more prone than others and can crack when the fruit are still green. Even varieties with some resistance to green-stage cracking might crack once the fruit starts turning red.
Plum varieties like Heinz and Marglobe crack less than cherries and the larger fruited varieties like Better Boy. Some varieties that are resistant to cracking have a tougher skin.
If you have a history of tomato cracking, try switching to Daybreak, Jet Star, Pink Girl, Monte Carlo, Mountain Fresh, Mountain Spring and Spitfire. New varieties are released regularly, so check for latest tomato varieties.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center. Reach her at Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.