How To Grow Tomatoes Without Tough Skins: 7 Helpful Tips

Would you like to know how to grow tomatoes without tough skins? Or are you wondering why do my tomatoes have tough skins?

One of the downsides to growing tomatoes is that the skins can be tough, and you are probably curious as to why! But there are a few tricks you can use to avoid this problem. 

In this blog post, I’m going to share some tips on how to grow tomatoes without tough skins.

So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, read on for helpful advice!

7 Helpful Tips On How To Grow Tomatoes Without Tough Skins

1. Identify Diseases That Cause Tough Skin On Tomatoes
2. Treat Diseases That Cause Tough Skin On Tomatoes
3. Choose A Variety That Won’t Have Tough Skin on Tomatoes
4. Water Correctly So Your Tomatoes Won’t Have Tough Skins
5. Ensure That Your Tomatoes Are In The Correct Temperature
6. Ensure That Your Tomatoes Do Not Get Too Much Sunlight
7. What You Can Do With Tomatoes With Tough Skins

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Would you like to know how to grow the best tomatoes without tough skins?

There’s nothing quite like a ripe, juicy tomato fresh off the vine.

But sometimes, tomatoes can have tough skins that make them difficult to eat.

 If you’re wondering how to grow tomatoes without tough skins, there are a few things you can do.

There could be a few reasons why your tomatoes have tough skins. It could be due to disease, incorrect watering, too much sunlight, or high temperatures. Keep reading to learn more about each of these causes and what you can do about them.

1. Identify Diseases That Cause Tough Skin On Tomatoes

If your tomatoes have tough skins, it could be because of a disease. The two most common diseases that cause tough skin on tomatoes are:

• blossom end rot; and
• sunscald.

Blossom End Rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit. The first symptom is a small, dark spot on the bottom of the tomato. This spot will eventually become sunken and black. The affected tomato will then rot.

Underwatering your plants can cause Blossom End Rot, a brownish rot that appears on the end of the fruit. This can also be caused by excessive nitrogen, calcium deficiency, and too much salt in the soil. 

You can treat it by adding calcium to the soil, by using a fertilizer that contains calcium, or by adding limestone to the soil, or you can use mulch which will reduce evaporation and ensure a more even supply of water to the plant. 

This Calcium Nitrate Water Soluble Plant Food can help.

Sunscald is caused by too much sunlight. The tomato will develop a white or pale yellow patch on the side that was exposed to the sun. The flesh of the fruit underneath the patch will be soft and spongy.

Try installing a shade cloth over the top of your tomatoes to help keep the sun off of them.

2. Treat Diseases That Cause Tough Skin On Tomatoes

There are a couple of diseases that your tomato plants could have that may cause tough skin. 

Anthracnose is a fungus that can cause the fruit on a tomato plant to rot. It can also make your tomatoes have patches of leathery skin. Luckily, it just affects the fruit, so if you find any infected fruit, just remove it and compost it after cutting off the fungus.

Anthracnose can be caused by watering your plants from overhead, so try to keep the fruit and leaves dry and water from the base of the plant.

Curly Top Virus affects the whole plant and can cause your fruit to ripen prematurely and develop leathery skin. There is no cure, so your best bet is to remove and destroy any infected plants to stop the virus from being spread.

3. Choose A Variety That Won’t Have Tough Skin on Tomatoes

Some tomato varieties are less likely to have tough skins than others, especially the heirloom varieties, as commercial growers have intentionally bred tomatoes with a thicker skin to stop splitting during shipping.

The best eating tomatoes to grow in this situation are Cherokee Purple and Black Krim. These are varieties of heirloom tomatoes that have thinner skin. Burpee’s Brandy Boy is a hybrid tomato that also has thinner skin.

The tomatoes to avoid are Roma tomatoes and Plum tomatoes, which have thick skins because they have been bred that way.

4. Water Correctly So Your Tomatoes Won’t Have Tough Skins

If you’ve ever done an internet search on how do tomatoes grow, then you’ll know adequate water is really important for tomatoes. 

If your tomato plants haven’t been watered enough, they can develop fruit with thick skins. They do this as a coping mechanism because by having a thicker skin, they’ll conserve the water they do receive and protect the seeds.

You also don’t want to overwater.

Tomatoes consistently need about 1 inch of water per week. Consistent moisture levels are really important here, so make sure you’re watering every day or two.

You should water your tomatoes at the base of the plant, not on the leaves. Watering the leaves can make them more susceptible to diseases.

You can also apply mulch over the soil of the tomato plants to help keep the moisture in, or try a drip-irrigation system.

5. Ensure That Your Tomatoes Are In The Correct Temperature

If the temperatures are too high, your tomatoes are more likely to have tough skins. 

This is because chlorophyll (which makes the tomatoes green), is not being replaced by lycopene and carotene (which make the tomatoes red) as they should. 

When it is too hot the tomatoes will stop producing lycopene and carotene which slows down the ripening process. 

Just think about green tomatoes that haven’t ripened and how much firmer their skin is compared to ripe tomatoes. If the tomatoes are exposed to excessive heat, this will stop them from ripening properly and leave them with thick skin.

To prevent this, make sure to provide them with enough shade, especially during the hottest part of the day.

You can also try to grow heat-tolerant varieties of tomatoes, such as the Cherry Tomato or the Yellow Pear Tomato.

6. Ensure That Your Tomatoes Do Not Get Too Much Sunlight

You Youtube how to grow tomatoes and watched twenty videos on how to grow tomatoes outside and your tomatoes still have tough skins! 

Just like high temperatures, too much sunlight can also cause your tomatoes to have tough skins. This is because the sunlight can raise the temperature of the tomatoes themselves, and, as above, lead to tough skin.

Too much intense sunlight can also damage the tomato skin by burning them, in a condition called sunscald. These cause damage to the tomato skin similar to blisters on human skin and leave behind a white or tan spot that will become a tough spot.

This can happen to tomato plants where the leaves have been over-pruned or damaged by insects or disease, as, with fewer leaves on the plant, there’s more chance the tomatoes can be exposed to too much sun and then get sunscald.

To prevent this, make sure to provide them with enough shade with shade cloth during the hottest and sunniest part of the day. Or perhaps try planting some taller plants next to them to provide them with shade.

You can also try to grow varieties of tomatoes that are less susceptible to sunscald, such as the Roma Tomato or the Early Girl Tomato.

7. What You Can Do With Tomatoes With Tough Skins

If your tomatoes have tough skins, you can still use them. They may not be as pretty, but they will still taste just as good. 

If you boil them for 2-3 minutes, you can peel them and then use the insides for any tomato-based dishes. Or you can try tough-skinned tomatoes in sauces, soups, or stews.

You can also can them, or freeze them to use later on in a cooked dish. If they are large enough, they are the kind of fleshy tomatoes perfect for spaghetti sauce canning.

FAQ

What Are The Signs Of Over-Watering Tomato Plants?

You’re probably wondering what are the signs of over-watering tomato plants. The signs of over-watering tomato plants include yellow leaves, wilting, and stunted growth.

If you think your tomato plants are being over-watered, you should check the soil to see if it is constantly moist or soggy.

You should also take a look at your watering schedule and make sure you are not watering too often.

While too much water can be a problem for any plant, it’s especially important to be aware of this if you’re growing tomatoes.

Why?

Because an over-watered tomato plant is more susceptible to disease and pests, the fruit can be watery and lacking in flavor.

There are a few telltale signs that your tomato plant is getting too much water:

•  The leaves are wilting or drooping
• The leaves are yellowing
• The plant is growing more slowly than usual
• The fruit is watery and lacks flavor

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to cut back on watering and make sure that the plant has good drainage. Otherwise, you may end up with a disappointing harvest.

Should I Water Tomatoes Every Day?

So, should I water tomatoes every day? You should not water tomatoes every day. Watering tomatoes correctly is vital to getting a good crop, however watering too much can result in a poor harvest.

The first thing to remember is that tomatoes love water, but they don’t like to be waterlogged.

So, make sure you give them a good soaking about once a week, and otherwise, watering every second day is enough.

Second, always water in the morning so the leaves have time to dry out before nightfall. This will help prevent disease.

Finally, be sure to water the soil around the plant, not just the leaves. Watering the leaves can do more harm than good by promoting fungal growth.

Focus on getting the water to the root zone where it can do the most good.

Can Tomatoes Still Grow In The Shade?

You’re probably wondering can tomatoes still grow in the shade. Yes, tomatoes can still grow in the shade. They will just need more water if they are not getting enough sunlight. They also won’t be as strong and their skin will be more likely to tear.

How To Soften Tomato Skins?

Curious as to how to soften tomato skins? There are a few ways to soften tomato skins. You can soak them in warm water for a few minutes, or you can put them in the freezer for a few hours. You can also peel them before using them in recipes.

What Are Some Thin-Skinned Tomato Varieties?

What are some thin-skinned tomato varieties? Some thin-skinned tomato varieties include the Cherokee Purple,  Black Krim, and Burpee’s Brandy Boy.

Why Are My Tomato Skins Splitting?

If you’ve asked yourself why are my tomato skins splitting, then would you like to grow crack-resistant tomatoes? The best way to prevent tomato skin splitting is to water them correctly and consistently. Tomato plants need about 1 inch of water per week.

Watering them more than that can lead to skin splitting and watering them less can lead to tough skins. You should also make sure to water the plants at the base, not on the leaves, to help prevent disease.

How To Skin A Tomato?

Want to learn how to skin a tomato? If you’re looking to get the most out of your tomatoes, you’ll want to know how to skin a tomato. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by boiling a pot of water.

2. Make an X on the bottom of your tomatoes.

3. Carefully lower the tomatoes into the boiling water.

4. Leave them in the water for about 30 seconds, or until the skins start to peel away.

5. Remove the tomatoes from the water with a slotted spoon and allow them to cool.

6. Once they’re cool enough to handle, gently peel away the skin.

Conclusion

Tomatoes are a great addition to any garden, and with a little know-how, you can learn how to grow tomatoes without tough skins. 

Growing tomatoes without tough skins are all about keeping the tomato plant healthy and hydrated. Make sure to water your tomato plants regularly, and fertilize them with a high-quality fertilizer. 

Additionally, try to mulch your plants to help retain moisture and keep the roots cool. With a little TLC, you can enjoy delicious, home-grown tomatoes all summer long!

And I bet you thought you couldn’t learn how to grow tomatoes without tough skins!

By following these simple tips, you’ll be able to enjoy homegrown tomatoes all season long! Have you tried growing tomatoes using some of our tips?

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