Large-fruited cultivars are most susceptible. Concentric cracking produces circular cracks around the stem end of the fruit. Radial cracks spread outward from the stem scar. These cracks typically appear as the fruit matures. Growth cracks often appear when conditions drastically change the rate of growth, such as wide fluctuations in temperature and moisture.
Dry weather followed by heavy rains causes radial cracking in many tomato cultivars.
Very susceptible cultivars will crack while still green, those that are somewhat resistant often don t crack until the fruit has reached the breaker stage. The earlier the fruit cracks, the deeper the cracks become. High nitrogen and low potassium are often implicated in fruit cracking and therefore, proper plant nutrition and adequate, regular irrigation will reduce the likelihood of growth cracks. As the name implies, fruit suffering from puffiness appear somewhat bloated and angular. Puffiness results from incomplete pollination, fertilization, or seed development often as a result of cool temperatures that negatively impact fertilization.