Advice wanted on watering tomato plants if fruit at risk of splitting

[Snoop Puss]

I had to go away for ten days or so and on my return lots of my plants are in a very poor state due to a lack of water. Most of the tomato plants are wilting badly, but they also look like they should survive. However, I'm worried about the fruit splitting once I start watering again.

I've chucked the ones that already have blossom end rot, but should I just pick all of the ripe toms? Or is it possible to avoid splitting by going for a little water but often approach?

This and any other advice gratefully received.

[Jungle Jane]

Welcome back Snoop I’d pick all the ripe ones then water after (so the water doesn’t dilute the taste,if that happens,I think it does). We had the biggest ever downpour the other day,it’s usually after weather like that I get splitting,especially because I watered them shortly before I didn’t need to water for two days after all that rain,have you had any rain? I added more support sticks yesterday,the fruit weight bent one stem on the mountain princess,ok now tho,also been removing some of the lower leaves,revealed ripe tomatoes that were hidden

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Jungle Jane. I feared that might be the case. We have friends visiting for a week, arriving Monday, and it looks like I'll have nothing to offer them from my veg patch. All looking much as I feel - bleak. Ah well. I guess it happens to everyone at some point. It did rain hard once while I was away. Although Mr Snoop was watering as per my instructions, it was quite windy and I didn't take this into account in my calculations of how much he'd need to give the plants, and he's not that interested in gardening, so didn't realise he might need to give extra.

Very useful advice, though. Thanks, again.

[annie8]

Yes I went away for 10 days. Mine were in the gh and have an automatic watering system. Enough to keep them alive but not enough really for pots that big, so I did a pick of all the ripe ones when I got back and then upped the watering. Didn’t see a big increase in splitting, not more than usual really, with certain ones like sungold always being more prone to that. I also had a few where the weight of the fruit had caused them to fall over a bit, but thankfully not too much damage. And also did a bit more stripping of the leaves. Have had much more blossom end rot this year than usual, lost more of the crop of plum tomatoes. That said they did perk up after a good watering and didn’t lose any.

it’s been a tough year for growing overall. A few successes but lots of things that are normally my main staples have been poor.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, annie8. Sorry you've had similar troubles, but the moral support is really appreciated.

[annie8]

Well up here we don’t normally have problems with drought,but so dry this year. Thankfully have a bit of rain in the last week or two. But problems with some of the crops were created months ago and a bit of rain now isn’t going to fix.