Cherry tomatoes are cracking and splitting

tomato.water.split.JPGView full sizeToo much water all of a sudden near ripening time can split tomatoes.
   Q: My cherry tomatoes are splitting prior to getting ripe. What can I do?

   A: That's usually something that happens in rainy weather. The plants take up water so fast that the fruit skins can't expand fast enough, resulting in a split.

   There's not much you can do when that's the cause. Drier weather and consistent soil moisture often correct it.

   However, some cherry-tomato varieties are much more prone to splitting than others.

   'Sungold,' the yellow-fruited variety that wins many a taste test, is one of the worst when it comes to splitting. That's why you don't see it on supermarket shelves despite its great taste.

   One of my favorite cherry tomatoes for both taste and resistance to splitting is 'Sweet Million.' I've also had good luck with 'Santa' and 'Christmas Grapes.'

   Other cherry-tomatoes that get high marks from gardeners for crack-resistance are 'Green Grape,' 'Galina's Yellow,' 'Black Cherry' and 'Peruvian Bush.'