Skin cracking in tomatoes

Q:  How do I prevent my tomatoes from cracking?

A:  The main cause of skin cracking is fluctuation of soil moisture, especially as tomatoes ripen. If soil becomes dry, and plants then receive heavy rainfall or amounts of irrigation, the plants will take up water quickly and put on a growth spurt. This type of fast growth causes the skin to crack. Tomato cracks can be avoided by applying a few inches of organic mulch around the plants to prevent the soil from becoming overly dry. The best time to water tomatoes is in the early morning.