Are your tomatoes becoming mealy? Then you've come to the right spot because, in this guide, we will explain the leading causes of the mealy tomato issues and potential solutions.
Mealy tomatoes (grainy texture) occur because of several factors such as nitrogen overdose, potassium deficiency, inadequate watering, harsh temperature, or even because of the type of the tomato itself. Usually, it's safe to use mealy tomatoes, but the only trade-off is their unappealing taste.
Let's dive in deeper and explore more regarding mealy tomatoes, the reasons that cause mealiness, and how you can solve the issue.
What Is Mealy Tomato?
Table of Contents
Tomatoes with a mealy or gritty texture are called mealy.
They leave a weird taste and texture on your tongue and don't often have much flavor.
You may compare the texture of a mealy tomato to a lumpy paste. Home gardeners occasionally use the term mealy to describe a tomato's texture.
Mealy tomatoes tend to have a tasteless or watery consistency. When tomatoes get mealy, they may taste unpleasant and elusive.
In a botanist's eyes, fruit results from fertilizing a flower's ovary. So that makes tomatoes another example of fruit.
The term mealiness means that the fruit has little or no juice. The pulp remains solid, and the fruit is still supple but lacks juice.
It's like biting into a dry fruit (like, for instance, an apple); you know the fiber's there, but the fruit itself just doesn't taste right. This occurs when the fruit's cell wall transforms as it ripens.
What Cause Mealy Tomatoes?
#1. Presence Of Too Much Nitrogen In The Soil
Tomatoes are excellent garden indicators of nutrient deficiency or excess because of their extreme sensitivity to such changes.
Overfertilizing your tomato plants with nitrogen might lead to abiotic illnesses.
It is possible to over-fertilize tomatoes using nitrogen-rich fertilizers or by adding excessive amounts of high-nitrogen manure to your plant beds.
Excess nitrogen causes tomato plants to produce stunningly green vines and leaves.
When given a lot of nitrogen, indeterminate plants may reach remarkable heights. However, the fruit is typically sacrificed in favor of more foliage.
There won't be as much blooming or fruiting as expected since the vines and leaves will keep growing. High nitrogen levels in the soil are a leading cause of mealy tomatoes.
How To Solve?
To counteract the effects of too much nitrogen, incorporate some colloidal phosphate into the soil.
When properly cared for, a single tomato plant has the potential to produce between 10 and 15 pounds of fruit throughout the season.
I recommend holding off applying fertilizer until after the fruit set on the tomato plant if you want to avoid nitrogen issues altogether.
After the fruit sets, apply fertilizer by following the directions on the back of the fertilizer package. Typically you apply fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks and then thoroughly water the area.
If manure was used to improve the soil before planting, half the recommended quantity of fertilizer should be utilized.
If you want to keep your soil from being overloaded with nitrogen, you should test it first. If you use fertilizer, be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.
Adding extra nitrogen afterward is more straightforward than taking it out. Tomatoes need a lot of nitrogen early in their development for leaf creation. A soil test can calculate the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
#2. Presence Of Less Potassium In The Soil
Low potassium in the soil is another reason for mealy tomatoes' development.
A lack of potassium or an excess of nitrogen may lead to mealy tomatoes. Potassium regulates the cellular hydration level and ionic equilibrium.
It's essential for the plant's sugar generation and transport, protein synthesis, and enzyme activation.
Tomatoes need potassium for the creation of pigments, especially lycopene. Tomatoes grown on soil rich in potassium provide abundant harvests.
Potassium's involvement in controlling sugar levels, ripening, and storage properties are crucial for producing high-quality fruit. But defects in tomato coloration and ripening, as well as interior white tissues, may be caused by a lack of potassium.
PRO TIP: Use Banana Water to add potassium to your soil. Read: How to Use Banana Peel Water on Your Plants
How To Solve?
Spread organic mulch over plant roots and use a slow-release potassium fertilizer to make up the difference. Potassium sulfate can be employed, and the clay and organic matter in the soil will retain it.
If your tomato plants are showing indications of potassium shortage, try adding a layer of compost to the soil around them.
Compost created at home using decomposed banana peels is beneficial. Although wood ash contains some potassium, its usage should be limited since it might have a negative impact on soil pH.
When adding wood ash to nutrient-poor soil, it is recommended to first conduct a soil test. Potassium fertilizers, or potash, help restore normal Potassium absorption.
They often include high-potassium inorganic compounds. Plants may benefit in the short and long term from using a mixture of compost that is rich in nutrients and water-soluble fertilizers.
#3. Hot Temperature Affecting Tomatoes
Hot Weather also has an effect on tomatoes. High temperatures cause fruit to become mealy and flavorless. However, allowing the fruit to mature on the vine results in a far better flavor. Tomato plants thrive best in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nighttime lows over 60 degrees Fahrenheit are necessary for the plants to maintain fruit production.
In temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, plant life begins to suffer. This is because plants are unable to cool themselves by transpiring enough water.
How To Solve?
Some gardeners think blocking the sun from reaching their plants is bad since it might limit the crop.
However, heat-stressed plants will cease fruit production entirely. This is a tough compromise to make, but it may be necessary if you want tomatoes.
But this does not imply that your plants will be completely shielded from the sun.
The trick is to shield the plants from the sun's rays during the warmest portion of the day while exposing them to light in the early morning and late afternoon.
A simple shade cloth hung from two supports in front of or above your plants will do the trick.
The precise placement may need some adjusting and measurement. Once the cloth is in place, though, it may stay until the hottest part of the day has passed.
Did You Know: Tomato needs calcium which helps prevent blossom end rot. Guess What? Egg shells provide a great source of calcium.
#4. Inadequate Watering
Inconsistent watering is a common cause of mushy tomatoes. Fluctuating soil moisture during fruit development is a common cause of failure.
Proper watering is crucial for growing healthy tomatoes.
Underwater, you starve the plant, resulting in sluggish development. If you overwater, the roots will rot, and your plant will not grow well. You risk killing the plant if you make one of these extreme mistakes. It requires a careful balancing act.
How To Solve?
Mulch should be used to maintain the soil's moisture levels and prevent scenarios of over or under-watering.
Consistency in watering tomato plants is essential. Your tomato plants can only keep growing with a steady supply of water.
Tomato plants are finicky. Over-watering and watering too fast cause the water to flow off the soil's surface rather than seep down to the plants' roots. I recommend watering tomatoes on a schedule.
PRO TIP: Water your plants slowly to ensure the soil is saturated completely, not just on the surface.
Since the water is distributed over a longer period, the plants will be better able to utilize it than if the soil were flooded.
Here's the best part: If you don't want to waste a ton of time standing in one place as you water your plants, you can also use a drip irrigation system.
#5. Your Tomato Variety Is The Culprit
Lastly, the variety of tomatoes you are growing can also cause mealy tomatoes. Usually, some tomato fruit tends to develop more mealiness than others.
How To Solve?
Avoid tomatoes like orange strawberry, german red strawberry, and Roma tomatoes varieties that tend to develop into mealy tomatoes. Instead, try to grow tomato varieties other than these to get healthy tomatoes. Prevent mealy tomatoes by choosing a variety that is less susceptible to becoming mealy.
Is It OK To Eat Mealy Tomatoes?
The only issues with mealy tomatoes are their tomato texture and somewhat lackluster flavor; otherwise, they're perfectly OK to consume.
If you don't like the way it tastes or the way it looks to eat, then you shouldn't consume it. If in doubt, it's probably best to toss it away,
How To Use Mealy Tomatoes?
Mealy tomatoes may be fine for spaghetti sauce, which takes adequate cooking time; however, the taste could also suffer.
They're still palatable but obviously not up to the standard of a fresh vine ripe fresh tomato.
Roasting the mealy tomatoes over low heat with salt, spices, and olive oil is another option to use the mealy tomatoes.
As a result, the tomatoes will have a flavor you wouldn't expect from their former mealy texture.
Looking for a great seed company? Check out Seeds Now
Conclusion
In conclusion, mealy tomatoes can be caused by different environmental factors, disease, and even genetics. The most common causes of mealy tomatoes are too much nitrogen in the soil and not enough water. Additionally, a virus or fungus can also cause mealy tomatoes. Knowing the causes behind mealy tomatoes can help you better understand what is happening in your garden and how to prevent it from happening again.
