Cracking that occurs in a circular pattern at the top of tomato fruits, ringing the stem end, is known as concentric cracking. When cracking of either type occurs in green tomatoes, fruits are likely to rot before they fully ripen if left on the vine.
Both radial growth cracks and concentric growth cracks (bursting) are caused when the internal growth is faster than skin growth.
This can be caused by:
1. Overfertilization
2. Extreme fluctuations in temperature
3. Extreme fluctuations in soil moisture
4. Not enough foliage to protect fruit
5. Some tomato varieties are more prone to cracking than others, particularly the beefsteak size and the large heirloom varieties.
With both radial and concentric cracking, your best option is to harvest fruits immediately, before they begin to rot. These fruits are edible and can be allowed to finish ripening indoors, though any fruit that develops a sour smell or begins to ooze should go straight to the compost pile. Fruits that ripen off the vine, as well as those that ripen on the vine during cloudy, rainy weather will be less flavorful than those that mature fully on the plant during sunny weather.
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