"Cat Facing" on my Cherokee Purple's. Any suggestions?
 

One of my first black tomatoes I ever grew was "Cherokee Purple." But I have so much scarring and disfiguring that it is effecting almost every fruit, at least my last attempt which was my 2009 garden. I'm going to try again this year but any suggestions?

[quote=Indyartist;195741]One of my first black tomatoes I ever grew was "Cherokee Purple." But I have so much scarring and disfiguring that it is effecting almost every fruit, at least my last attempt which was my 2009 garden. I'm going to try again this year but any suggestions?[/quote]

Cat facing is not an infectious disease, it's an enviomental problem.

When pollenization occurs at low temps or blossoms are disturbed, the result can be cat faced fruits, which are usually the first fruits that mature, but later ones that were pollenized when the temps were warmer will not have cat facing.

So either plant later, keep the plants warmer, or pick off any obvious double blossoms or double fruits.

Thanks for the feedback, it is good to find out the cause. I was considering giving up on the variety because my bad results. I'll see how they do this year, I'm doing a germination test on my 2009 seeds and plan on having them again this year.

Cherokee Purple is going to have its share of fasciated blossoms, anther drag, double ova, and other defects that lead to catfacing and zipper scars. The plus side is the fabulous flavor that completely over compensates for the unavoidable ugly. As an artist, think abstractly. Lumpy, organic cubism or something.

I know Indiana can have much warmer weather than Wi (I have in-laws in NW In.) But think back to what kind of summer 09 was in your area. For me it was more like a Pacific NW type of summer than a typical Mid-west summer -- cool days cooler nites instead of hot and humid.

So summer 09 might have just been one of those years that was more prone to catfacing than normal.

Carol

[QUOTE=Wi-sunflower;196734]I know Indiana can have much warmer weather than Wi (I have in-laws in NW In.) But think back to what kind of summer 09 was in your area. For me it was more like a Pacific NW type of summer than a typical Mid-west summer -- cool days cooler nites instead of hot and humid.

So summer 09 might have just been one of those years that was more prone to catfacing than normal.

Carol[/QUOTE]

Thanks Carol,
I'm all excited again about the CP's. I have seeds saved from 2009. I did a germination test by putting 10 seeds in a wet paper towel in a baggie on top of the fridge and had 100% germination in less than a week. So, Cherokees are back on the "To Grow" list and I'll try at least one plant in a Wall-O-Water to see if that helps with avoid the cold start.
Al:)

[IMG]http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/filmnet1/BlackKrim2-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/filmnet1/zippered.jpg[/IMG]
How is this for zipper tomato's Black from Tula
Also was wonderful to eat, So nice !!!!!!