Looking for blacks less susceptible to catfacing

[Marko]

This season we had a period of cold and rainy weather in may that resulted in heavy catfacing of some large varieties. Here are my observations:

Heavy catfacing:
Cherokee Purple
Black from Tula
KBX
Aunt Ruby's German Green

Medium catfacing:
African Queen
Sandul Moldovan
Indian Stripe
Earl's Faux
Neves Azorean Red
Aunt Ginny's Purple
Cowlick's Brandywine

No catfacing:
Milka's Red Bulgarian
Chapman
Ashleigh

Obviously some varieties are more susceptible to catfacing than others and I wonder if ther is a large black or purple tomato that never gets catfacing.

[FILMNET]

My Earls Fauxe is pink, Mariannes peace never has it, Carbon never does

[amideutch]

Marko, I have had no problem with Spudakee Purple, Spudatula, Amazon Chocolate, Rogers Best Black, Black Mystery and Brads Blackheart. If you want to try a few send me a PM. Ami

[travis]

Look for varieties with tight anther cones. Maybe some of the more modern Russian blacks are what you should look at. Most of the larger, old fashioned type blacks like Cherokee Purple have blossoms that tend to fasciate which can lead to anther drag, zippers and catfacing in cooler weather where the blossoms don't "pop" open and self pollinate in an even and rapid progression.

Also, if there is such a thing, a black variety with a tendency to show a nipple on the blossom end under certain climate conditions also will produce a tighter scar and far less catfacing. For example, try back crossing Wessel's Purple Pride to Cherokee Purple and select for beefsteak shape.

[barkeater]

Up here in zone 3 and 4, catfacing is a reality of life. Cold temps at pollination causes it and with nightime lows often in the 30's in June and the 40's anytime up here in the north country, I've gotten a good look at many black varieties. Black fro Tula was bad, Cherokee Purple and Carbon were highly susceptible, and Indian Stripe a little less. The best I have found, and with the roundest shape is called Black Giant. I don't think it is available commercially; I received seeds for it from a person I'll call Al A. about 5 years ago, and have grown it for 3 years in a row and saved seed a couple years ago. It is my favorite black, but wanted to grow Cherokee Purple this year and really lucked out with the weather.

I guess I should offer some Black Giant seed this fall to help spread it around. I don't know what happened to Al, whether he stayed at Garden Web or stopped posting.

[TZ-OH6]

I don't recall ever having catfacing on Black Krim, and I have not seen it nor woud I expect it on Black Prince or Nyagous because they are not beefsteaks.

[mjc]

I have never seen a variety that wasn't susceptible to cat-facing, under the right (wrong?) weather conditions. Basically, all beefsteaks are susceptible to it, to some degree, if the weather is in the correct range to cause it, regardless of color.

Even a number of rounds and oblates can get it, under the same weather conditions.

Last year, lots of cat-faced Cherokee Purples...this year none. None of my other blacks are cat-facing. A couple of my pinks are...(last year, I don't know as the deer did quite a number on most everything...especially the big beefsteaks).

[dice]

Tania may have Black Giant seeds:
http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Black_Giant

I have one plant growing of it this year, seems healthy,
has good sized fruit, but none have ripened yet. It went
from set fruit to "big enough to blush" a little faster than
the Huge Black plant right next to it. (Huge Black may in
the end produce larger fruit, remembering what they were
like last year.)

[Marko]

Thank you all for answers and Ami for a kind offer. I already put some new blacks on 2011 growing list.