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

Indyartist · January 23, 2011

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?

**carolyn137** · January 23, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indyartist

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?

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.

feldon30 · January 23, 2011

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

Indyartist · January 23, 2011

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.

travis · January 28, 2011

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.

Wi-sunflower · January 29, 2011

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

Indyartist · January 29, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wi-sunflower

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

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

FILMNET · January 29, 2011

How is this for zipper tomato's Black from Tula
Also was wonderful to eat, So nice !!!!!!

January 23, 2011	#1
Indyartist Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 229	"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? __________________ Indyartist Zone 5b, NE Indiana -------------------------- “Men should stop fighting among themselves and start fighting insects” Luther Burbank

January 23, 2011	#3
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	So either plant later, keep the plants warmer, or pick off any obvious double blossoms or double fruits. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

January 23, 2011	#4
Indyartist Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 229	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. __________________ Indyartist Zone 5b, NE Indiana -------------------------- “Men should stop fighting among themselves and start fighting insects” Luther Burbank

January 28, 2011	#5
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	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. Last edited by travis; January 29, 2011 at 09:47 AM.

January 29, 2011	#6
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	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

January 29, 2011	#8
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	How is this for zipper tomato's Black from Tula Also was wonderful to eat, So nice !!!!!!