In this email look for the following: Catfacing of tomatoes - ELetter
If you do not wish to continue receiving email such as this, please send me a reply with the request to delete; you can go right off the list, no questions asked. If you have friends who would be interested, please feel free to share, and let them know they can be included in future mailings by sending me an email request at al_cooke@ncsu.edu
*********************************************************** I’ve had a number of calls about this
phenomenon lately. It’s one of the physiological disorders of tomatoes that we
can’t do much about. Generally the fruits are misshapen with large scars and
holes at the bottom or blossom end. The fruit can appear distorted in a variety
of shapes. There’s a pretty good picture at a Purdue website,
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/images/catfacing-tomato.jpeg but
that’s only one of a variety of forms it may take. Some folks think it resembles
blossom-end-rot. This situation is thought to be caused by cool weather at the time of flower
pollination and fruit-set. Apparently parts of the flower get stuck together and
subsequent development is deformed. Because we had some cool weather a few weeks
ago (remember?) that fits our situation and the problem should probably not
continue as other fruits develop. If the problem continues, then you may want to look at a picture of
blossom-end rot,
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/rhodcv/hort410/8006.jpg
Catfacing of tomatoes? Is this a Halloween joke way too out of season? Or the
subject of a PETA investigation?
Or perhaps growth cracks, http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0073E/T0073E02.jpg
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/images/tmcrack1.jpgIf you find catfacing or one of the other problems in your garden this weekend, they may develop into edible fruit although some parts will have to be cut off. Or you may want to remove them to the compost pile and concentrate the plant’s energy on growing the perfect fruit you anticipate. If you find blossom-end rot (BER) and don't know about it, learn about it at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8107-a.html And everyone, be aware that (BER) can also affect other vegetables - such as melons, peppers, and squash.
Happy weekend
E Letter Archives: http://lists.ncsu.edu/cgi-bin/digest?list=alcookeeletter
alcooke --
Al Cooke
Extension Agent
Horticulture
North Carolina State University
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center
P.O. Box 279
Pittsboro, NC 27312
E-mail: al_cooke@ncsu.edu
Home page:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/staff/acooke/home.html
Phone: 919.542.8202 FAX: 919.542.8246
