Catfacing in tomatoes causes them to appear misshapen.
Often, deep crevices and scar tissue will appear on the blossom end of the fruit.
However, there are variousmanagement techniquesthat have proven useful in avoiding the harmless, but strange-looking, disorder.
Credit:Getty Images / Larry Reynolds
Banish tomato catfacing from your fruit crop with theseeasy growing tips.
Causes of Catfacing in Tomatoes
Cold temperatures are pegged as the most likely cause of catfacing.
Scientists theorize that exposing flowering tomato plants to temperatures below 50F damages the flowers.
Damaged flowers then developed into misshapen, irregular fruit.
The cause of damaged flowers isnt limited to cold temperatures though.
Rough handling of flowering tomato plants can impact the flowers which in time may impact the fruit.
Excessivenitrogen fertilizerand chemical drift are other potential causes of catfacing, along with overexuberantpruning of your tomato plants.
Catfacing is not a disorder that can be transferred from one plant to another.
While tomatoes impacted by catfacing arent great for sandwich toppers, they can bechopped for sauce.
Wait for warm weather.
Wait until volatile spring temperatures even out beforetransplanting tomato seedlingsinto the garden.
While the last frost date indicates a limited chance of frost going forward, it doesnt indicate consistent temperatures.
Cold temperatures can damage tomato plants and lead to catfacing.
Aim to plant tomato seedlings in the garden when night temperatures are generally above 50F.
Consistently moderate air temperature will raise the soil temperaturean essential element for strong tomato plant growth.
In most regions, daytime and nighttime temperatures moderate about two weeks after the last average frost date.
Sometomato types and varietiesare more likely to develop catfacing than others.
For example, cherry and grape tomatoes rarely produce misshapen fruit.
The same is true for most paste-jot down tomatoes.
Many newer tomato varieties, such as Chefs Choice Red and Galahad, are generally resistant to catfacing.
Dont let heirlooms' tendency toward catfacing stop you from growing them.
Often if the first fruits of the season are misshapen, the subsequent fruit are well-formed.
Catfacing is usually a temporary challenge.
Keep tomato plants healthy.
Healthy tomato plants are far less likely to be impacted by catfacing or any pest or disease.
Vigorouslygrowing tomato plantsshrug off threats with relative ease as they go about developing fruit.
Watering, mulching, andstaking your tomatoespave the way for healthier plants.
For best growth, double-check your plants get about 1 inch of water a week.
If rainfall doesnt deliver the needed water,supplement by watering plantswith a drip hose or by hand.
Direct water to the base of the plant; keep the foliage dry to prevent disease.
Preserve valuable soil moisture with a 2-inchlayer of mulch over the plants root zone.
Finally,support tomato plants with a sturdy stakeor cage.
Training plants to grow up prevents many common fungal diseases and fruit spots and rots.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not possible to treat catfaced tomatoes.
There are several tomato diseases other than catfacing that can impact your fruit.
