Catfacing Tomatoes and More Garden Shots

Nancy Widmer sent me this photo of her grafted Black Krim tomato.  

Huge fruits, but they are 'catfacing'. 

So far, mine are not, but then again, mine are in the high tunnel.

Photo courtesy of Rutgers University New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station

Catfacing, as described by Organic Gardening magazine:

"The most common cause of catfacing in tomatoes is exposure to temperatures below 50 degrees F during flowering and fruit set. Low temperatures inhibit pollination and cause the blossom to stick to the developing fruit. Both of these factors prevent certain parts of the fruit from developing. The undesirable scarring and indentation occurs when unaffected parts of the fruit continue to expand."

That certainly makes sense this summer in our neck of the woods.  You may remember, in a previous newsletter, how we recommended setting out your tomato plants only when night time temps are reliably in the 50s.  This is one of the reasons why.  Of course, we can't control the weather and cool nights are part of living in Northern Minnesota. 

But, as Nancy says "The tomatoes are excellent however, as ugly as they may look."

I'd have to agree, we ate one the other evening and reveled in the summer tomato flavor.

 We have also received a few more photos of flowers by Gracie's Plant Works....

 Hell's Bells petunias on Lisa Pekuri's patio

 Callies, lantana, and geraniums on the lakeside deck of Mary Bevis.

Mary Bowers' planter with lime petunias and blue callies 

with Centaurea 'Colchester White' in the center of the pot.

 Shade garden lovelies by Mary Bowers -- 

Aralia 'Sun King', Coleus 'Dip't in Wine', Coleus 'Keystone Copper', 

and Coleus 'Lime'.  The lime colors really lighten up a shade garden!

 Fucshia 'Giant Orange King' gracing Mary Bowers' home.

Rhodochiton 'Purple Bell Flowers', also at Mary and Jim Bowers'.

A few photos of one of my new favorite plants:

Cobaea s. 'Cathedral Bells'

We were told this plant was an aggressive climber and that the flowers were worth the wait.  

Indeed, this is an amazing climbing vine.

The flowers start out very small, and then grow to

a just about ready to open flower.

 This is a two for one kind of vine, as the flowers start out white....

then gradually turn purple as they age.  They last a couple of days, then

the flower falls off and you are left with a green 'husk'.  The bees love them.  Bee-you-tee-ful!!!