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Greenhouse Tomatoes

The fruit are setting and have good size, but they have strange shapes. Why?

There are several factors that cause misshapen fruit, but the most likely is low temperature. Greenhouse tomato fruit will develop the best shape if the temperature is above 64 F. Lower temperature causes ridged fruit (a bumpy shoulder) and catfacing (ugly bottom of fruit). It is not worth the small savings in fuel costs if most of the fruit produced have poor shape and are not marketable.

Mississippi State University Extension Service 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762