I can't add anything about the catfacing, because that goes away for me as the season advances. But sometimes tomatoes can crack their skins after suddenly getting a lot of water. For example, a really heavy rain can cause cracking because the inside of the tomato absorbs the water and grows faster than the skin. I have also caused my tomatoes to split their skins when I water too heavily.

Radial cracking is generally blamed on inconsistent moisture, particularly as tomatoes approach ripeness. Mulching well always helps keep moisture more consistent -- though frankly, the weather we're having this year almost guarantees a certain amount of radial splits. It's a good idea to pick the fruit as soon as they turn color, and let them ripen indoors where a sudden rain or heavy watering won't split them. Again, some varieties are more prone than others.

Catfacing can have a variety of causes, including cold temps while the flower was forming and extra-large or malformed flowers (I tossed a small beefsteak this year with a catface that opened the fruit from stem-end to blossom-end; parts of the yellow anther cone were still attached to the edges of the split at the "equator" of the fruit, which certainly indicates a malformed blossom). Excess nitrogen (resulting in too-rapid growth of the flower and fruit) and inconsistent moisture can also be causes. Some varieties are more susceptible than others, particularly beefsteaks.

Agree. Just pick them at color break and ripen indoors. Eliminates the cracking and definitely eliminates the rot and mold issues. Especially important to do it before heavy watering or when rain is expected.

Once they achieve color break nothing is gained by leaving them on the vine but the risks to them increase 10 fold.

Dave

I was told that when your tomato get a "whitish" (scab - no fuzz - just like a thin film/ scab) over a split that it may be botulism or e-coli; does anyone know this to be true? I have eaten them like that all my life and no trouble.

I don't think so, Lewis. Botulism bacteria is soil borne not air borne.

I could be wrong. Wait for more comments.

Sey