Growth habit of Candy Sweet Icicle and White Oxheart

Merediana · March 25, 2016

I've always had some varieties that grow more sturdy, look more delicate or seem to be bigger/smaller over all than other varieties but this season I have noticed that Candy Sweet Icicle and White Oxheart look quite different than all the others, overall more flimsy with elongated leafs. Is that normal for these varieties?

Just as comparison some different seedlings that grew up under the same condition:

Is that normal?

KarenO · March 25, 2016

You may have seen references made to "wispy" plants on this forum. It is commonly the case for many heart shaped and some other old fashioned varieties to display the characteristics of slim viney stems that require a lot of support and wispy, droopy foliage. Don't let that fool you though. these plants when supported properly can produce large crops of heavy tomatoes that belie their skinny and rather sorry appearance.
It is normal for these varieties. Support them well and they will reward you with some lovely tomatoes I'm sure.
KarenO

imp · March 25, 2016

Thank you for posting those pictures and asking- this will save me from being freaked out about some of mine when they get growing!! Ihad never seen the "wispy" thing and I would have been befuddled.

KarenO · March 25, 2016

https://www.facebook.com/NorthernGar...type=3&theater
Talking about wispy oxhearts on my FB gardening page. Gives a better idea of what I wrote above.
Not all hearts have the wispy characteristic, but many do. some of the best I've grown.
KarenO

Merediana · March 25, 2016

Ok, seems like "wispy" is the word that I didn't know (never heard before)

Thanks for the information

Good to hear that this is normal and no need to worry...

I've never heard about that, this is just my second season and the only oxheart I had last season was Cuor di Bue Giant Reif red, that one had rather short and very sturdy plants, that were very easy to support.

Merediana · April 23, 2016

So here are my two remaining wispy plants now:

I still find them annoying but I hope the fruits will be worth it.

Cole_Robbie · April 23, 2016

My Candy Sweet Icicle looks the same as yours.

Some varieties grow out of the wispiness, and they look a lot more normal when they are big plants.

AZGardener · April 23, 2016

I grew Candy Sweet Icicle last year and it produced very well for me. It was extremely wispy and frankly, very wimpy looking.

I just let it be and it started setting fruit like gangbusters. The tomatoes on this plant are very pretty, about 2-4 inches (though some will be smaller),marbleized with red/yellow, and a cute little tip. Keep checking on the plant but I would just plant them and let them be and you will be very surprised when it starts to set fruit

MissionGardens · April 23, 2016

I'm growing Candy Sweet Icicle this year and compared to everything else in my hoop house, it looks anemic. It's super wispy, spindly, but had a decent fruit set. I ate the first one last night and it was delicious. Light tomato flavor and acid, very sweet.

Aubergine · April 24, 2016

my Candy Sweet Icicle looks like this:

Don S · August 11, 2017

I'm a little late to this discussion, but CSI (the tomato, not the TV show) sounds like it's worth trying. How tall does it grow?

March 25, 2016	#1
Merediana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: germany Posts: 190	Growth habit of Candy Sweet Icicle and White Oxheart I've always had some varieties that grow more sturdy, look more delicate or seem to be bigger/smaller over all than other varieties but this season I have noticed that Candy Sweet Icicle and White Oxheart look quite different than all the others, overall more flimsy with elongated leafs. Is that normal for these varieties? Just as comparison some different seedlings that grew up under the same condition: Is that normal?

March 25, 2016	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	You may have seen references made to "wispy" plants on this forum. It is commonly the case for many heart shaped and some other old fashioned varieties to display the characteristics of slim viney stems that require a lot of support and wispy, droopy foliage. Don't let that fool you though. these plants when supported properly can produce large crops of heavy tomatoes that belie their skinny and rather sorry appearance. It is normal for these varieties. Support them well and they will reward you with some lovely tomatoes I'm sure. KarenO Last edited by KarenO; March 25, 2016 at 07:05 PM.

April 23, 2016	#8
AZGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Zone 9b Phoenix,AZ Posts: 390	I grew Candy Sweet Icicle last year and it produced very well for me. It was extremely wispy and frankly, very wimpy looking. I just let it be and it started setting fruit like gangbusters. The tomatoes on this plant are very pretty, about 2-4 inches (though some will be smaller),marbleized with red/yellow, and a cute little tip. Keep checking on the plant but I would just plant them and let them be and you will be very surprised when it starts to set fruit __________________ Kelly from Phx, AZ Toes and Tomatoes on FB

March 25, 2016	#3
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Thank you for posting those pictures and asking- this will save me from being freaked out about some of mine when they get growing!! Ihad never seen the "wispy" thing and I would have been befuddled.

April 23, 2016	#7
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	My Candy Sweet Icicle looks the same as yours. Some varieties grow out of the wispiness, and they look a lot more normal when they are big plants.

April 23, 2016	#9
MissionGardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 83	I'm growing Candy Sweet Icicle this year and compared to everything else in my hoop house, it looks anemic. It's super wispy, spindly, but had a decent fruit set. I ate the first one last night and it was delicious. Light tomato flavor and acid, very sweet.

August 11, 2017	#11
Don S Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Westbrook, CT Posts: 41	I'm a little late to this discussion, but CSI (the tomato, not the TV show) sounds like it's worth trying. How tall does it grow?