Kimberly - odd leaf patterns

[Fert1]

After hearing such good things about Kimberly, I decided to try that variety this year. The leaf pattern on that one is a little unusual. I have one plant in particular that almost seems to have double the number of leaves you would normally have. It is different from all my other Kimberly plants. All those leaves give the plant a very round and bushy look. Those of you who have grown it before, is that typical? Or do I have a mutant on my hands? I'd post a photo, but do not yet have a digital camera, except on my phone and I haven't quite figured out how to transfer pictures from there yet.

I will give it this, the variety is eager. I have one Kimberly plant that is about 1 1/2 inches tall, and it already has flower buds forming at the top. I can definitely believe this one is going to be early. It just can't wait to get started apparently.

[Suze]

Last year, Earl had a Kimberly plant that was bushier and more compact than normal. Maybe your plant is doing the same thing

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...light=kimberly

[Fert1]

Well, my bushy plant is actually one of the taller Kimberly plants. Although they are all much shorter than the other varieties that were planted at the same time. Is it usually a short plant? I don't remember reading much about it's growth habits.

[Suze]

Kimberly normally gets about 4 ft tall max (at least when I've grown it). Habit is rather open, not a very leafy plant.

Very similar to Stupice in habit/size, if you've ever grown that variety.

This is my first year growing Kimberly, I am excited about the product becxause it was highly recommended here on this board. I usually grow Stupice as my early, but I was told that Kimberly is even better.
Crossing my fingers!!

[Fert1]

Thanks for the info. I wonder if the bushy one will bear more or less tomatoes? It already has flower buds. I don't have a lot of space, and I like to try lots of varieties. So I usually only grow one of each variety, and give the rest to friends and family. I'm wondering if I should keep the bushy one or one of the others. I am curious as to how it will turn out.

[ddsack]

I only grew one Kimberly in the ground, and 3 in a huge common pot. In my case, all my Kimberly plants were significantly shorter, with smaller tomatoes than my Stupices. I will say, that the pot tomatoes didn't get a fair shake because they weren't fenced and just when the first batch of fruit were turning ripe, the deer found them and gave them a good trimming. I had great expectations of Kimberly from the board buzz, but wasn't that impressed with the lone plant in the garden, so won't be growing Kimberly again, prefer Stupice. Kimberly does look like a fine size for pots, and many people have enthused over it.

Dee

[gardengalrn]

I grew Kimberly and Stupice in pots side by side and, for me, they were almost identical in habit/size. Mine were as Suze described. As for the ongoing comparison between the two, I found that I prefered the taste of Stupice. Both were tremendously productive and early (I can't remember without looking at my notes which was earlier, I want to say Kimberly by a few days) and even kept right on through the summer and into fall when I was just plain tired of them and had better fare. I would grow both of them again in a heartbeat, both tasty for being so early.

[korney19]

Fert, do you recall if the bushy plant was a Tri-cot as a seedling?

[Earl]

Click link below to see what my Kimberly dwarf looked like in '06.

http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/...erphotos/earl/

[Fert1]

Originally Posted by korney19

Fert, do you recall if the bushy plant was a Tri-cot as a seedling?

Unfortunately, I don't recall, but I do remember seeing a tri-cot or two in my seedlings. I don't even remember the varieties though. Are tricots bushier as a general rule?

Earl, thanks for posting a link to the pics. I was hoping you might. If possible, I think mine may be even bushier than yours in the photo. It's a very odd looking plant. Today I noticed that I seem to have a second one that is bushy, but it is not quite as bushy as the bigger one. What sort of fruiting did your bushy plant have compared to the regular ones?

[Grub]

Kimberly over Stupice any day Down Under...

[Fert1]

All my Kimberly plants are turning out to be short, stocky and very bushy/leafy. I wonder if enviornmental conditions might have anything to do with the development of that particular trait? I kept the tallest of the lot, and gave the others away, but they all seemed to be going that route.

It's eager - covered in flowers and possibly even has set one fruit. It's a tiny plant though - maybe 6 inches tall.

[Earl]

Holly, fruit are the same as I recall. I saved seeds from the short internode plant I grew last year but all the plants from the seeds I planted are tall. Grub might be interested growing out seeds from your very short plants to see what he gets. Also from this years seed you can sow some as soon as they're saved just to see how they germinate out.

[Fert1]

Just to give everyone an update. My short, stubby little Kimberly has set at least 3 tomatoes, and I think a 4th most likely. It still looks very odd to me though.

Edited to say: Yep - 4 little tomatoes already. They're about the size of the end of your pinkie now.