Did you save your own seeds ?
There are possibilities and probabilities:

== you labeled the seeds in error.
== you planted the wrong seed(not paying attention)
== you labeled the seedling in err.=
== Everything was right but you marked the transplant incorrectly.

Finally> It is possible that the tomato from which you collected the seed, was product of cross pollination.

These weren't seeds that I collected. They were three/four year old seeds from the "reputable heirloom tomato grower/company". I believe that most all of these companies provide the disclaimer that the seeds are from open-pollinated plants. While it's entirely possible, I haven't read any posts of someone getting an "off" plant.

I only started four varieties - "Sunsugar", "Brandy Boy", "Cherokee Purple" and "Black Krim". So, even if I mislabeled, the fruit size doesn't resemble any of them. The color is right for BK (or, maybe, CP for that matter), but way too small.

This post was edited by monet_g on Sat, Jul 13, 13 at 11:27

As is often discussed here not only is a stray seed or 2 in any seed packet a possibility from ANY supplier but crossing is also a slim possibility with any OP seed. Quoted odds vary from 2-8% on commercial seeds depending on growing methods used and a bit higher on home-grown seeds.

Those possibilities and those odds are generally considered an acceptable margin of tolerance. A disappointment when it happens, sure. But it does happen and we live with it. It is one reason why growing only one plant of any variety, especially when it is the primary variety we are after, is never recommended.

And of course this doesn't even include all the effects that growing conditions can have on fruit size. Life is composed of genetics AND environment. :-)

Dave

Gail,

Do you have a single plant of Black Krim, or more than one? If you have more than one (or more than two) and they are all exhibiting the same size fruit at the breaking point, then I would think it likely that it is environmental. It would be highly unlikely that you'd randomly get two or three wrong seeds from a packet of 30-60 seeds when the purity is rated at better than 90% (assuming you had correct fruits in previous years from the same packet.) OTH, if you have a single plant, it might be a cross, or again it could be environmental.

Since the tomato you picked was the "first nearly ripe tomato" of the year, it is possible the later ones might be of a more normal size. I find that the first few fruits I get from a plant are often smaller than later fruit.

Betsy

Thanks for all of the responses.

Betsy, I have only one plant. I thought that the first fruit wasn't necessarily representative of the whole season. While the other tomatoes are still green, they're moving into that stage where the skin is becoming shiny and I think will blush soon. Generally, fruits on my plants have a range of sizes. However, right now, all the fruit on this plant is the same size - just larger than a golf ball. The weather has been so weird early this season and even into the summer. One week will be hot, the next will be cool and much rain. Perhaps, maybe, hopefully, this is the reason.

Thanks,
Gail

BK are not large maters...however the environment does count. Hang in there and feed...

Thanks, FD.
From what I understand and from prior year's growing, BK is a fairly large tomato - should be a beefsteak. If it's just environmental (or even a cross) and the flavor is true, I'm good. For me, BK is one of the best!

G

This post was edited by monet_g on Sat, Jul 13, 13 at 20:18

(1) and the seed has been true the last couple of years.
.....................
(2) These weren't seeds that I collected
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
when you said (1) , I hade the impression that you have been collecting you own seeds [for] THE LAST COUPL OF YEARS.

But, aside from the size, what about the shape, color, flavor ? As been pointed out , the first fruit might not be a true representative(due to cold, rain..)

Hi seysonn,
The color seems right, but the shape is quite round - not flattened. Taste hasn't been tested. I have one sitting on the counter, but I don't dare cut into it until it's ready. No sense wasting a good tomato. Plus, it wouldn't be a good test.

I was just looking at Tatiana's photos of Black Krim. Some of hers are large enough to cover a good portion of a small plate, while others seem about the same size as mine and quite round. Like you all said it could very well be environmental.

No sense obsessing - it is what it is. I do enjoy experiencing and learning each and every year. This year, among other things, I learned to plant more than one of my favorite(s).

Thanks,

My Black Krim's have been the same. Have picked three or four and they have all been around 4 to 6 ounces. Many of the other varieties have been the same that the earliest fruit has been unusually small but later fruit seems to be of normal size. I think it was from the very cool weather this spring. Not all varieties have been affected as my Brandywines are very large even the earliest that they put on.

Last year around here we had several solid weeks of 100+ temperatures in July and August (very unusual). I didn't get any tomatoes during that time because it was too hot for the pollen to set, but the few that I got in the fall were all like what you describe - miniature versions of their normal selves. They may have even been smaller; they weren't much bigger than my Sungolds that kept producing though the heat.

This was Cherokee Purple and a hybrid - I think Beefmaster - and not BK, but it was definitely environmental (and really weird).

I am in central Indiana and 4 out of my 5 BKs that I picked have been pretty large (bigger than I expected) - bigger than baseballs. 1 was a bit smaller.

These 5 so far have come from 2 different plants. I have a third that I planted later that is bearing fruit but none ripe yet. So, we shall see how those turn out.

This post was edited by mambooman on Mon, Jul 15, 13 at 15:22