Tomato 'Brandywine'

On Oct 17, 2016, Tomato_Dave from Angouleme,
France wrote:

Excellent tomato. We had a hot summer and it seemed to thrive. Lots of big tasty fruit.

We had a taste-off pitting Paul Robeson, Brandywine, Large Barred Boar and a few others against each other and Brandywine and Large Barred Boar were the winners in the large heirloom category.

(Overall winner was Sungold)

On Aug 22, 2014, momnotmom from Riegelsville, PA wrote:

Growing 2 plants in 5-gallon buckets this year. Plenty of fruit, but the first batch on both plants had a brown-grey area around the blossom end that grew as the fruit developed. Maybe blossom-end rot?

Not sure- this was the only variety I planted this year that had this problem- the other two were fine, and everyone got the same soil in their bucket. A few of the later fruits on one plant seem to be ripening properly, but the other plant is still doing it. Been fertilizing consistently, even tried a lime "lavage". And each plant had a teaspoon of groundup eggshells thrown in when they were set in their bucket.

Won't bother with these again.

On Sep 6, 2013, cephalo from Huntsdale, MO wrote:

Tough to grow, but in my opinion the best tasting tomato. Very complex flavor that is not overly sweet. A perfectly balanced tomato. If you get one good one per plant its worth it.

On Mar 24, 2013, tpt_guy from Foothill Farms, CA wrote:

I grew a Pink Brandywine for the first time last year. I bought it at a nursery and it was marketed mistakenly as "Red Brandywine" but but it obviously wasn't, as it had potato leaves and pink fruit. I don't know if it was the "Sudduth/Quisenberry" strain, so I'm reviewing it here. It was, hands-down, the best tomato I've ever grown. The flavor was fantastic - sweet with a balanced acid and fully of tomatoey goodness. Even my wife, who does not like fresh tomatoes, is in love with these!

I had no real difficulty with yields, getting about 15 tomatoes that were over a pound, and many more in the 8-12 oz range. It was late-maturing. As an observation, it seemed set fruit better when the weather was cooler - significantly cooler than other tomatoes would require. A larg... read moree amount of fruit set when we had a spell of relatively chilly weather in the middle of the summer, so I planted it early this year hoping to get same before the summer heat arrives. Let's hope it works!

On Sep 5, 2011, rspoilsport from Yellow Springs, OH wrote:

Rates near the top in flavor, but I get poor yields both in number of fruit and in having to cut away bad portions. Palestinian is a better variety.

On Jan 21, 2011, Californian from Fullerton, CA wrote:

I have planted Brandywines half a dozen times, including plain Brandywine, Pink Brandywine, Suddeth Strain, and Cowlicks Strain, and they all mostly rot before they ripen, either from blossom end rot, sun scald, or insect damage. The few usable fruit I did get were good, but its not worth growing them. Maybe the cool nights we get in California are responsible for them taking too long to ripen so they rot first.

On Jul 28, 2009, bolino from Toledo, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

Plant was very late producing blossoms, and no tomatoes so far this season, when other plants are loaded and just starting to ripen. Will not try this cultivar again, I like eating tomatoes!

On Aug 29, 2007, Richinator from Broomfield, CO wrote:

I was glad to see that someone has reported good luck with this strain in Broomfield, Colorado. I had to dig mine out, roots and all, and throw it out after the leaves started to yellow. The main stalk had a brown ring inside that made me think it was bitten by fusarium. A purple cherokee and some principe borghese plants in the same plot have done well. It's probably time to rip out some of the lawn and begin rotating crops though...

On Jul 18, 2006, carminator1 from mobile, AL (Zone 8a) wrote:

This is a good tasting tomato but the reason why I am giving it a neutral rating is because it's poor production, I don't have a lot of backyard space so for me production is a must. The 2 plants set up tons of flowers but because of the hight temps and humidity almost all the flowers dried up, so if you have limited space like me don't plant this tomato.

On Mar 29, 2006, ainulindale from Denver, CO (Zone 5b) wrote:

I will never ever ever eat another hybrid tomato again. Less disease resistant? Yes, but proper crop rotation and watering the soil instead of the leaves helps keep problems to a minimum. Tend to crack? Yes, but watering consistently will avoid it. Best tomato you will ever put in your mouth? Yes, yes, yes! Will I plant other things that mature faster and are more prolific at the same time? Yes, but I will still be living for the day my first Brandywine ripens each year.

On Sep 19, 2005, oscar_1 from Dublin,
Ireland wrote:

Delighted to report Brandywine growing well, both indoors and outdoors, in Dublin, Ireland. No one believes it especially since this was my first ever effort at growing tomatoes! (Summer 2005 was not very wet here but was rarely over 21 degrees C.) The one indoor Brandywine grew over 7ft and ripened well to a deep red with fruits that are authentically differently flavoured but perhaps a little soft. Most of the outdoor ones are still ripening in September and these actually taste better, I believe. About 11 oddly-sized (grapefruit to fig) fruits on each plant. The seeds were planted in mid-March and the four outsiders were put out at the end of a cold May. All I fed them was blood/bonemeal mix and farm manure - no special tomato food. They performed as well and look much more spectacul... read morear than the other two tomato varieties I planted - Sub-Arctic Plenty and Gartenperle. It must be global warming . . .

On Jul 13, 2005, Gayle1940 from Waverly, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

Last year was my first year to grow Brandywine. It was truly delicious. Although the first fruit developed blossom end rot, the subsequent fruit was fine. Negatives - it is not overly prolific and is prone to splitting. The taste was worth it. Everyone loved it. I planted in another location this year and the plant is not producing as well. However, the excessive drought conditions we are having in Tennessee may have something to do with that.

On Mar 22, 2005, rjc from Bloomfield, NJ wrote:

I have grown this plant for the last three years and can personally say have a most terrific flavour. Only get about 12 tomatoes a plant but well worth it! I also have grown Caspian Pink and Soldaki, they both seem to crack a bit but just as tasty as Brandywine. I plant only heirlooms along with a few Big Beefs. They grow HUGH.

On Dec 1, 2004, suzy_qu3 from East Chatham, NY wrote:

My least favorite of the fifteen varieties that I grow. They are so prone to cracking (being so heavily lobed) that most of the friut is inedible. They also seem prone to nutrient deficiencies. I don't have the greatest soil (very acidic clay) but I do what I can. My other varities produce all season but these drop their flowers and start turning purple after one or two sets of fruit. My husband got one yellow brandywine plant from the greenhouse that did OK. The six pack of reds that he got didn't produce a thing. This is the third year that we've gotten poor results, but some of my neighbors do well with them. My husband blames the weather. I'd rather not bother with them at all.

On Aug 31, 2004, billbird2111 from Sacramento, CA wrote:

Thank God for this database. I now know what I have growing in our tomato garden.

This was an incredible year for growing heirloom tomatoes, which was my first, but not the last.

We had this strange tomato that my wife and I could not identify, but this one plant would produce red, pink and ORANGE tomatoes (the same plant) that looked bigger than beefstakes. After researching here, I'm certain this is a Brandywine. The taste is incredibly sweet.

I think our heirloom collection is going to force the more commercialized varieties out of our small backyard. Who wants an Early Girl, Better Boy or ACE when you can plant amazing varieties like a Sweet 100, Green Zebra, Brandywine or Caspian Pink?

Gardeners: Preparing raised beds (2 to 3... read more feet high) and filling them with a yard or two of planter mix from a local nursery will result in incredible harvests. We've made gallons of salsa and tomato sauce, and we still can't give away enough!

I'm not a canner. Perhaps I should be . . .

On May 10, 2004, PATKDS from Menifee, CA wrote:

This is the 2nd time I am trying Brandywines. Last year I had a beautiful plant, many blossoms, not one tomato. All blossoms fell off. So far this year, the same thing is occuring. Am at a loss at what to do. Shook the plant, used blossom spray on some, left the others, but still no luck. The plant, near as I can tell, is healthy.
The other non heirloom plants are doing fine. Anyone have any suggestions?? More nitrogen perhaps?? Am from Riverside, Ca. warm days, cool nights, no humidity.

On May 2, 2004, jwseattle from Seattle, WA wrote:

It is still very early in the season, however I have noticed that the leaves of this plant are diffrent from all the other tomato's I have started (round potatoe like) they started well inside and I put them out 04/26 zone 8. All other plants have done well with the exception of the big rainbow witch are gaining no size (dark green foliage, sturdy stems) yet the first set of leaves on these seemed to turn yellow and waxy, they are however starting to develope new greener leaves, but am concerned. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

On Nov 24, 2003, Farmerdill from Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

At this point, we are discussing several cultivars under the same heading. Pictures and most of the discussion is about the pink Branywine. This is a potato leaf beefsteak type and the most popular alhough there are several strains.

The yellow Brandy wine is also a potato leaf beefsteak type but with an entirely different flavor.

The Red Brandywine is a regular leaf, canning type of tomato. Ther is one claim that it is a descendent of the old Turner Hybrid of the 1880's

Black Brandywine has had both a regualar fruited and beefsteak fruited type reported.

On Sep 1, 2003, DoW_Oldman from St. Petersburg, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:

This one came out of the gate like a race horse. However, it died before the finish. I've tried 3 different type of this gene and not one work for me here. Tried them in the early spring. The winter months, and off season. (Tampabay area of Florida.)
Olds

On Jul 20, 2003, Lenjo from Mount Angel, OR (Zone 8a) wrote:

I only grew this one once and it did very well here, grew a huge bush and huge tomatoes. I didn't care for its flavor as much as other tomatoes. The next summer I was weeding out many that came back from seed.

On Jul 5, 2003, Cajun2 from (Carole) Cleveland, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

I got my plant in at a swap, and was so excited to see the large red tomatoes. I live in Texas (Zone 8). Normally we grow tomatoes in full sun with daily watering. The plant grew tall and VERY healthy, but has not yet set fruit once. It is extremely prone to blossom end rot.

I've replaced it with a Better Boy for a fall crop of tomatoes.

On Mar 29, 2003, tomato_lady from Crossville, TN (Zone 6a) wrote:

I live in Middle Tennessee and these plants performed beautifully for me. I planted 75 of them in my garden and none of them disappointed me. The vines were strong and vigorous. The tomatoes themselves were large and firm. I had one that weighed nearly 3 pounds. I ate it for lunch - and dinner!

We have a large number of birds in the area so I am used to picking the fruits while they are still green and letting them ripen inside. I used cardboard boxes that I can close up so the gasses emitted will ripen the fruits faster. I check them morning and night as part of my gardening routine.

The taste isamazing! They can beautifully! In the middle of January with 3 feet of snow outside I could open a jar in my kitchen, close my eyes and be transported back to... read more my summer garden.

On Feb 6, 2003, aceayers from Casey, IA wrote:

I have grown these for several years in Iowa and still don't know what all the fuss is about. I sometimes wonder if the seed stock is tainted from all the crosses that have been made. Last year I ordered Joyces strain Brandywine and ended up with a couple of cherry tomato??? Still searching.

On Aug 20, 2002, sdonovan wrote:

I'm growing Brandywine this year. We have hot humid summers here in Ottawa, Canada, and it seems to do well in this climate. I had some problems with blossom end rot early on, but this has cleared up. I've had no problems with disease at all. I've gotten big juicy reddish-pink tomatoes with excellent flavour and few seeds.
I haven't had any problems with splitting, but I've been monitoring water very closely. It's produced medium yields so far.

On Aug 18, 2002, Leni wrote:

This variety produces very well here in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. I grow in a comunity garden center and it is a long time favorite here. It gets very hot in LA and at times the humidty is less than 3%. Brandywine produces good flavor tomatos long after the others have quit.

On Jun 6, 2002, madman wrote:

Brandywine is NOT a good tomato for the Southeastern U.S. I have grown it for two years in coastal South Carolina and have not been happy with it. The tomatoes are large, but few in number and crack easily. More tomatoes were lost to cracking than were harvested. For all the hoopla attached to this tomato, I simply didn't find it's taste to be worth the effort. There are better tomatoes for the South, that taste equally good.

On May 9, 2002, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

One of most famous heirlooms. Consistently rated highest in flavor.

Tomatoes are so big they ripen very unevenly: the bottom is over-ripe and rotting while the shoulders are just beginning to ripen. Fruit MUST be picked before it ripens and allow to finish ripening off the vine.

Plant resists blights but is not wilt resistant.