The Brandywine tomato is a classic among large-fruited varieties. It has gained popularity due to its appearance and excellent agronomic qualities. These tomatoes have a rich, sweet flavor with a slight tartness, making them ideal for fresh eating and preserves. They are characterized by good productivity and a strong immune system.
Origin and history
It appeared on the seed market in 1982, when it was added to the Seed Savers Exchange collection. The seeds were donated by a family in Ohio, after which the variety was named Brandywine, or Sudduth Strain. Over time, many variations of this tomato have emerged, and planting material has become available to gardeners worldwide.
Today, it's one of the most popular varieties in the United States. Experts agree that the tomatoes are particularly tasty and juicy. Furthermore, agronomists in our country successfully cultivate the crop.
Varieties of the variety
There are several varieties of the Brandywine tomato, each differing in fruit color, yield, and flavor. Each has many positive characteristics.
Pink Brandywine
The plant is indeterminate and vigorous, with a strong central stem. The height of the bush depends on the number of fruiting shoots and growing conditions: in greenhouses, it reaches 2-2.7 m.
Distinguishing features:
- The leaves are large, dark green, potato-like, providing good foliage. The plant produces simple, long clusters with jointed stems, which require staking or support.
- A single cluster produces 3-5 fruits. Their size varies: without regulating the ovaries, they weigh between 100 and 400 g, with the largest specimens forming at the base of the clusters. With proper care, the weight increases to 300-600 g, and individual tomatoes can reach 700 g or more.
- Ripe tomatoes acquire a rich pink color with a pearly sheen. Unripe tomatoes often have greenish shoulders and yellowish stripes on the ribs, but remain tasty and edible. The fruit has tender and delicate flesh.
The shape is round, slightly flattened at the poles, with a distinct shoulder. Ribbing is moderate, noticeable around the stalk. The skin is thin, making the tomatoes difficult to transport and has a short shelf life.
Brandywine Sudduth's Strain
The bushes reach 1.7 m in height, with potato-like leaves. This is a mid-season variety. Like other heirloom tomatoes, the flavor may vary depending on weather conditions.
Main characteristics of tomatoes:
- weight - varies from 200 to 400 g;
- shade – pink;
- pulp – fleshy, juicy;
- taste - a harmonious combination of sweetness and slight sourness.
Tomatoes have a rich aroma.
Brandywine Yellow Platfut
This is a mid-season, tall variety. The bushes reach 1.8 m, and the shoots are covered with small, potato-like leaves, colored emerald. The crop is characterized by good productivity.
The fruits are a rich orange-yellow color, fleshy, juicy, with a pleasant aroma and excellent flavor. The average weight of the vegetables is 300-400 g.
Brandywine Yellow “TradeWindsFruit”
Plants grow up to 1.5 meters in height, taking up little space in the garden. This mid-season variety produces excellent yields.
Distinguishing features:
- juicy and sweet pulp;
- excellent taste;
- pleasant aroma;
- flat-round configuration;
- bright orange skin;
- no stains or cracks.
The weight of tomatoes varies from 280 to 400 g.
Brandywine Joyce's Strain
A unique and rare Brandywine line, winner of the 2016 Maryland Tomato Trial. It is a mid-season variety. The plants grow vigorously, reaching over 1.5 meters in height.
The tomatoes have an excellent taste and a flat-round shape, they are colored pink, and their weight is 230-250 g, but there are larger specimens - weighing up to 750 g.
Apricot Brandywine
This variety is characterized by good productivity and is classified as a mid-season tomato. The bushes are tall and vigorous, reaching up to 1.8 m. The shoots are covered with large, dark green leaves.
Main qualities of vegetables:
- flat-round;
- sweet, juicy and meaty;
- There may be green stripes around the tail, which disappear when fully ripe;
- the skin is colored orange.
The average weight of tomatoes is 200-400 g.
Brandywine Cowlick's
The variety was acquired by Mike Henry in the mid-2000s. The plants are more productive than other varieties in the line. The fruits are large, attractive, and delicious, so the variety was named Cowlick's Brandywine after the nursery where the seedlings were purchased. The bushes reach 1.5 meters in height.
Characteristic features of tomatoes:
- dark pink;
- rounded-flat;
- one-dimensional;
- dense;
- juicy;
- fleshy;
- with a pleasant aroma
The fruit weight varies from 180 to 600 g, but on average one specimen weighs 300 g. Tomatoes ripen uniformly towards the end of the season.
Brandywine OTV
A variety distinguished by a high percentage of marketable, defect-free fruit. It was created by open pollination of the Yellow Brandywine variety and an unknown red Beefsteak. The name "OTV" stands for "Of The Vine."
Distinguishing features:
- type - indeterminate;
- bush – height 1.8-2.4 m;
- leaves - dark green;
- tomatoes - scarlet, glossy, fleshy, multi-chambered, juicy, with tender, creamy pulp;
- taste - harmonious, with an ideal balance of sugars and acids and a pleasant aroma.
The crop produces tomatoes well even in hot weather, and is characterized by long fruiting and drought resistance.
Brandywine Pawer's Strain
This variety was developed in the Maureen Latte greenhouse in 2009. The bushes are compact, reaching no more than 1.3 m in height. The fruits are a rich red-pink hue, and their weight ranges from 320 to 700 g.
The tomatoes have dense, fleshy flesh and small seed chambers. This variety is characterized by a pleasant flavor and unique aroma. It is a mid-season variety.
Brandywine Black is the most popular variety in Russia.
Brandywine is increasingly becoming the choice of gardeners across the country. This is due to its high yield, excellent taste, and large tomato size.
Description of fruits and plants
The bushes are medium-sized, with strong stems. In the open ground, they reach a height of 120-150 cm, and in a greenhouse, 180-200 cm. The leaves are a rich green. Since this variety is indeterminate, pinching at the top is necessary to direct all of its energy toward ripening the vegetables.
Distinguishing characteristics:
- tomatoes are large, flat-round, colored brown-red;
- weight varies from 220 to 450 g;
- Tomatoes have thin skin and tender, juicy pulp - it is sugary;
- The fruits are very aromatic, with a pleasant sweet taste.
Ripe vegetables are ideal for eating fresh and in salads. They can also be used to make various preserves, including paste, ketchup, and juice.
Key Features
Brandywine is a mid-season variety. The tomatoes ripen in 110-120 days, depending on climate conditions. Characteristics and key qualities:
- The variety is renowned for its high productivity – gardeners harvest 12-14 kg per square meter.
- Tomatoes are resistant to cracking, which is especially important when humidity and temperature change.
- The crop has high resistance to various diseases, including late blight and viral infections, which makes it more resilient in adverse weather conditions.
Pests don't pose a serious threat to plants, but preventative monitoring of the bushes and the use of organic methods of protection will help maintain the health of the crop.
Features of Brandywine agricultural technology
Growing at home is a real challenge, easily mastered even by a beginner. However, it requires following certain rules and considering the characteristics and features of the variety.
Preparation of planting material and sowing
First, disinfect the seeds: place them in a cloth bag and soak them in a 1% potassium permanganate solution at room temperature for 30 minutes. Remove them, rinse them under warm water, and dry thoroughly.
Follow these recommendations:
- Sow the seeds in the first half of March in prepared soil consisting of 3 parts fertile soil, 2 parts humus, 1 part peat and 2% wood ash of the total mass.
- Plant the seeds 1 cm deep, spacing them 3-4 cm apart. Place them in containers with potting mix, then water thoroughly.
Caring for seedlings
When the seedlings have formed 2 true leaves, transplant the stronger specimens into separate containers (pots, cups or jars) and deepen them up to the cotyledon leaves.
For normal growth of seedlings:
- provide additional lighting;
- maintain optimal temperature and humidity;
- Water moderately.
Growing Brandywine Tomatoes
Seedlings are planted outdoors in late spring, when night frosts no longer pose a threat. If transplanted too early, tomatoes may be damaged by low temperatures.
Transfer
To speed up seedling growth, prepare the soil in advance. Apply all necessary fertilizers to the area in the fall, adding river sand and peat.
General rules:
- Water the soil with a nutrient solution containing potassium and superphosphate. Some gardeners add humus and wood ash to the soil.
- Plant the tomatoes in the prepared holes. They shouldn't be too deep or too large.
- Place young plants vertically, cover with soil and compact gently.
- Install supports near each seedling for further support.
Care
Caring for tomato plants involves several important steps that will help ensure a good harvest. In greenhouses, be sure to maintain optimal humidity and temperature levels.
Perform other agricultural practices:
- Watering. Provide regular watering, especially during periods of active growth and fruiting. Apply water to the roots, avoiding contact with the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Carry out this procedure early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent the bushes from overheating during hot periods. During dry periods, watering should be more frequent. - Top dressing. Tomatoes require a lot of fertilizer. Apply nitrogen fertilizers 2-3 weeks after planting to stimulate growth. Later, when flowering begins, apply solutions containing phosphorus and potassium to improve fruit set.
Alternate organic and mineral formulations to maintain nutrient balance. - Garter. Since Brandywine is an indeterminate variety, the bushes continue to grow and can reach considerable heights. To prevent stems from breaking under the weight of the fruit, secure them to supports. Use trellises, stakes, or trellises to support the tomatoes.
- Pinching out stepsons. To produce large tomatoes and prevent the plants from becoming overcrowded, regularly remove side shoots (suckers) that appear between the main stem and leaves. This helps the plant focus its energy on developing the tomatoes.
- Mulching. To retain soil moisture and prevent weed growth, cover the beds with organic material such as straw, compost or hay.
Pest and disease control, prevention
To prevent various problems, regularly inspect your plants and take certain precautions. The plant has a strong immune system, but can be susceptible to certain problems:
| Disease/Pest | Signs | Treatment and prevention |
| Fusarium | The lower leaves turn yellow and wither, followed by the death of the entire plant. The fruits may become deformed. | Maintain crop rotation (don't plant tomatoes in the same spot for more than two years in a row) and water regularly. Avoid overwatering. Treat with fungicides such as Previkur and Topsin. Remove infected areas. |
| Powdery mildew | A white coating gradually covers the entire bush. The leaves begin to turn yellow and die. | Spray with Topaz and Fundazol fungicides. Regular ventilation of the greenhouse will help prevent moisture stagnation. |
| Mosaic | The appearance of light green or yellow spots on the leaves, which can then develop into patterns. | Use healthy seeds and disinfect tools and soil before planting. The infection cannot be cured, so remove infected plants. |
| Root rot | The roots turn black, the plant wilts, and the fruits begin to rot. | Apply fungicides, avoid overwatering and improve drainage. |
| White rot | The appearance of white fibers and spots on stems and leaves, which spread rapidly. | Eliminate damaged areas and practice crop rotation. Fungicides are effective. |
| Aphid | The appearance of small insects on the leaves – they suck the juice out of the bush, causing it to wither. | The best solution is insecticides, such as Aktara, as well as folk remedies - a soap solution or garlic infusion. |
| Colorado beetle | Voracious insects and their larvae damage the leaves, which begin to turn yellow and die. | Conduct regular inspection of plantings, collect beetles manually or use insecticides such as Protect or Confidor. |
Similar varieties
There are several varieties that are similar in characteristics to Brandywine. Gardeners note the following similarities:
| Name | Description and Features |
| The Giant of Belgium | This is an indeterminate tomato, growing up to 200 cm in height. Ripe tomatoes are dark pink and large. They weigh between 300 and 500 g, and in some cases, up to 1,000 g. |
| Beef pink brandy F1 | A hybrid indeterminate variety. The bushes grow up to 180 cm, with large, rich green, slightly wrinkled leaves.
The tomatoes are round in shape and weigh between 230 and 330 grams. Their smooth, shiny skin is light pink with golden stripes. The flesh is juicy and plump, with a pleasant sweet flavor and a slight tartness. |
| Bulgarian Challah | An indeterminate variety that continues to grow and produce fruit throughout the season. The bush reaches a height of up to 180 cm. The main advantage of this variety is the impressive size of its tomatoes, which weigh up to 700 g.
The fruits have an unusual round-flat shape with pronounced ribs, which gives them a characteristic appearance. |
| Giant Pink | This tomato variety is distinguished by its tall growth – the bush reaches 2 m, while remaining compact, with strong, upright shoots. The tomatoes are very large, weighing over 350 g, and have a flattened, round shape with slight ribs. Their color ranges from white-pink to bright crimson. The flesh is dense, meaty, and juicy, with minimal seeds. The skin is firm, giving the fruits an attractive presentation and excellent transportability. |
| Montenegro | An indeterminate variety intended for greenhouse cultivation. The bushes reach 160 cm in height and are distinguished by a strong and robust structure. The leaves are dark green.
The tomatoes are flat-round in shape and weigh between 400 and 600 g. The flesh is dense and juicy. |
Pros and cons
The main advantage of the Brandywine tomato is its delicate flavor. Ripe tomatoes of this variety have a vibrant aroma.
Among the advantages of this variety:
Among the disadvantages, gardeners note the need for garters, the need to form a bush of 2-3 stems and regular pinching.
Reviews
Brandywine is a favorite among large varieties. Its juicy and aromatic fruits appeal not only with their rich flavor but also with their versatility. Despite the need for regular care and shaping, this variety is worth the effort, delivering a consistent harvest and excellent fruit quality throughout the season.