Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Solanaceae
Botanical Name
Lycopersicon esculentum 'Brandywine'
Plant Common Name
Brandywine Tomato, Tomato
General Description
The large, meaty, deep pink fruits of this old heirloom are considered by many to be among the best tasting tomatoes available. First appearing in seed catalogs in the late 19th century, ‘Brandywine’ survived the decades via saved seed passed down through generations of home gardeners. It became commercially available again in the 1980’s, after Ohio gardener Ben Quisenberry gave seeds of the tomato to Seed Savers Exchange, an organization dedicated to the preservation of heirloom plants. Mr. Quisenberry had received the seeds from a Tennessee woman named Doris Sudduth Hill, who claimed that the variety had been grown by her family for over 80 years.
Because seeds of this tomato have been so widely saved and shared, many variations exist. The true ‘Brandywine’ is very large and somewhat flattened, with smooth, red-pink skin and a luscious, rich, intense flavor. Ideal for slicing, these tomatoes are delicious eaten alone or cut into thick slabs on sandwiches. They are borne on indeterminate vines approximately 80 days from germination.
Plant tomatoes in full sun and fertile, well-drained, slightly acid garden loam after all danger of frost has passed. Seedlings may be started indoors under grow-lights several weeks ahead of time, and should be hardened off before planting outdoors. Set them deeply in the ground for best establishment; the main stem will form roots beneath the soil’s surface. Indeterminate types such as this should be staked, trellised or grown in tomato cages to contain their rambling stems.
These veggies (technically, fruits) are heavy feeders, and it is important to provide them with regular water and nutrients. Be sure to choose a fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes, and avoid excessive watering as this can result in cracking of fruit and diminished flavor. Best production and flavor occurs when both days and nights are warm. Tomatoes become tough and less flavorful in cooler temperatures, and thus should not be stored in the refrigerator. In semi-tropical climates, they may even be grown as a winter crop, as long as temperatures remain favorable.
For more detailed information about the care, pests and diseases, and history of tomatoes, refer to the general entry for the species (Lycopersicon esculentum) in the Learn2Grow plant database.
