Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine'
vegetableBrandywine is a famous Amish heirloom beefsteak tomato dating to the 1880s, producing very large, pink-red fruit with a rich, sweet, old-fashioned flavor that many gardeners consider the best of any tomato. The vigorous indeterminate plants have distinctive potato-leaf foliage and are among the slowest tomatoes to ripen, needing roughly 80 to 100 days from transplant. They yield fewer fruit than modern hybrids but reward the wait with exceptional taste.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 3 days
Harvest
~85 days
Difficulty
hard
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
24-36 in. apart
Planting Depth
1/4 in.
Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At transplant, then every 3-4 weeks at fruit set
Fertilizer
Balanced 5-10-10, low nitrogen
Start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and transplant after the soil warms past 60F and nights stay above 55F, setting plants deep. Give full sun, rich well-drained soil, and strong staking for the tall indeterminate vines, removing suckers to improve fruit size and airflow. Because Brandywine needs a long season, give it your earliest warm spot, and keep moisture steady to prevent the cracking and blossom-end rot that plague large heirlooms.
Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Jul 23
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Attract parasitic wasps with dill and borage; handpick at dusk
Mulch, prune for airflow, rotate beds, and avoid overhead watering
Keep moisture even with deep watering and mulch
Pick when the fruit has turned a dusky pink-red and gives slightly to gentle pressure, since these thin-skinned heirlooms crack if left too long. Handle the soft, heavy fruit carefully and use it soon after picking, as heirloom slicers do not store or ship well.
Tomatoes are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin A, and they are the leading source of lycopene, the red antioxidant linked to heart and prostate health that the body absorbs better from cooked tomatoes.
Eat the ripe fruit only. Tomato leaves and stems (and large amounts of very unripe green fruit) contain solanine-type compounds and are not for eating.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.