What Is a Brandywine Tomato?

Physical Description

• The brandywine tomato is large, pink and meaty. Its coarse leaves are similar to those of a potato. Brandywine tomatoes are heirloom tomatoes, and each individual fruit can grow to be as heavy as 1 lb. in weight. One horizontal slice of a brandywine tomato is large enough to cover the diameter of an average hamburger bun.

Growth

• Brandywine tomatoes are late-producing fruits that are harvested mainly in August. Brandywine tomato plants do not generally produce the first fruit until 90 to 100 days after they are planted. This production comes approximately 30 days later than most other types of tomatoes.

History

• The brandywine tomato seed originally surfaced in the Seed Savers Exchange collection in 1982, according to the Vintage Veggies website. The strain entered the Exchange when Ben Quisenberry, an Ohio farmer, purchased the seed variety from a woman from the Sudduth Hill family. It is unknown whether the seed strain came from a family heirloom variety or if it came from a producer from another country.

Disadvantages

• Although brandywine tomatoes are known for being rich in flavor, it is a low-yielding variety. The fruit can also form green, unripened "shoulders" near the top of the tomato, which reduces both quality and flavor. Brandywine tomatoes are also prone to cracking if rained upon at the wrong time.