Two sandwiches:>)

[Worth1]

I had two tomato sandwiches today, one from Cherokee Purple and the other from Brandywine.

I found the Cherokee Purple sandwich to be far superior to the Brandywine.

I don't understand what all of the hoopla is about with Brandywine.
I found them to be sour and tart with hardly any tomato taste.

I have found many variety's that do much better down here to be much better in taste.

Mexico and Kellogg's breakfast to be two of them.

They have a much better tomato taste and not as tart.

Last night some critter must have liked Brandywine because it ate a 1 pounder right off the plant down to the nub.

Its so dry right now that I think they are thirsty and I have a lot of armadillo activity this year.

Not like last year when I didn't have any armadillos in the yard.

If I have to sacrifice a tomato the make a critter happy then so be it.

Worth

[bryanccfshr]

I hear Armadillos make good stew.

As far as Brandywine I think it is a great tomato but it may be a syntamental attachement due to the fact that for many of us Brandywine was our first real heirloom tomato. After years of hybrids and grocery store tomatoes it was the tomato that made me and my wife aware that their was indeed another world of flavor out there (Imagine a black and white world going to color ) .

I look forward to getting mater sandwiches too.

Got PICS?

[maryinoregon]

After trying Brandywine's and not understanding all the hoopla, I tried Cherokee Purple and was very happy.

Have tried one or two pretty good Brandywines, not grown by me. A local farmer with a stand grows a few and sells them at a premium. I figure I'll just stick to what I grow.

We've got lots of water up here, but not enough sunshine on a consistent basis.

[barkeater]

There is no hoopla concerning Brandywine. It is simply the best heirloom tomato you'll ever eat, bar none. Period. Unfortunately, in Texas and Florida, it is too hot to grow BW, so you'll never know how good it is. Sorry. ;-)

[bryanccfshr]

Originally Posted by barkeater

Unfortunately, in Texas and Florida, it is too hot to grow BW, so you'll never know how good it is. Sorry. ;-)

Now you have done it! We can do anything bigger and better in Tejas and we can do it twice a year!

Just imagine if I had Pruned this one for size rather than just letting this one go wild. I wish I had more experience with the flavors but my wife considers them "hers"

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by barkeater

There is no hoopla concerning Brandywine. It is simply the best heirloom tomato you'll ever eat, bar none. Period. Unfortunately, in Texas and Florida, it is too hot to grow BW, so you'll never know how good it is. Sorry. ;-)

Brandywine & Earl's Faux

I can barely hold that Brandywine in one hand. Any other fertilizer you'd like to contribute to this thread?

There are another 8 Brandywines, 6 or 7 Brandy Boys, and another 16 Earl's Faux hanging off their respective plants (2 plants of EF). This is just a crazy good year for me, tomato-wise. I'm counting my blessings.

I can certainly understand why some people aren't impressed by Brandywine. To me, it has a rich, smooth, sweet flavor, but it does not have the complexity of Cherokee Purple. I like each for different reasons. Just like I don't seem to detect the flavors in green-when-ripe tomatoes that others do. I have tasted specimens deemed "toe-curling incredible" by others and didn't taste much.


So far this season, I have tasted
Earl's Faux -- this tomato is why I grow tomatoes -- thought I was going to faint it was so good -- didn't even have the self-discipline to take a photo
Gregori's Altai -- productive, early, and darn good
Paul Robeson -- decent flavor, productive, early
Indian Stripe -- pretty good but both plants seem off type this year
Jet Star -- productive, early, awesome on a sandwich, burger, or even fresh
Guernsey Island -- zippy little fruit
Black Early -- fairly good, it's no CP, strange plant growth habit
JD's Special C-Tex -- good to very good
Sungold and Black Cherry which go without saying.


Yesterday's Haul

3 Brandy Boy, 2 Cherokee Purple, 3 Gregori's Altai, Jet Star, 2 Paul Robeson, 1 Ashleigh, 1 Hege German Pink, 1 JD's Special C-Tex, 1 Bloody Butcher, 2 Guernsey Island.

Check out the 2008 Gallery for lots more photos including detailed photo of Guernsey Island which previously did not have a photograph anywhere on the net that I could find.

[barkeater]

I can't say for Texas, but as a tomato conisseur, in 10 years on and off in Florida, I've never had a good tasting tomato, and I searched everywhere.

Come to think of it, during the entire 14 years running my farm market, not once did my broker ever offer Texas tomatoes before our season in NJ started. Arkansas yes, South Carolina yes, but never anyplace south of there, which says a lot!!! ;-)

[bryanccfshr]

Now as far as commercial and market tomatos go.. Texas is a difficult place to grow. Unlike The northeast and Certain parts of California our weather patterns .. Well our weather patterns are terrible. But for a few of us dedicated intensive growers we can hold our own. Can I plant tomatoes and not irrigate? Would growing 10 acres of tomatoes be financially viable in my area? I would spend more on water than I would gross.


Besides I can't afford to get a decent pice of ariable real estate to test my market thoeries with this massive influx of new Texans moving in. Causing 3 acre lots to go for 200k!! http://www.realtor.com/search/listin...rcnt=27#Detail I guesse I can't "play" Farmer close to the house. We are considering making a "big move" maybe to a place with some more space to alleviate that. I envy Worth and anyone else that has more space than I do.

But I rant. Worth Got Two nice Tomato sandwiches today. How many Tomatoes have you eaten from your garden this week?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by barkeater

I can't say for Texas, but as a tomato conisseur, in 10 years on and off in Florida, I've never had a good tasting tomato, and I searched everywhere.

Come to think of it, during the entire 14 years running my farm market, not once did my broker ever offer Texas tomatoes before our season in NJ started. Arkansas yes, South Carolina yes, but never anyplace south of there, which says a lot!!! ;-)

Yes it does it says your broker doesn't know what a good tomato tastes like.

maryinpnw doesn't care for it that much and Bryan from Texas does.

I only said I didn't care for it, that means that I have different tastes than others.

Be very careful about trashing the south.

Worth

[duajones]

In Texas, once you are Houston or South of it, things are like another world when it comes to vegetable gardening, Or so told to me by a local nursery owner. Having said that, who needs Brandywine when you have Earl's Faux, Cherokee Purple, JD's Special C-Tex, Etc!
Truthfully, since I am such a newbie to tomatoes, I cant back up that statement. But Cherokee Purple blows Brandywine out of the water here, Period!!! While I dont have much experience (1 season) growing Brandywine, it was absolutely the blandest tomato of anything I have grown to date. Keep in mind, this is coming from someone that considers Sungold to be a "spitter" At least in my garden anyways.

[Worth1]

My brandywine taste like a sour rusty knife.

I had a Hillbilly today and it was REAL GOOD.

Worth

[Tomstrees]

Worth -

Have you tried the PL version of Cherokee Purple yet?
If not, send me a PM and I'll send you some seed for either fall or next season. They are amazing! My seed source for it was Bill Malin.

Good growing...

~ Tom

[sands4evr]

If I ate my brandywine right now it would taste like a green leaf, as with any of the varieties I have in my garden.

[barkeater]

Wow, Brandywine is the tomato that made heirlooms famous! And all these texans are trashing it. I guess the other 49 states have different taste buds.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by barkeater

Wow, Brandywine is the tomato that made heirlooms famous! And all these texans are trashing it. I guess the other 49 states have different taste buds.

No, only two from Texas and one from the Pacific North West.

Bryan likes it and he is a Texan.

So whats the Point?

Worth