Brandywine Sudduth vs. Ed's Millennium ... and (My) Winner is...

[rnewste]

I'm now harvesting large quantities of fruit and fortunately, both Brandywine Sudduth and Ed's Millennium have decided to join the party.



Ed's Millennium weighed in at 17.6 ounces and the Brandywine came in at 9 ounces.



In terms of texture and seeds - both are quite similar. While both tasted good to me, the Ed's had a more pronounced flavor, similar to my Earl's Faux. The Brandywine on the other hand, was a bit more "mild", and less "wow".



Again as Carolyn says, everyone's palate is unique, however I won't be devoting garden space to Brandywine Sudduth next year, but will be doubling my Ed's Millennium in its place.

Ray

[carolyn137]

Ray, don't I remember correctly that Ed's Millenium is a selection of Red Brandywine/

I guess I'm asking b'c Brandywine and Red Brandywine are such different varieties with such different tastes that I guess I would have expected you to compare BW (Sudduth) with other large pink fruited varieties and to compare Ed's Millenium with perhaps true Red Brandywine as well as Buck's County Red, an alleged hybrid of RB.

But I guess I'm just saying what I may have done and I'm not you.

[rnewste]

Hi Carolyn,

(Hope you got your Cable Modem and other lightening related issues in the house all back in working order).

I am told that Ed Lo of Cupertino, CA. developed this in the 2000 timeframe (hence the name) from a Brandywine Pink strain. I remember there were some posts on this one last year about this time, from a TV member who is also a member of the Santa Clara Master Gardeners Association. Ed's Millennium seems to win high marks in their taste test evaluations every year.

I have been growing it for 7 consecutive years now, and it is quite prolific (although I have never gotten fruit over 1 pound, as I am getting this year). Earls' Faux and Ed's Millennium are my Number 1 and Number 2 favorites this year. I sent seeds of Ed's to several TV members, so perhaps some of them will report their personal evaluation later in the season.

Ray

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

I have one catefaced tomato growing and one small marble sized one growing and that is the only fruit set so far but hope that I start to see more sets. The seeds were sent from you and hopefully the taste is good and the production improves. will post results later in the season.

[carolyn137]

I am told that Ed Lo of Cupertino, CA. developed this in the 2000 timeframe (hence the name) from a Brandywine Pink strain. I remember there were some posts on this one last year about this time, from a TV member who is also a member of the Santa Clara Master Gardeners Association. Ed's Millennium seems to win high marks in their taste test evaluations every year.

*****

yes, I remember it being discussed both here and at GW before but somehow I'd remembered that it was developed from Red Brandywine. I was wrong.

What is different, really, about Ed's versus the Brandywine it was "developed" from. I did a bit of Gooling but I'm not sure I understand what new traits it has.

Ray, no cable modem here for I'm in the boonies. it was the DSL modem that was fried along with other electrical problems that the lighning caused. And yes, Verizon sent a new DSL modem and my computer guy hooked it up.

Then that segued into the Black Bear problem.

[barkeater]

California's climate is so different than east of the Mississippi I'm not surprised. Up here Brandywine easily averages close to a pound. Will Ed's Milleneum grow twice as big here as Brandywine? Guess I might have to grow it now! ;-)

[rnewste]

barkeater,

The Brandwine Sudduth and the Ed's Millennium grew side-by-side in 'Tainers #7 and #8. Same sun exposure, same water availability, same fertilizer, same potting mix. As you indicate, temps, humidity, etc. will all have an impact in different regions.

I'll have plenty of saved seeds in August, so just PM me and I'll get you some to try in your own growing conditions.

Ray

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Originally Posted by Gobig_or_Gohome_toms

I have one catefaced tomato growing and one small marble sized one growing and that is the only fruit set so far but hope that I start to see more sets. The seeds were sent from you and hopefully the taste is good and the production improves. will post results later in the season.

Thougth this needed an update I now have at least a dozen set tomatoes on the Ed's plant so they will be late but I hope very tasty. And Ray thanks again for the KBX I have one turning now that is probably a pound and a half and lots of others to follow.

[dice]

Carolyn,

I have not grown Ed's Millenium, but from what I remember from
last year's discussions, Ed's is just a many year selection from
Pink Brandywine, saving seeds every year from the plant with
the tastiest and biggest fruit (probably eliminating any plants
where the plant itself was not especially vigorous, too). It was
likely developed the same way that Sudduth was selected
from some generic pink Brandywine.

There may have been some beneficial genetic mutation along
the way, but if so it was apparently more subtle than obvious
(a little bigger fruit on average, more pronounced flavor),
possibly a mutation that positively effected some aspect of
the plant's internal metabolism in some way (so it still
looks just like a pink Brandywine). That would be my guess.

[rnewste]

dice,

Yes, your analysis follows what I remember about Ed Lo's efforts to "optimize" the characteristics of a particular Pink Brandywine over several years. My own side-by-side comparison in this year's garden under identical conditions has the Brandywine Sudduth at about 12 tomatoes that I can currently count, while the Ed's Millennium has about 20 maturing fruit.



This is consistent with last year (Ed's production), so maybe Ed Lo found something that makes this variety so prolific. What I am puzzled about is why the Ed's tastes so much more "vibrant" than the Brandywine Sudduth. In fact, I would compare the taste of Brandywine Sudduth to be more akin to my Stump Of The World.

Again, everyone's taste receptors are different, but as of the moment, Goose Creek, Earl's Faux, Ed's Millennium are my "win, place and show" for this season.

Ray