Brandywine!

I had grown seedlings of a number of different Brandywine Cultivars including, Sudduth, Cowlicks, Red; and others. They were killed in a late frost so I was limited to growing seedlings purchased from a local nursery. They only had two cultivars labeled Brandywine and Brandywine Yellow. I figured I would determine which cultivar of Brandywine I was growing when the plant grew and produced fruit.

I've read many reports on different cultivars of Brandywine which seem to indicate low production, average to great taste, low disease resistance, and other opinions. The varieties I planted were set in the soil on March 7 to attempt good blossom and fruit set in the cooler weather of spring. I shook the vines almost daily to improve pollination of the vines.

After 85 days, I harvested the first Brandywine yesterday with some Brandywine Yellow fruit almost ready to harvest as well. Both Cultivars are covered with fruit. The fruit I harvested weighs about 24 ounces and is pink. The fruit is well formed in an oblong, slightly flattened shape. Both plants were slightly affected by septoria losing a lot of the lower leaves but they are still doing well and producing new growth at the bottom.

I still have no idea which cultivar of Brandywine the pink fruited plant is, but it is highly productive, potato leaf, and very large. I will probably eat the large fruit this evening with dinner and I anticipate a very tasty tomato.

Ted