Shape of Sudduths Brandywine

[indigosand]

Can it vary a bit? I have been growing and saving seed for a couple years, I have a few normal, typical beefsteak looking fruits and a few smaller ones that look almost like a heart? I have not grown heart type tomatoes in my garden before until this year so it couldn't be a prior cross. Time to toss my seeds for fresh stock or nothing unusual?

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by indigosand

Can it vary a bit? I have been growing and saving seed for a couple years, I have a few normal, typical beefsteak looking fruits and a few smaller ones that look almost like a heart? I have not grown heart type tomatoes in my garden before until this year so it couldn't be a prior cross. Time to toss my seeds for fresh stock or nothing unusual?

Likely. On many pink beefsteak varieties, I've seen "heartish" looking tomatoes. These have always been smaller than the beefsteaks, and the blossom scar is always very small, usually just a dot. Also, the taper is not as long as with most true heart varieties. It's generally one or two on a plant, if at all. However, I'm seeing a few plants with more than 50% heartish looking fruit. These are from saved seed of plants that produced some hearts along with mostly beefsteaks.

Gary

[indigosand]

Ah. I'm a bit bummed they produced really poorly this year. May ditch them next year for marianna's peace if it proves as tasty as it is early and productive!

[newatthiskat]

I have some years better than others with this variety but I will always have one in my garden