Let's talk about Brandywines - Page 13

Sun City Linda · February 13, 2015

thanks Robbie I thought I saw it somewhere as determinate.

Sun City Linda · February 13, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I wonder which of the Dwarf Project plants tastes the most like Brandywine?

Linda

I liked Wild Fred pretty well it seemed to be on the order of Cherokee Purple. I am trialing half dozen this year but most of them are crossed with a black. What is and has always been a pretty good tasting dwarf is New Big Dwarf, which is probably why it was used so often in the dwarf breeding project.

Labradors2 · February 13, 2015

Many thanks,

I plan to grow New Big Dwarf this year, along with 5 (Project) dwarfs. Maybe I'll try Dwarf Wild Fred next year!

Linda

Sun City Linda · February 13, 2015

Linda - Are you doing grow outs or are you growing released varieties? I'm growing Baronia, Sweet Scarlet, Wild Fred, Rosella Purple, Where.....whatever! Summertime Gold and Tasmanian Chocolate.

Jwb4707 · February 13, 2015

I grew a Brandywine when I was young in my mothers garden. I have no idea what variety, but it was kind of pink, it was the best tomato I ever tasted. I've tried to grow them a few times since, without much luck. I picked up a pack of brandy boy hybrid seeds, to see if that would bring a similar taste, without the finicky nature of the beast, but I'm curious if there is a particular op strain that produces as well, any suggestions?

parah · February 14, 2015

From Craig LeHoullier's book, page 44
"Those who think of the world of gardening as idyllic and peaceful would be surprised at the level of rancor, disagreement, and misinformation surrounding a simple tomato name: Brandywine"

Ha ha, good book

Labradors2 · February 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

Linda - Are you doing grow outs or are you growing released varieties? I'm growing Baronia, Sweet Scarlet, Wild Fred, Rosella Purple, Where.....whatever! Summertime Gold and Tasmanian Chocolate.

I'm growing

Arctic Rose
Mr Snow
Rosella Crimson
Rosella Purple
Sweet Scarlet
Tasmanian Chocolate
"W"

and NBD

We will have to compare notes

.

Linda

akaRach · February 14, 2015

@Lindy Seems we are in the similar area! I really don't have a favorite large pink/red that does well, but I keep trying. Perhaps it is our growing season is just too darn short.

Of course last year was cool and VERY short. That early September freeze was a bummer. Even tho I had a bumper pepper crop the tomatoes mostly tasted like cardboard.

b54red · February 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jwb4707

I grew a Brandywine when I was young in my mothers garden. I have no idea what variety, but it was kind of pink, it was the best tomato I ever tasted. I've tried to grow them a few times since, without much luck. I picked up a pack of brandy boy hybrid seeds, to see if that would bring a similar taste, without the finicky nature of the beast, but I'm curious if there is a particular op strain that produces as well, any suggestions?

You might want to try Stump of the World, Limbaugh's Legacy, Terhune, Barlow Jap, Marianna's Peace, Pruden's Purple and German Johnson. All are very good pink or red beefsteaks and frequently much more reliable than most of the Brandywines. I usually grow all of the above varieties along with Cowlick's Brandywine and Sudduth's and most of the time Pruden's Purple is the most productive for me although last year Limbaugh's Legacy beat them all. All of the ones mentioned above have been my single largest producers at least once in the last ten years and they all rank near or at the top for flavor.

Bill

Sun City Linda · February 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I'm growing

Arctic Rose
Mr Snow
Rosella Crimson
Rosella Purple
Sweet Scarlet
Tasmanian Chocolate
"W"

and NBD

We will have to compare notes

.

Linda

Indeed we will.

**carolyn137** · February 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaRach

@Lindy Seems we are in the similar area! I really don't have a favorite large pink/red that does well, but I keep trying. Perhaps it is our growing season is just too darn short.

Of course last year was cool and VERY short. That early September freeze was a bummer. Even tho I had a bumper pepper crop the tomatoes mostly tasted like cardboard.

No, your season is not too darnshort for growing large pinks or reds since I have several friends from the same area who have no problem with the large pinks or reds.

Bill has just given you some suggestions and if you list what you've already tried and if you tried them in more than one season I'd be glad to do that as well so I don't duplicate anything.

Carolyn

LindyAdele · February 14, 2015

Carolyn - I grew Marianna's Peace last year for the first time, and am considering it again this year. It had a lovely flavour, but I think off my 7 foot plant I got maybe 6 fruit? And each of those I had to 'rescue' before cold nights hit and let them ripen indoors. It might be my inexperience, my soil, my seedling growing. I'm relatively new to this so I will keep working on it, but other plants were far more prolific. I couldn't put anything in ground until June, and had a frost early September so last year was rough. It's just after a year like that it's hard to gamble on later-season varieties.

Jwb4707 · February 14, 2015

Ok, stump of the world is officially my new favorite name for a tomato, lol

akaRach · February 14, 2015

I do appreciate the vote of confidence Carolyn!

As I said, I keep trying and will continue to do so. I have had small successes with a few of the brandywine. I've tried the red and pink and I think yellow a few years ago. I try the red ever year.

I haven't had a chance to try any of the varieties on Bill's list and this years seeds have been purchased. Next year I hope to participate in the seed exchange and maybe will get a few of them to try!

parah · February 15, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

You might want to try Stump of the World, Limbaugh's Legacy, Terhune, Barlow Jap, Marianna's Peace, Pruden's Purple and German Johnson. All are very good pink or red beefsteaks and frequently much more reliable than most of the Brandywines. I usually grow all of the above varieties along with Cowlick's Brandywine and Sudduth's
Bill

b54red's suggestions are worth their weight in gold (or tomatoes).
Grow all of them if you can! You are sure to rediscover the taste you remember, and maybe something better.

Especially try the early ones for your short season: Barlow Jap and Pruden's Purple

February 13, 2015	#181
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	thanks Robbie I thought I saw it somewhere as determinate.

February 13, 2015	#183
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Many thanks, I plan to grow New Big Dwarf this year, along with 5 (Project) dwarfs. Maybe I'll try Dwarf Wild Fred next year! Linda

February 13, 2015	#184
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Linda - Are you doing grow outs or are you growing released varieties? I'm growing Baronia, Sweet Scarlet, Wild Fred, Rosella Purple, Where.....whatever! Summertime Gold and Tasmanian Chocolate.

February 13, 2015	#185
Jwb4707 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Western MA Posts: 78	I grew a Brandywine when I was young in my mothers garden. I have no idea what variety, but it was kind of pink, it was the best tomato I ever tasted. I've tried to grow them a few times since, without much luck. I picked up a pack of brandy boy hybrid seeds, to see if that would bring a similar taste, without the finicky nature of the beast, but I'm curious if there is a particular op strain that produces as well, any suggestions?

February 14, 2015	#186
parah Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Asia Posts: 152	From Craig LeHoullier's book, page 44 "Those who think of the world of gardening as idyllic and peaceful would be surprised at the level of rancor, disagreement, and misinformation surrounding a simple tomato name: Brandywine" Ha ha, good book

February 14, 2015	#188
akaRach Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South Ontario: Plant out date - May long weekend Posts: 32	@Lindy Seems we are in the similar area! I really don't have a favorite large pink/red that does well, but I keep trying. Perhaps it is our growing season is just too darn short. Of course last year was cool and VERY short. That early September freeze was a bummer. Even tho I had a bumper pepper crop the tomatoes mostly tasted like cardboard.

February 14, 2015	#192
LindyAdele Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 323	Carolyn - I grew Marianna's Peace last year for the first time, and am considering it again this year. It had a lovely flavour, but I think off my 7 foot plant I got maybe 6 fruit? And each of those I had to 'rescue' before cold nights hit and let them ripen indoors. It might be my inexperience, my soil, my seedling growing. I'm relatively new to this so I will keep working on it, but other plants were far more prolific. I couldn't put anything in ground until June, and had a frost early September so last year was rough. It's just after a year like that it's hard to gamble on later-season varieties.

February 14, 2015	#193
Jwb4707 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Western MA Posts: 78	Ok, stump of the world is officially my new favorite name for a tomato, lol

February 14, 2015	#194
akaRach Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South Ontario: Plant out date - May long weekend Posts: 32	I do appreciate the vote of confidence Carolyn! As I said, I keep trying and will continue to do so. I have had small successes with a few of the brandywine. I've tried the red and pink and I think yellow a few years ago. I try the red ever year. I haven't had a chance to try any of the varieties on Bill's list and this years seeds have been purchased. Next year I hope to participate in the seed exchange and maybe will get a few of them to try!