Heirloom Marriage Big Brandy

[FruitGuyMiller]

Originally Posted by Hudson_WY

When do you plant?

They will go in the ground outside in the next week or two with the protection of wall-o-water.

The weather has been very nice here, and looks good for the next few weeks. So, I figure I might as well try to get a head start!

[Hudson_WY]

FruitGuyMiller,
I think Big Brandy will be the first variety to ripen this year! I am also impressed with the blossoms/buds per truss. Both of these have 11 per truss. It is hard to get a photo where you can see all of them.

[FruitGuyMiller]

That is one beautiful plant, Hudson!

[Hudson_WY]

Thanks Miller, I agree - we are very pleased with Big Brandy to date. Very aggressive healthy fruit setting plant! It may be the first variety in our GH to ripen this year.

[FruitGuyMiller]

Hudson,

How are your Big Brandy tomatoes doing? How are they comparing to Brandy Boy?

[Hudson_WY]

Hi Miller,
It is still too early in the season to know - IMO. At this point they are pretty even. If anything - I would say the Brandy Boys are a little heavier producers at this stage in the season. I only planted one Big Brandy and about 14 Brandy Boys so I really don't have a fair comparison that way. I pruned the Brandy Boys heavier and haven't pruned the Big Bandy much because the support for Big Brandy is configured differently. Here are a couple of photos. First - Big Brandy and then a couple of - Brandy Boy. I know the Brandy Boys taste awesome but I have never tasted a Big Brandy - so taste comparison is yet to come.

[FruitGuyMiller]

Thanks for the update and photos!

I put out my Brandy Boys (F1, F9, and F11), Big Brandy, Red Rose, and Brandymaster Pink very recently. I am excited to see which, if any, does best. I also planted a regular Brandywine for comparison.

[Hudson_WY]

Big Brandy is narrowly behind Brandywine Sudduth's first tomato to ripen and is the second tomato variety to ripen in our GH this year. I am impressed with Big Brandy and it reminds me a lot of Brandy Boy except it has RL rather thank PL. It will be interesting to see if Big Brandy's taste is as good as Brandy Boy and how they both compare to Brandywine Sudduth! We'll soon find out!

[FruitGuyMiller]

Thanks for the update, Hudson! I'm looking forward to hearing how they taste!

[Hudson_WY]

Big Brandy is almost ready for the taste test!

[Gardeneer]

Congrats, Hudson !
Ripe tomatoes in April, in WY, zone 3 !! Your investment and efforts are paying off nicely.
I'd be happy to be in this situation TWO months from now.

Gardeneer

[Hudson_WY]

Thanks Gardeneer!!

[tarolli]

(Message that I was writing was accidentally posted while incomplete.)

As I was saying, I have noticed that Cherokee Carbon and Big Brandy are not growing as much. They are robust, healthy smaller plants - similar to Bush Big Boy in height. They have normal inter-node distance. They had such identical treatment with my other cultivars that I do not understand their slow growth. They should have hybrid vigor. They bloomed on schedule with the others.

Since I only kept one of each Heritage, the progress of my plants is only an indication-but something to keep in mind. I will keep reporting on my Heritage Marriage plants. This is just an update. Hudson will have a report on taste before I do.

[Hudson_WY]

Tarolli - I've neglected to report on the taste. IMO it has a very similar taste to Brandy Boy. I think it has a great taste! I would be much more interested in Big Brandy if Brandy Boy did poorly in my area - but Brandy Boy does better than Big Brandy and I see no reason to plant both because they are so similar in taste and Brandy Boy is a better performer for us. I think Big Brandy is a great option for those who have not had success with Brandy Boy!

[Gardeneer]

Hudson, I ave had the same feeling that Brandy Boy has been doing better for you.
As I look at the pictures of Big Brandy I see almost Brandy Boy fruits in shape and size. And you are saying that they taste the same too.
So , I think you are right ; why grow Big Brandy ?

Gardeneer