Heirloom

Brandywine

Solanum lycopersicum

We describe Brandywine's luscious, heirloom flavor as "very rich, loud, and distinctively spicy." The large fruits, often over 1 lb., have a deep pink skin and smooth red flesh. The medium-tall, potato-leaf plant is best staked or caged. Our 'Quisenberry' strain is considered among the best. Indeterminate. USDA Certified Organic.

Harvest

78d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Blossom-End Rot of Tomato

☀️

Zones

10–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-10 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Brandywine in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 tomato →

Zone Map

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Brandywine · Zones 10–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Difficult

Spacing36-48 inches

SoilRich, deep, well-drained soil with abundant organic matter

pH6.2-6.8

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorIntensely sweet, rich, and complex with perfect acid balance

ColorPink to rose-pink with some yellow shoulders

Size1 lb.

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – April	June – July	—	September – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	—	August – October
Zone 5	March – March	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 6	March – March	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	—	July – September
Zone 8	February – February	April – May	—	July – September
Zone 9	January – January	March – April	—	June – August
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	—	May – July

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible, Showy

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Bloom time: Fall, Summer

Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Brandywine tomatoes store best at room temperature, stem-side down, away from direct sunlight. Never refrigerate unless fully ripe—cold temperatures destroy their complex flavor compounds. Properly harvested fruits last 3-5 days on the counter, developing deeper flavor as they rest.

For preservation, Brandywine's low acid content makes them unsuitable for water-bath canning unless combined with added acid. However, they excel when frozen whole (remove skins after thawing for sauce), dehydrated into intensely flavored chips, or processed into paste for freezing. Their exceptional flavor shines in fermented applications like green tomato kimchi or pickled green slices. Roasted Brandywine puree freezes beautifully and captures their summer essence for winter soups and stews.

History & Origin

Brandywine traces its lineage to the 1880s, originating from the Amish communities in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Brandywine Creek. The variety gained widespread recognition through Johnson & Stokes seed company catalogs in the 1890s, where it was marketed as the ultimate large pink tomato for discerning gardeners.

The variety nearly disappeared during the mid-20th century hybridization boom but was rescued by seed saver Ben Quisenberry of Kentucky in the 1980s. Quisenberry obtained seeds from Dorris Sudduth Hill, whose family had maintained the strain for generations. Seed Savers Exchange helped popularize the variety among home gardeners in the 1990s.

Today, several distinct Brandywine strains exist, including Red Brandywine, Yellow Brandywine, and Black Brandywine, though the original pink variety remains the standard. The name likely derives from either Brandywine Creek or the brandy-colored shoulders some fruits display. This heirloom represents the peak of 19th-century tomato breeding for flavor over commercial traits.

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
+Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
+Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Basil

Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor

Marigold

Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds

Oregano

Repels spider mites and provides ground cover

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps

Carrots

Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients

Chives

Repel aphids and may reduce fungal diseases

Nasturtium

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Lettuce

Provides living mulch and utilizes different soil levels

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds

Brassicas

Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth

Corn

Both attract corn earworm and compete for similar nutrients

Nutrition Facts

Calories

27kcal(1%)

Protein

0.83g(2%)

Fiber

2.1g(8%)

Carbs

5.51g(2%)

Fat

0.63g(1%)

Vitamin C

27.2mg(30%)

Vitamin K

4.2mcg(4%)

Iron

0.33mg(2%)

Calcium

11mg(1%)

Potassium

260mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Very limited disease resistance, requires preventive care

Common Pests

Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites, cutworms

Diseases

Late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, cracking, blossom end rot

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Brandywine tomato take to grow?▼

Brandywine tomatoes require 85-100 days from transplant to harvest, making them a long-season variety. Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date for best results. In northern climates (zones 3-5), choose the shortest-season varieties or start extra early to ensure ripening before fall frost.

Is Brandywine tomato good for beginners?▼

Brandywine is considered difficult and not recommended for beginners due to its susceptibility to diseases, need for intensive support systems, and specific growing requirements. New gardeners should start with disease-resistant varieties like Celebrity or Mountain Fresh Plus before attempting heirloom varieties like Brandywine.

Can you grow Brandywine tomatoes in containers?▼

Yes, but use containers at least 20-25 gallons with excellent drainage. The large plant size and heavy fruit production demand substantial root space and consistent moisture. Provide sturdy 8-foot stakes and expect lower yields than garden-grown plants. Container growing actually helps prevent some soil-borne diseases that affect this variety.

What does Brandywine tomato taste like?▼

Brandywine offers an intensely sweet, complex flavor with perfect acid balance and rich, almost wine-like undertones. The taste is often described as 'old-fashioned' tomato flavor at its peak—what tomatoes used to taste like before modern breeding prioritized shipping over flavor. The texture is meaty yet tender with minimal seeds.

When should I plant Brandywine tomato seeds?▼

Start Brandywine seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last expected frost date. Seeds germinate slowly (10-14 days) and plants need warm soil (60°F+) for transplanting. In most areas, this means starting seeds in late February to early March for May transplanting. Never rush—cold soil stunts growth significantly.

Brandywine vs Cherokee Purple tomato - what's the difference?▼

While both are prized heirloom varieties, Brandywine produces larger pink fruits (1-2 lbs) with sweeter flavor, while Cherokee Purple yields smaller purple fruits (10-12 oz) with more complex, smoky taste. Brandywine requires longer growing season (85-100 days vs 80-90) but Cherokee Purple offers slightly better disease resistance in most climates.