Yellow Brandywine
Solanum lycopersicum 'Yellow Brandywine'
A stunning golden yellow variant of the famous Brandywine that offers the same exceptional flavor profile with a beautiful sunny color and slightly milder taste. These large, creamy yellow beefsteaks create gorgeous contrast in fresh dishes and provide a conversation-starting addition to any heirloom collection. The sweet, low-acid flavor makes them perfect for those sensitive to high-acid tomatoes.
Harvest
85-95d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–10
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Yellow Brandywine in USDA Zone 7
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Yellow Brandywine · Zones 10–10
Growing Details
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 | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | August – October |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | June – August |
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
Store freshly harvested Yellow Brandywines at room temperature, stem-side down, for optimal flavor development – refrigeration dulls their delicate taste. Properly harvested fruits will keep 5-7 days on the counter, longer if picked slightly underripe.
For preservation, Yellow Brandywines excel in freezing for winter sauces due to their low acidity and sweet flavor. Core and quarter the tomatoes, then freeze on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags. Their mild flavor also makes excellent tomato water – salt slices overnight, strain, and freeze the resulting liquid for a concentrated tomato essence.
While their low acidity requires pressure canning for safety, these tomatoes shine when dried into sweet, chewy pieces that concentrate their unique flavor. Slice thick and dehydrate at 135°F until leathery but still pliable.
History & Origin
Yellow Brandywine represents a natural color variation of the legendary Brandywine tomato, one of America's most cherished heirloom varieties. The original pink Brandywine traces its roots to the late 1800s, developed by Amish communities in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Brandywine Creek – hence the name.
This golden variant likely emerged through careful seed saving by dedicated gardeners who noticed and selected for the striking yellow coloration while maintaining the variety's prized flavor characteristics. Unlike many yellow tomatoes that sacrifice taste for novelty, Yellow Brandywine preserves the complex, rich flavor that made its pink parent famous among tomato connoisseurs.
The variety gained wider recognition in the 1980s and 1990s as the heirloom tomato movement flourished, with seed savers recognizing its value as both a beautiful and delicious addition to the Brandywine family. Today, it's considered one of the finest yellow slicing tomatoes available, representing generations of careful selection for both beauty and exceptional taste.
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, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Carrots
Help break up soil around tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repel aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Oregano
Repels many insects and may help protect against fungal diseases
Lettuce
Benefits from tomato shade and doesn't compete for deep nutrients
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Limited disease resistance typical of heirloom varieties
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, cracking in wet weather