Brandywine Tomatoes: Get the Most From This Heirloom Variety

Maybe you've heard the buzz about heirloom tomatoes and want to get in on the action and try growing a few of your own. The Brandywine tomato variety available at Beier's Greenhouse is a great place to start. These plants are slightly different from the ones you might be used to growing, and benefit from just a little more attention.

A little historical background on the Brandywine tomato: In 1982, Ohio gardener Ben Quisenberry brought the Brandywine variety to the Seed Savers Exchange. He traced its history back to Doris Suddith Hill, who claimed the seeds had been in her family for 80 years.

Brandywine seeds were advertised in the Burpee catalog as far back as 1882. There's even a rumor that Amish settlers brought Brandywine seeds with them when they came to the United States. Can't beat that history!

If you're a rabid tomato gardener, you already know a lot about how to succeed with the mainstay hybrids (Beefmaster, Early Girl, etc.). These standards have been developed to have consistent, excellent results. The first time you grow Brandywine tomatoes, you'll quickly learn that they are not quite like the hybrids--and that's a good thing.

When it comes to raising healthy, productive Brandywines, keep in mind that they needed a little more love than some other tomato plants. Try these tips:

• Use 1-3 inches of mulch (mulch keeps your tomato crop clean, reduces weeds and helps keep the roots cool and moist)
  
• Vines tend to sprawl, so use tomato cages or be prepared to stake a whole lot
  
• The skins might crack, so pick them promptly when they're ripe
• The leaves look a lot like potatoes
  
• No two plants look identical
  
• They usually produce about 90 days after transplanting
  
• Fruits look more pink than deep red
  
• Fruits weigh 1 to 1 1/2 pounds (that's big)
  
• They are intensely "tomato-y" so prepare for taste bud overdrive

Enjoy your heirloom tomatoes!