Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine', Brandywine Tomato
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Vegetables

Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine'

Brandywine Tomato

SolanaceaeSouth America

At a Glance

Typeannual vegetable
Habitindeterminate vine
Foliagedeciduous
Height6-8 feet
Width3-4 feet

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4a - 10b
Zone 4a
Zone 4b
Zone 5a
Zone 5b
Zone 6a
Zone 6b
Zone 7a
Zone 7b
Zone 8a
Zone 8b
Zone 9a
Zone 9b
Zone 10a
Zone 10b
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancetender

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Deer Resistant
Container Friendly
Maintenancehigh

Overview

Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' is a legendary indeterminate heirloom tomato cultivar celebrated for its exceptional flavor and distinctive appearance. This vigorous climbing plant develops robust, sprawling vines that can reach 6-8 feet in height with a spreading habit of 3-4 feet, requiring substantial support structures throughout the growing season. The plant is immediately recognizable by its unique potato-leaf type foliage, featuring smooth-edged leaves with fewer leaflets than typical tomato varieties, creating a more open canopy structure that allows excellent light penetration and air circulation. The small, bright yellow, five-petaled flowers appear in loose clusters along the stems, developing into the cultivar's signature enormous fruits that typically weigh 1-2 pounds each. These spectacular beefsteak-type fruits display a distinctive flattened, deeply ribbed shape with pronounced shoulders and beautiful deep pink to red coloration when fully ripe, offering an incomparable balance of rich sweetness and subtle acidity that has made this variety a treasured heirloom for over a century.

Native Range

Solanum lycopersicum originates from the western regions of South America, particularly the Andes mountains of Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile, where wild ancestors still grow naturally in diverse habitats ranging from coastal areas to mountainous regions. The 'Brandywine' cultivar itself is an American heirloom variety that was developed and popularized in the eastern United States during the late 19th century, becoming a treasured variety passed down through generations of gardeners.

Suggested Uses

Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' excels as a centerpiece variety in vegetable gardens where its impressive size and unique foliage create visual interest, and works well in large containers with adequate support for patio gardens. The exceptional flavor and meaty texture make it ideal for fresh eating, gourmet sandwich slicing, and high-end culinary applications such as caprese salads, bruschetta, and heirloom tomato tasting plates. This variety is also perfect for farmers market production where premium heirloom varieties command higher prices due to their superior flavor and rarity.

How to Identify

Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' can be readily identified by its distinctive potato-type leaves with smooth, entire margins and fewer leaflets than typical tomato plants, creating a more open and less dense foliage appearance. The massive, deeply ribbed fruits are characteristically flattened rather than round, with pronounced shoulders and a distinctive pink to deep red color when fully ripe, often weighing 1-2 pounds each. The indeterminate growth habit produces tall, continuously growing vines that require substantial support, and small bright yellow star-shaped flowers appear in loose clusters throughout the growing season. The overall plant structure is robust and sprawling, with medium to dark green foliage that distinguishes it from regular-leaf tomato varieties.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 8'
Width/Spread3' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~26 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
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Summer
Continuously from mid-summer through first frost, with peak flowering during warm summer months when nighttime temperatures remain above 60°F

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Bright yellow

Foliage Description

Medium to dark green with smooth, potato-type leaves

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 6.8(Neutral)
357912
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

moderate to high

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

80-100 days

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' requires consistent deep watering, providing 1-2 inches per week through drip irrigation or soaker hoses to maintain even soil moisture while avoiding wetting the foliage. Install extra-sturdy support systems such as heavy-duty cages, stakes, or trellises at planting time to handle the substantial weight of the enormous fruits. Apply balanced fertilizer at planting, then switch to lower nitrogen formulations once flowering begins to promote fruit development. Mulch around plants with 2-3 inches of organic matter to retain moisture and prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing onto lower leaves. Space plants at least 36 inches apart for proper air circulation and monitor regularly for common tomato pests and diseases including hornworms, early blight, and fusarium wilt.

Pruning

Prune Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' by regularly removing suckers that develop between the main stem and branches throughout the growing season to focus energy on fruit production. Remove lower leaves that touch the soil or show signs of disease to improve air circulation and prevent pathogen transmission. As an indeterminate variety, continue weekly sucker removal during active growth periods, and consider topping the plant 4-6 weeks before first expected frost to redirect energy toward ripening existing fruits. Remove any damaged, diseased, or overcrowded branches throughout the season and secure heavy fruit-bearing branches to support structures as needed.

Pruning Schedule

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
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summer

Maintenance Level

high

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 25 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

The ripe fruits of Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' are completely safe and highly nutritious for human consumption. However, the green unripe fruits, leaves, stems, and roots contain solanine and other glycoalkaloids that are toxic to humans and pets if consumed in significant quantities, potentially causing gastrointestinal upset and other adverse symptoms. Keep pets and children away from plant foliage and unripe green fruits, and always allow fruits to fully ripen to their characteristic pink-red color before consumption.

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

transplant

Indoor Start

6 weeks before last frost

Direct Sow Timing

not recommended for direct sowing

Days to Maturity

80–100 days

Plant Spacing

36 inches

Companion Planting

Good Companions

basil
parsley
marigolds
nasturtiums
carrots
lettuce
onions
peppers

Avoid Planting With

fennel
brassicas
black walnut
corn
kohlrabi
Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' (Brandywine Tomato) - Identification & Care Guide | PlantRef