Editorially reviewedLast reviewed 10/06/2026 · The Tomato Post Growing DeskPassport ref TP-BRANDYWINE
At a glance
- Cultivar
- Brandywine (Sudduth's Strain)
- Also known as
- Pink Brandywine, Sudduth's
- Botanical
- Solanum lycopersicum
- Origin
- United States (Amish heritage)
- Introduced
- 1885
- Fruit
- Large, ribbed beefsteak, Pink-red, 300–500 g
- Flavour
- Sweetness 7/10 · Acidity 5/10 — Very meaty, few seeds, some green shoulders.
Growing calendar
Sow
Feb · Mar
Plant
May · Jun
Harvest
Aug · Sept · Oct
Growing guidance
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Days to maturity
- 90 days
- Height / spread
- 1.8–2.4 m / 60 cm
- Indoor / outdoor
- both
- Greenhouse
- good
- Containers
- acceptable — 45 L per plant
- Support
- Strong stake; heavy fruit will bend flimsy supports.
- Pruning
- Cordon; a single leader gives largest fruit. Two-leader training extends harvest.
- Feeding
- Consistent high-potash feed from first truss; avoid overfeeding early which delays fruiting.
- Watering
- Deep, less frequent watering encourages flavour concentration.
- Disease resistance
- Heirloom — limited resistance. Provide airflow; avoid overhead watering.
- Common problems
- Late fruiting in cool summers, some cracking.
- Seed saving
- Open-pollinated; comes true from saved seed.
- In the kitchen
- Thick slices with sea salt, olive oil and cracked pepper. Do not cook — eat.
A note on weather and microclimate
Every plot is different. Regional weather, aspect, soil and glasshouse ventilation all affect timing and vigour. Treat these figures as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Current growers, kitchens and seed
Growers on record
- Cinderwood Market Garden · Cheshire
- Pen-y-Bryn Croft · Powys
Currently served by
- Tŷ'n y Coed · Machynlleth
Seed
- Independent UK seed housesMost named heritage lines are carried by more than one supplier; we list categories rather than endorse a seller.
- Seed circles and swapsCommunity seed circles carry open-pollinated lines, often locally adapted. Provenance varies.
Sources
No external sources cited for this entry — content is original editorial and grower observation.