The Brandywine tomato is a celebrated heirloom variety, recognized for its exceptional flavor and impressive size. Dating back to the late 19th century, this cultivar produces some of the largest tomatoes a home gardener can cultivate. Understanding the expected size of both the fruit and the vine helps in planning and care to ensure the plant reaches its full potential.
Fruit Size Expectations
Most Brandywine varieties produce large, beefsteak-type fruit, typically weighing between 10 ounces and 1.5 pounds (0.3 to 0.7 kilograms) each. Individual fruits on a well-maintained plant can often reach 2 pounds or more, substantially larger than most standard tomato varieties. The diameter of these rounded, meaty tomatoes can be up to seven inches across, making them ideal for slicing.
The final size is influenced by the specific strain grown, such as the Pink Brandywine (often the largest), Yellow Brandywine, or Sudduth’s Strain. While the total yield per plant is generally lower than smaller, hybrid varieties, the sheer mass of each individual fruit makes the Brandywine a worthwhile investment for gardeners prioritizing size and flavor.
Vine Height and Indeterminate Growth
Brandywine plants have an indeterminate growth habit, meaning the vine continues to grow, flower, and set fruit throughout the entire season until the first hard frost. This continuous growth pattern allows the plant to achieve significant dimensions over time. In ideal conditions with sufficient warmth and sunlight, these vines commonly reach heights of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters).
Some vigorous plants can even exceed 10 feet tall. Because of this massive vertical growth and the heavy weight of the large fruits, robust support is necessary. This typically requires strong staking, caging, or trellising to prevent the vine from collapsing under its own bulk.
Cultural Practices Influencing Size
Light and Soil
Achieving the maximum size potential for Brandywine tomatoes depends on providing optimal growing conditions and specific care. The plant requires a minimum of eight hours of direct, full sunlight daily to fuel the energy needed for its substantial growth and fruit development. Fertile, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter is also important to help the plant thrive.
Nutrition and Watering
Fertilization must be carefully managed, favoring nutrients like phosphorus and potassium to support flowering and fruiting. Excessive nitrogen should be avoided, as it primarily promotes leafy green growth at the expense of fruit size. Consistent, deep watering is paramount, since erratic watering can stress the plant and lead to problems like blossom end rot, resulting in lost or smaller fruit.
Strategic Pruning
A key technique to increase the size of individual tomatoes is strategic pruning. Brandywine plants can be pruned to one or two main stems by regularly removing the side shoots, or “suckers,” that grow in the leaf axils. This practice redirects the plant’s energy away from producing more stems and leaves and focuses it instead on developing the remaining fruit clusters. By reducing the overall number of fruits, the plant can channel more resources into the select few, allowing them to swell to their maximum possible size.