Brandywine Black Tomato Seeds

Brandywine Black tomato was developed during the 1920s by a dentist turned plant breeder, Dr. Harold E. Martin, from Westtown, Pennsylvania. He is most famous for having introduced huge lima beans to the seed market but never released the tomato seeds to the public. It is due to the effort of the family of famed seed collector William Woys Weaver that this unique variety was stewarded until its release in 2008. Brandywine Black is said to be a natural cross between the Brandywine tomato and the Feejee Improved, or another brown beefsteak tomato, although it cannot be verified. This is hotly debated in the tomato enthusiast community.

Black Brandywine produces medium-sized tomatoes, usually around 6 ounces, but can reach up to a pound. The fruits are characterized by their rich, dusky purple-blackish tones and a flavour profile that is complex, earthy, smoky and sweet, with a hint of spice. The Brandywine Black tomato plant, like many heirloom tomato varieties, tends to be quite robust in size and usually require staking or caging due to their vigorous growth habit. Typically, the plants will reach heights of about 6 to 8 feet, depending on growing conditions. Brandywine Black is an indeterminate variety, so the plants will grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season until it's halted by the first frost.

Thanks to its outstanding flavour and texture, Brandywine Black tomatoes are a versatile and unique addition to your cooking. Their rich, juicy flesh with a slightly sweet flavour makes them ideal for sauces, slicing into salads, sandwiches or as a standout ingredient in gourmet dishes. Their unique colour will be sure to add visual appeal to any plate, whether used fresh or cooked.

- Latin Name: Solanum lycopersicum
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 90
- Planting Depth: 5 mm - 1 cm
- Plant Spacing: 45-60 cm
- Row Spacing: 120 cm
- Growth Habit: Indeterminate

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

For most folks, tomatoes are an indispensable summer fruit. There are scores of heirloom varieties showcasing different shapes, sizes, colors, flavours and textures. Tap into this large selection when starting from seed. You have the ability to grow and eat your perfect tomato!

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. In flats or individual pots, plant seeds at 1 cm. Make sure soil stays warm and moist. The ideal temperature for germination is 21°C. Keep seedlings under lights, a few centimeters away from the top of the plants and adjust as needed. An oscillating fan will provide the young plants some resistance. This will result in stockier stems and more structurally sound tomato plants. Seedlings should be hardened off a week prior to transplanting.

When the soil is 16°c and all danger of frost has passed it is time to transplant. Pinch off any sets of lower leaves that are yellow or faded so more of the stem can be buried. Place roots deeply into the hole to the point that the bottom leaves are just above the surface of the soil. Roots will sprout from the stalk and provide a stronger base for the plant.

Provide a site with full sun and well-drained soil. Water well, about 5cm/week, mulch and feed every two weeks. Leave fruits on the vine to ripen as long as possible.

There are two main categories of tomato plants: determinate and indeterminate.

A determinate tomato is a bush-type plant, usually reaching about three to four feet tall, making them ideal for the small-space gardener. The fruits of a determinate tomato plant ripen all at once, which is useful for those who want to grow tomatoes for canning.

Indeterminate tomatoes grow continuously until the first frost and can reach six to twenty feet in height. Indeterminate plants produce tomatoes all season long for a continuous harvest.

If indeterminate varieties are being grown, be sure to set up tall trellises or cages to support the wandering vines. One sturdy stake and some twine should suffice for determinate varieties.

Tomatoes can easily be frozen whole, but never refrigerate a tomato. This will deteriorate its fresh garden taste and texture. Enjoy fresh throughout the season and make multiple batches of sauce and salsa to savour through the winter.

QUICK FACTS

- The ancestor of the tomato is native to South America, where the wild versions are the size of peas. The Spanish first introduced tomatoes to Europe during the 1500s. Unique varieties were developed over the next several hundred years to improve production, size, shape, colour, and flavour.

- Tomato seeds will remain viable for 5 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.