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Growing Brandywine Yellow Organic Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden

Give your plants a head start about two months before the last spring frost. Use well-draining potting soil or coco coir to start the seeds. Plant 2 or 3 seeds in each cell a quarter inch deep. Use a gentle watering can or mister hose attachment to water the seeds. If the seeds are kept warm and moist, they should emerge into seedlings in around 7-10 days. Quickly move them to light as soon as they break the soil surface. They should receive 8-16 hours of light during the day, followed by a corresponding period of darkness. Once the seedlings are 1-2 inches tall, thin them, leaving a single strong seedling per cell.

When they get two true leaves, fertilize them with a mild, balanced fertilizer. Options like compost tea or worm castings can be very beneficial. When the seedlings have grown to fill the cell with their roots, transplant them into 6-inch pots to continue developing. Around two weeks before their predicted transplant date, gradually acclimate them to their new environment; leave them outdoors for some hours during the warmest part of each day, and add a few more hours daily as you get closer to the transplant date. Keep them indoors at night and if temperatures drop. Do not transplant until temperatures are consistently above 60 F or provide temporary cold protection if temperatures are below the 50s F.

Provide Brandywine with loamy, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil. Adding compost to the soil is a great way to increase water retention and nutrient density. When transplanting, remove all the leaves on the bottom two-thirds of the plant and bury it deeply. This will encourage lots of root development. Given the right environment, tomato plants, unlike other plants, can sprout roots from anywhere along their stem. Apply a balanced fertilizer at the time of transplantation.

Throughout the season, prune the plant by removing suckers and bottom leaves. This practice prevents unnecessary disease and allows the plant to put more energy toward producing fruit. It is critical for the tomato plants to receive full sun throughout the season. Fertilize at least once more about halfway through the season. If possible, water them in the morning, and avoid splashing the leaves with water. Brandywine reaches maturity about 90 days after transplantation.

Harvesting Brandywine Yellow Organic Slicer Tomatoes

This indeterminate variety will produce fruit until the plant dies, typically from a hard frost. Promptly harvest ripe fruit to avoid overburdening the plant and encourage more production. Harvest the fruit when it is red, shiny, and firm. Gently twist or snip the tomato to remove it. Unripened tomatoes can be harvested and finished ripening indoors if necessary.

About Organic Brandywine Yellow Tomato Garden Seeds

Brandywine Yellow is a potato leaf variety. The leaves are smooth rather than the regular serrated variety. This helps the tomatoes be better shaded from the sun. Brandywine tomatoes are indeterminate. They are heavy-yielders yet need support, such as a trellis with ties.

Regarding organic gardening, consistency is critical. The best chance you will have at defending against pests and diseases is by preventing them to begin with. Check out our IPM blog for ideas!

Tomatoes grown from Brandywine Yellow tomato seeds are beefsteaks. Fresh from the vine, they are prized for their sandwich-sized slicers with a delicious flavor. They also pair well in salads with other fresh garden produce. Brandywine Yellow tomatoes may be cooked, canned, frozen, or dried like any other tomato.

Yellow Brandywine is one of the last to produce fruit in the garden; however, it is worth the wait! Most fruits weigh in at between 1 and 2 pounds. Make sure to provide strong support. It has no notable disease problems and can even withstand unscathed mild freezes. It is not as prolific as Red Brandywine, so plant a few extra plants if you want a lot. While all Brandywine tomato colors are delicious, the yellow nature of this variety adds a distinct color to the summer table.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Yellow tomatoes are typically less acidic than red tomatoes. If you have trouble with the acidity of typical tomatoes, try Yellow Brandywine! You will be surprised how deliciously sweet and balanced the flavor is."

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Resources

• Guide to Tomatoes

Brandywine Yellow Slicer Tomato Seeds Per Package:

• 125 mg packet - Approximately 30 Seeds

Non-GMO Brandywine Yellow Slicer Tomato seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.