Brandywine tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum "Brandywine") have been considered to be some of the most flavorful tomatoes by generations of home gardeners across the country. These large indeterminate plants produce fruits weighing up to 1 1/2 pounds 90 to 100 days after being transplanted into the garden. Although Brandywine can sometimes be purchased as starter plants, often gardeners seeking these exceptional and irregular fruits must start their plants from seed. Germinating Brandywine tomato seeds is a simple process that any gardener can master.
Fill peat pots or strips to within 1/2 inch of the rim with soilless seed starting medium. Place the pots in a plastic plant tray and water the pots thoroughly. Allow them to stand in the tray for several hours to absorb as much water as possible. Check the medium after about two hours; if the color is dark and the medium is moist to the touch, discard any remaining standing water in the tray.
Set a seed germination mat to about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the plastic tray containing the filled and moistened peat pots directly on the mat and allow them to warm overnight. Check the temperature of the soil with a probe thermometer before planting your seeds for best results.
Plant two or three seeds in the center of each pot, about 1/4 inch deep. Cover the whole tray with heavy duty plastic wrap or place it inside a clear bag and seal it tightly. Place the covered tray back on the germination mat. The seeds should emerge in six to 12 days. Move the tray of emerging seedlings from the germination mat to a spot in a sunny, south-facing window once their first true leaves appear.
Things You Will Need
- Peat pots or strips
- Soilless seed starting medium
- Plastic plant tray
- Seed germination mat
- Probe thermometer
- Heavy duty plastic wrap (optional)
- Clear plastic bag (optional)
- Start Brandywine tomato seeds six to eight weeks before the last frost is expected in your area for the best crop. Set plants out in the garden during the month of May.
- Do not allow your seeds or young seedlings to dry out. Check the containers daily and water if needed.
- University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service: Brandywine Tomato
- University of Missouri Bradford Research and Extension Center: Tomato Research
- Cornell University: Tomatoes
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Time to Plant Tomatoes
- University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden
- Martin Poole/Digital Vision/Getty Images