Brandywines for Commercial Production
 

I'll be growing several varieties of Brandywine this year and would like to get some input and opinions about which are most suited for commercial production. I grow them every year but they typically look so deformed, people want the other, prettier hybrid varieties.

So, which Brandywines have the smoothest, most uniform appearance, for the purpose of selling at a farmer's market? I live in Mississippi and one year I grew Sudduth specifically and remember how surprised I was at how well they did in the MS heat, and how uniform they looked. I'll be planting a lot of those this season, but since I joined Tomatoville in early 2006 there have been a lot of new variations of BW that are now available and I haven't tried them all, and for all I know some may be turning out to be real winners in the farmer's markets.

Thanks in advance!
DS

[B][FONT=Garamond][SIZE=3]OTV Brandywine might be worth trialing this year. [/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

Can only speak about Sudduth. Very little deformity and monster production. Even if it were ugly I would grow it every year.

I've read on here before that Brandy boy has become a stabilized. It may be worth a shot.

I grew Cowlick's, Sudduth's, and Glick's, as well as other twists on those. Sudduth's and Cowlick's do best, but hybrids of them produce better market quality tomatoes. I sell a bunch at farmers markets, and grow in a near perfect GH environment.

AKMark. Which Brandywine hybrids are you referring to?

I've had good luck with Sudduth, and will be planting some in full sun and some in cooler, more shady places for late summer production. The pictures and reviews of see of OTV have encouraged me to put them on the list, too. I heard the same thing about BrandyBoy, and will have some of those, too.

Thanks. This basically verified what I suspected, and I appreciate your input.
DS

I haven't had much luck with Brandywines as a market tomato. The best heirloom pinks I have had that were good market producers are Crnkovic Yugoslav and Anna Maria's Heart.

[url]http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Crnkovic_Yugoslavian[/url]
[url]http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Anna_Maria%27s_Heart[/url]

Down here, "Brandywine" is the magic name. No one would have a clue, or any interest, if I said, "Crnkovic Yugoslav" or "Anna Maria's Heart."

I didn't grow many BW's last year, and the ones I did were just the ""pinks" from our local chain stores. Those can really look beat up.

I'll try the Sudduth, OTV, and Brandy Boy for sure. If they don't look too weird, they'll sell like hotcakes in Alaska in the winter.

Thanks for all the input!
DS

Crnkovic has fairly high shelf life. Production is unbeatable and it's highly crack resistant. If there ever was a pink for commercial production, this is the one. Shape is ok, not too catfaced but certainly not regular looking either.

What's the average weight in your experience?

About 300g.

While I only grow a home garden, I was very impressed by Crnkovic. Good sized tomatoes (8-12oz) with very good flavor, late mid-season, plants are quite productive and foliage was one of the healthier ones in the garden.

You could call it Yugoslavian Brandywine. No one would know the difference. Customers will tend to make up their own names, anyway. I sold a lot of Mat-Su Express, and almost everyone called it 'that Alaskan tomato.'

Obviously on here, we care about getting the names right, but I have hardly ever had a customer that cares that much about knowing the precisely correct name.

[QUOTE=TomatoDon;681977]AKMark. Which Brandywine hybrids are you referring to?

I've had good luck with Sudduth, and will be planting some in full sun and some in cooler, more shady places for late summer production. The pictures and reviews of see of OTV have encouraged me to put them on the list, too. I heard the same thing about BrandyBoy, and will have some of those, too.

Thanks. This basically verified what I suspected, and I appreciate your input.
DS[/QUOTE]

I would use Brandy Boy for a larger beefsteak type, or Mat-Su Express for an earlier mid size type.
I will also suggest Cornkovic Yugoslavian over Brandywine. They have an incredible taste, and are a better market tomato, shape, handling, etc. I did a cross of it too, we will see where that project goes.
Good luck

I agree with all who said they they liked Crnkovic Yugoslavian.

And why not.;)

[url]http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Crnkovic_Yugoslavian[/url]

Carolyn