Brandywine Red

Family: Solanaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Brandywine Red to a garden.

Sink your senses into Brandywine Red’s rich, old-fashioned tomato fragrance and its first bite of deep, tangy sweetness.

This beefsteak standout forms large, irregularly hearted fruits with a satin-smooth, ruby-red blush and a pleasantly dense, juicy flesh—ideal for thick slices that shine in bold, simple preparations, as well as for luscious sauces and robust canning favorites. Grow it for the garden’s grand centerpiece: a sprawling, productive plant that rewards patience with unmistakable, heirloom-style flavor at about 90 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Brandywine Red

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Brandywine Red Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Oct 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 27th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 24th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 18th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 13th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Sep 3rd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jul 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Brandywine Red is a beefsteak built for the bite: dense, ruby flesh with tangy sweetness that holds its shape on a hot griddle or between thick slices of bread. Give it minimal support—salt, fat, and sharp aromatics—and it turns that old heirloom perfume into something you can taste all the way to the finish.

Best Uses

thick slice sandwiches on hearty bread—juices stay put instead of flooding
lightly salted tomato with flaky salt and good olive oil (no-fuss showcase)
pan-seared quick sauce where the flesh breaks down into a silky, ruby spoonable texture
chunky canning-style tomato prep for long stews—built to hold flavor and body

Flavor Profile

old-school tomato fragrance tangy sweetness with bright acidity dense, juicy flesh for thick slices satin-smooth ruby interior that stays cohesive when cut

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil balsamic vinegar mozzarella fresh thyme black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Brandywine Red tomato leaves getting yellow spots and what should I do about it?

Yellowing with brown, expanding spots that start on the lower leaves is often early blight or septoria in tomatoes. Remove and discard the affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line (not the foliage). Start a labeled tomato fungicide and reapply as directed every 5–7 days during wet periods to prevent spread.

How often should I water Brandywine Red tomatoes during the main growing phase?

During flowering and fruiting, keep the soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, adjusting for heat and rainfall. Water deeply 2–3 times per week rather than daily sprinkles, and stop when the top 1 inch of soil is dry to the touch. Inconsistent watering can cause blossom-end rot and cracking on Brandywine Red.

How can I tell when Brandywine Red tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruits are fully colored (deep red with a slight pink-to-red finish) and feel slightly soft at the blossom end. For Brandywine Red, avoid waiting for full softness—picking at the first “gives a little” stage helps prevent cracking while keeping flavor at its peak. If nights are cool, watch for pinkish-red color break and test ripeness by gently pressing the fruit.