We just tried the first fully-ripe Brandywine tomato from the garden. I can tell you this:

[Redstone]

it is absolutely, positively, beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt worth the extra attention you have to give to grow heirloom tomatoes.

Not that I've ever met a variety of tomato that I didn't like, as long as it's a local (preferable as local as my back yard), genuinely ripe-on-the-vine one. I'll NEVER turn my nose up at a well-grown Big Boy or Early Girl.

But the Brandywines are utterly sublime. And so low in acid that I think I'll have six or seven more tonight. Or however many I can, as long as the supply of basil mayonnaise holds out.

Redstone

[TK421]

1. They sound yummy....just how difficult is it to grow them?

You've sparked my curiosity, now

[Redstone]

2. Not terribly, but you do have to support them carefully and pay attention to watering,

because they're prone to cracking if overwatered.

Redstone

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Here two more to consider for next year's garden,

***Cherokee purples (the best of the "black" tomatoes IMHO.) Sliced on a plate alongside those Brandywines and it's heaven indeed. Cherokees are available in any good nursery because they've become quite popular.






**Striped Germans are a yellow/red large tomato like Brandywine. It looks like a Pineapple tomato but is very different in flavor. Each one weighs in at 1.5 to 2 lbs. I buy seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds in Maine -- I've never seen this variety as a live plant in retail stores.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/product.aspx?category=1&subcategory=498&item=2372

[NV Whino]

4. I'll second the vote for Cherokee Purples

But I'm growing Brandywines this year too. Green grapes have an interesting flavor, too. So far all that have come in are the green grapes and a few cherries. Still waiting on the big guys.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. If you're in the valley your microclimate is similar to mine

here in the Diablo Valley. It's been a slow year for the tomatoes and peppers. The hybrids (Early Girl, Sweet 100) have been producing since late June but the heirlooms have just started to ripen in the past week or so. Last week's heat triggered the ripening. We have picked a few Cherokees but none of the other big heirlooms.

Hornworms destroyed my only Brandywine plant.

[Cassandra]

6. Cherokee purples are great but my favorite is...

Amish Paste. In a good year (no too dry) they are a great eating tomato with a very rich flavor.

[Redstone]

8. OK, I've heard of those, too. Dang, we're going to have to double the garden size next year,

because I believe we'll plant some of those in addition to Gormy's recommendations.

I am an utter SLAVE to a good 'mater.

Redstone

[Redstone]

7. Oh, my, my, thank you. I'd heard of both of those types, and will definitely plant some

of each, based on your recommendation. And the picture of the Cherokee Purples. I know enough about tomatoes to know that those look like damn tasty ones, in all of their "odd color" and "imperfections."

God, REAL tomatoes (not, as I've said, to insult a well-ripened Big Boy). I am SO happy to see the "heirloom vegetable" movement take off as it has, especially for tomatoes.

So, now, do you have any recomendations for "heirloom" cucumbers? Those are our second-favorite homegrown vegetable.

Redstone

[Gormy Cuss]

11. Can't help you with cucumbers because of the climate differences

My dry, hot climate is brutal on traditional cucumbers. I grow mostly Armenian cukes, (c. melo) rather than a true cucumber (c.sativis) because they thrive here.

I hear that Boothby's Blonde is a good heirloom but haven't grown it myself.

Johnny's seeds has a great catalog with extensive culture information and lots of varieties that are well suited for the New England garden.

[NV Whino]

13. My lemon cukes are blooming like crazy

and producing no fruit. I have a mislabeled pepper. It was supposed to be pasilla, but it's long and skinny. Don't know what it is. And my green grape tomatoes seem to be red grape tomatoes now that I've tried a few... and watched others ripen to red. Nothing like a surprise garden.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. You should try the Armenians

They are much more reliable and never bitter. The most common one is lime green and nobby, but there's a variety called "painted serpent" that looks more like our traditional cukes . All Armenians produce like crazy after heat spells.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/product.aspx?category=1&subcategory=20&item=2317

The slicers and pickling cukes are good for early and late fruit for me, but in the hottest part of summer they put out weak, bitter fruit.

I know about mystery plants. I've even had some random plants from seed --Seeds of Change mislabeled a tomato variety one year.

[NV Whino]

18. Truth is

the only cukes I like are the lemon cukes.

[Redstone]

9. PS: "johnnyseeds" duly bookmarked for future ordering. Great place; thanks for the link.

Redstone

[Kali]

10. OMG! My first ensalata caprese.

My tomatoes, my basil, mozzarella, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Why didn't somebody tell me about this? (not the tomatoes, the fresh basil!)

I don't even know what kind of tomatoes these are - they were on sale on the side of the feed store - but as you say - off the vine and its all good!

edit to add the CHEESE!

[redqueen]

12. Oh yes... they are so delicious.

:)

[Whisp]

14. i'm not familiar with Brandywines, but back in the farm days the old Beef Steaks

were gourmet.
the slabs were as big as the home made bread loaf slices. out of this world goodness.
very rare for me to find a really good tomato nowadays to compare (our yard isn't conducive to tomato planting).

we also used to eat them like apples with a bit of sugar sprinkled on them. mmmmm. drippy chin juicy.

[Speck Tater]

15. In addition to my old standbys,

I'm trying "Campbell" this year. They are still green, but they are looking wonderful. The blurb at the nursery said they were developed many, many years ago by Campbell's company for their tomato soup.

[libodem]

16. I'm jealous

I love good home grown tomatoes. Mine are all still green and smallish. I started late. I have grow boxes where you water the lower level and it wicks up from the bottom. I have a couple of fairly thick lush plants and 4 Charlie Brown Christmas tree pitiful looking ones. I do have a fine red basil plant. The flavored mayo sounds yummy. Hope you and yours are doing well and that your pain is well under control. I have a lot of empathy. BTW my oldest son warned me once about tomatoes being from the nightshade family and that they can aggravate connective tissue diseases. I hope it's a lie!

[spinbaby]

19. I can hardly wait for ours

:bounce:

For some reason, all we have so far are yellow tomatoes.