How to Grow Brandywine Pink
Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine Pink'
Brandywine Pink is a beloved heirloom tomato prized for its rich, complex flavor reminiscent of classic vintage varieties. Gardeners grow this warm-season crop to enjoy juicy, pink-fleshed fruit that excels in salads and sauces, though it requires attentive care due to lower disease resistance.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Brandywine Pink: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Brandywine Pink is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; plant seeds directly outdoors only after the last spring frost when soil temperatures are consistently warm enough for tomatoes.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 for optimal growth. As a warm-season plant, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date or sow directly outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm. Press seeds into the medium about 1/4 inch deep. Expect germination within 7 to 14 days.
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart in full sun, providing sturdy cages or trellises for support since they can reach 10 feet tall. Maintain consistent moisture by watering deeply at the base; avoid wetting foliage to reduce disease risk. Apply organic mulch around the base and feed regularly with balanced fertilizer during the fruiting stage.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, and cutworms, treating infestations promptly by hand or with approved sprays. Prevent late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, cracking, and blossom end rot through good air circulation, consistent watering, and avoiding overhead irrigation. Harvest fruits 85 to 100 days after transplanting when they reach full pink color.
When to Plant Brandywine Pink
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | October – September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | September – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | August – October |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 11 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 12 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 13 | January | — | May – July |
Companion Plants for Brandywine Pink
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Loosens soil around tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Provides ground cover to retain soil moisture and has shallow roots that don't compete
Deters nematodes, whiteflies, and other harmful insects with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Repels many insects and may provide some disease resistance benefits
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control tomato pests
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure for both crops
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
