Pink Brandywine

Pink Brandywine isn’t just a tomato — it’s a warm summer afternoon, a quilt on the porch swing, and the scent of honeysuckle on the breeze. With lace-edged leaves and fruit the color of a country sunset, this heirloom brings more than flavor to the table. It carries memory. Whether sliced thick for a tomato sandwich or admired for its old-soul charm, Pink Brandywine turns your garden into a place where time slows down and summer lingers just a little longer.

Pink Brandywine

Basic Info

  • Type: Indeterminate
  • Heritage: Heirloom
  • Color: Deep pink skin, pink-red flesh
  • Shape/Size: Large, irregular beefsteak; 12–20 oz average; ribbed shoulders
  • Leaf Type: Potato leaf

Flavor Profile

  • Rich, full tomato flavor with balanced sweetness and acidity.
  • Silky texture with dense flesh and small seed cavities.
  • Known for old-fashioned, "true tomato" taste.

Growth Habit

  • Plant size: Tall, vigorous vines (6–7 ft typical)
  • Support: Requires strong staking or cage
  • Days to Maturity: 80–90 days from transplant

Production Notes

  • Yield: Moderate to high (variable by year)
  • Fruit Set: Early heat can affect fruit set; sets better in moderate summer conditions
  • Disease Tolerance: Fair — sensitive to Septoria and leaf spots in humid seasons
  • Weather Notes: Best flavor in years with moderate summer heat and steady watering

Culinary Uses

  • Slicing — sandwiches, caprese salads
  • Fresh eating
  • Sauce — thick, rich, slightly sweet
  • Roasting — caramelizes beautifully

Growing Notes

  • Soil: Performs well in rich, well-draining KNF-amended soil
  • Fertilization: Benefits from mid-season calcium and potassium boost
  • Companion Plants: Thrives near basil and borage; marigolds help with pest reduction
  • KNF Applications: Regular LAB foliar, FPJ at flowering stage improves fruit quality
  • Pest Pressure: Susceptible to tomato hornworm if not monitored

Determinate vs. Indeterminate

Wondering what “indeterminate” really means for a tomato like Pink Brandywine?
This heirloom beauty grows tall, blooms continuously, and rewards you with fruit all season long — but it also needs strong support and regular maintenance. If you’re still deciding which tomato types suit your garden style, check out Part 1 of my Tomato Blog Series for a breakdown of Determinate vs. Indeterminate, plus tips for picking the best varieties for your space and goals.

Summertime Tomatoes

Pink Brandywine is an indeterminate heirloom—that means the vines don’t stop at one flush but keep stretching, flowering, and fruiting all season, so plan on a sturdy trellis and a little sucker-trimming to keep her in line. About 80 days after transplant you’ll start picking rosy beefsteaks that can nudge the 1 ½-pound mark, perfect first as fried-green slabs with breakfast and later as salt-sprinkled, juice-running sandwich slices. Give her room to ramble and she’ll pay you back in classic summer flavor. Summertime Tomatoes