Nice one Colin. Sounds like you'll do better over the autumn. Must say I'm surprised that Brandywine Sudduth has held up. It's got a bad reputation in the heat.

Thanks Colin. Very useful report!

I'll be keen to try Brandywine Sudduth based on your results.

My College Challenger has yet to produce any ripe fruit but there'll plenty of it by the looks...

I've had nothing but trouble from the Black Russian too - they look like they're rotting before they ripen.

My winner among the heirlooms has been Stupice, It was the first to ripen and is producing a lot of fruit. I'm a bit surprised at how well it done in the heat.

Plenty of +40º days here too but no rain.

Amanda

Good stuff, Colin. I mean the report, not your travails! The PL Marianna's Peace is obviously the right one, but there are also some known variations within PL Marianna's Peace. You can get either relatively smooth-shouldered fruit or scalloped/ribbed fruit depending on the seed source.

Glad to see Sudduth has worked for you. Its mortal enemies are heat together with humidity. If you don't get much humidity, and if the heat isn't prolonged, they can work.

Maybe humidity is the key for BS. We couldn't have had any more heat unless we were in the middle of the desert. Honestly has been the hottest, longest summer here for a long time. In todays local rag, Feb average max temp 35c, 6mm of rain which was about 80mm short of average. Supposed to be our wettest month. The two 20+mm downpours were 2 days apart in early Jan were very heavy. That has been about it for 2 months. Only had a couple of humid days. I checked last week at 2pm when it was 42c and there was no wilting or scorching. Only negative is fruit set. Lots of flowers but only about 10-20% set. May be heat related. In the last week we have had a 42 and two 40's. The BS was about a foot from the top of the mesh and is now starting to poke over it.

Good to compare notes Amanda. Obviously there is a lot of variation from region to region. Weather, soil, etc. Our regions very similar so will be good for comparison. What does Stupice taste like? How are your pumpkins going? I had 3 butternuts sprout at the same time that your paddock melons did. 2 fruit between them.

Colin

Colin, the absence of humidity has to be the key. For what it's worth, you're doing exceedingly well with Sudduth, because it's famous - and frustrating! - for being a low producer even in the most sympathetic conditions. The main reason, apparently, is its large flowers, with their size and shape a problem for pollination. It's one of those varieties that benefits from giving the flowers a regular flick with the fingers to aid and abet pollination. Regardless, you're in for a treat. I grew Sudduth last season - ending up with a total of four fruit for the season! - and it's the best tasting tomato I've come across.

Colin, thanks so much for your report, I have some friends in northern SA who I am planning to grow some seedlings for this year, would like to give them some that are most likely to do well in hot, dry places. Any other info would be great! Are you watering with bore water?

cheers, mudlark

Brandywine has been a disaster so far this season but my Black russian has had a power of fruit but has now succumbed to some sort of wilt. Not worried as I have had some value from it. Stupice has also been disappointing. For that matter, Australian red fruit have been small too.
Craiglee continues to crop well, albeit small.

I agree 100 per cent w/ the salient observation that low fruit-set and general lack of vigour in tomato plants is related to high humidity. This has been a particularly sultry summer in Sydney. Having said that, the latest regrowth, new flowers and new fruit-set are exactly what I had hoped for in my patch. I am going to feed my plants to ensure that the coming late harvest comprises good-flavoured, juicy tomatoes. Whitefly is a perennial problem for Sydney late in the season, but the fruit fly seem to be laying low at last. However, bird attacks still occur daily (just got a laugh out of that cartoon). Ousted, I post this purely for the benefit of reflective reading. Good luck and may The Tomato Force be with you. :)Grub.

Grub said: Ousted, I post this purely for the benefit of reflective reading.

What does that mean, Grub?

Amanda

Means nothing really. But thanks for asking, and the chook run is holding up really well, even withstanding fallen branches.

Grub I agree, seasons etc most important. We quite often get much more humidity, hoping BS will be as good in seasons to come. Donny's Tom highlights what a diff a change in seasons can make. Regrowth is a strange one. Seems to reinforce seasonal differences. The Cherrokee Choc's have sat since being overcome in early Jan by disease. Have only just sprayed but they had already started sending out some nice new shoots.

Mudlark I am using tap water. Our scheme water is rain water collected at Mundaring Weir and then piped 600km. However I believe that over the last couple of years due to drought it has been supplemented with bore water which is slightly salty. Only other tip is protection from arvo sun. The Burke Backyards last year had a tin fence 1m away to the west which stopped direct late arvo sun. This year they are in the open and have not done as well. Cherrokee Choc, Brandywine Sud and Black, Marriannas Peace running east/west may protect themselves a bit, others north/south.

Finbar the BS flowers sure are big. Had some that looked like miniature sunflowers. Growing on floppy mesh support which may allow some pollen shaking. As for taste I am determined that the first will be really ripe so I keep drooling at the red blob on the kitchen bench.

Lomatia haven't heard of Craiglee. What does it taste like?

Amanda, naughty girl not answering your questions!

Colin

I am not being naughty! I am grovelling at DH to *please* install the new card reader for my digi so I can post pictures!!! (Nuffin wrong the old card reader, mind you, dang Windows upgrade casualty... grrr...)

I've got lots of pumpkins and two beauuuttiful looking Moon & Stars watermelons and Chilean something or other melons and *of course* zillions of paddock melons too. :)

Was that the only question?

I have a question or two to ask too. Is the Brandywine listed at Eden seeds the same as Brandywine Sudduth? And what about Brandywine OTV that Grub has been talking about?

Stupice? Yum... especially with homemade bread and Margaret River baked ricotta for lunch.

Amanda

Amanda, the Brandywine listed with Eden Seeds is an unknown quantity. Unless someone here has grown it this season. Ethically, a seed supplier should only label their seed if they're sure what it is. Of course, not all seed suppliers are ethical. Eden are, and they're probably not sure exactly what it is.

Brandywine OTV is a delish red beefsteak. The result of a cross between Yellow Brandywine and an unknown red that was grown out and stabilised. As I reported in one of the other threads, my plant has survived an Early Blight battering and is now enjoying a second life loaded with flowers. It's been in the ground since last August. I've saved seeds. Email if you'd like some.

Yep, my Brandywine was from Eden Seeds. Don't think I had a single fruit and was very disappointed as I'd heard and read so much about it. Will have to source some seeds from the US. Can I trust the provenance?

Finbar,
Are your Bandywine OTVs from Tomato Grower's Supply? Mantis kindly sent me some seeds from that source. I am going to grow this one next year for sure. Also, I am keen to grow Marianna's Peace with smooth shoulders. Having said that, the ribbed MPs I grew this season were among the sweetest tomatoes I have ever tasted. The mistaken Box Car Willies I also tried this season from seeds bought Up Over is definitely getting another run. It's a vigorous plant, with huge red, ribbed fruit whose classic tomatoey taste is a seamless extension of its ambrosial foliage. And, and its still putting them out for me. Will snap a pic of the latest fruit, a 400g jewel from one of these faux BCW bushes in a less than perfect spot. Being extra-late season, this one bush is now turning it on right when I need some big red slicers. He he he.

I saved seeds from my Brandywine Sudduth so if anyone would like some of these just email me your address. It's an awesome tomato. I harvested about a dozen fruits from the one plant I overwintered. The first ripe fruit was held in my hot little hands some 11-months from transplant. Lol. The Grange of Tomatoes.

BTW: Where is Aunty PP? Can find any of her posts.

Yes, my OTV came from TGS. EOAFN. Which means End Of Acronyms For Now.

May I be a guts and say YES to both Finbah and Grub for a few seeds and grow both of the Brandywines?

Photos of watermelon etc are not far away! On pestering the techo about the card reader - he told me it didn't need installing - just plug it in and it'll install itself. Sheesh! I've been camera-less for a couple of weeks and *now* he tells me. Needless to say this is Windows we're talking about so it didn't go that smoothly. :)

Amanda

I'd like to try OTV as well, but I'm not in a hurry for seeds. I will offer seeds later with a little wishlist.

Sudduth has only 1 fruit!!! Not impressed.

What's Black Brandywine like? Is it as fussy as Sudduth?

Sudduth is the fussiest of the Brandywines, Spatz. Has to do with the size of the flowers. Apparently any variety with large flowers will struggle to pollinate. OTV has behaved like any other typically productive plant for me.

lomatia, I'm sure Grub can spare you some Sudduth seeds. If he's running short, I have some from TGS, a very reliable supplier.

Sure, I will send a stash of stuff to you. I grew those Sunleaper ones or whatever, the filthy hybrid for hot conditions, to see how they were. The plant produced scores of small, hard, pointed red fruits with litle taste. It wasn't a red hot summer here. I think Burwood Prize is a better small red in the heat, so I will pack some seeds for them. Can't find your addy, thou, so you better mail that to me.

In exchange I will need some plans from you for making a new raised bed in the spare dirt area out the back, including a few words on how to secure the presumably timber sides so the weight of the dirt (I was going to use homemade compost and old potting mix and cow poo and stuff) doesn't collapse the structure. :)Grub

Lomatia,
Email me with your address and I will send you the B. Sudduth seeds.

I wonder if those who get scores of BS from one bush have the real deal or some other Brandywine?

The latter, methinks.

I remember Craig L'h. saying he got hauls up to 20lbs off just one B. Sudduth plant in good seasons. So I guess a motherload of Sudduths is possible if you struck the right conditions and those big flowers set fruit. What those conditions are I don't know. My plenty didn't like the heat, but then Spaz has had a cold, wet summer (correct me if I'm wrong).

I was thinking this season that there is a definite flavour trend with the pinks/purples being nicely balanced, the yellows mild, the oranges fruity, the reds tomatoey and the greens kind of funky but delicious.

Substitute "plant" for "plenty"

Back to work for me!

I got my Brandywine suddeth seeds from TGS and got loads of the one plant. I am guessing about 25 fruit and about 12-14 pounds. I dont really care if they are not the real deal cause the taste is fantastic. Maybe the greenhouse suited it, it does for most varieties.

Being from TGS I would assume yours are the right ones, Mantis. It mightn't be the heat it hates so much as the humidity. Great-tasting tommy that's for sure. Did you grow ribbed Marianna's Peace? I loved them almost as much.

Colin, nice report mate and glad at least one of the lot i sent ya came up ta scratch lol..
Surprised about the cherokee Choc and Mariana's though and i would be givin em another go IF!!!you can for an Autumn plant as those two would have had to be among my favourites ey..
I'm only just starting my Tom plantout , actually lying there as i did plant out three/four mariana's about two weeks ago but rest of the seeds have only been recently put in their seedtrays ey..
Weve had a much hotter than normal Summer here as i would think you's have had so might go to explain. AND!!!ifyourve been away, has anyone been tending to them???..
Cheers

Pete where did you get the Brandywine Sudduths from? The Marriannas Peace is going OK. As reported the first fruit weighs 500gm. The only prob was the two different types from the seeds. One looks like the real deal and the other is nothing like it.

G'day Colin,

Just putting in a link here to make sure you don't miss the photo of my watermelon :)

Amanda

Here is a link that might be useful: Amanda's watermelon

I grew Black Russian last year. They, like many people have mentioned, don't seem to have a long life. I could pick one in the morning, and it had started to collapse by evening. So I just atarted eating them from the vine. They have a great taste, so it's really frustrating.