I have two pupas I overwintered in the refrigerator in a tub of spag moss. Now they are in a large enclosure and I am hoping ready to emerage. One is leaking a little fluid from it's shoulder area - I figure that is the case slowly breaking open. Yesterday both were quite active in the hand today they look fine but seem quieter. Anyone have experience with the emergence from the pupa and these guys

I don't grow them in DWC exactly, but I have in a homemade version of the water farm (general hydroponics). They are super heavy feeders, but I thought they were very much like the cherokee purple. I currently grow them in a drip system. Unfortunately, they are hard for me to keep up with. They grow very fast in hydro. Also, they always split on me and if you don't get the fruit immediately thereafter, they start to rot quickly. Nothing as sad as a giant tomato you missed and can't use. Anyway, you can definitely grow them well in hydro.

There's other tomatoes to grow that won't make you walk the floor wringing your hands (been there) and they rival Brandywine in taste but are have a much more reliable production. There have been threads here where the pro's have listed their favorite tomatoes (Carolyn, digdirt, hoosiercherokee, Darrel Jones, to name a few) and interestingly I don't remember one of them having Brandywine listed. I use to swear by Belgium Giant but the last couple years after growing some from "the list" I've been finding some great ones that are costing Giant Belgium a place in my garden--there's only so much room. I'll always keep Mortgage Lifter though 'cause I really like the taste I can see why Radiator Charlie sold so many and for that outrageous price back in those days.

My Brandywines always have some cracks and surface scars, but it is possible you just have a really good growing condition for them this year. If they taste great and have the complexity of flavor that a Brandywine should, relax and enjoy it. And maybe you should save the seeds from a few... :) Or maybe you have a very good cross, in which case you should REALLY save the seeds! And share them. I volunteer to be a test garden next year... ;) Seriously, every well-regarded heirloom came from some cross or adaptation. Maybe you have a new one that will be famous some day.