Brandywine Yellow Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Brandywine Yellow typically needs 76 to 90 days from transplant to mature fruit, so timing matters. Keep soil warm, between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, for consistent germination.

Transplant outdoors once soil temperatures reach at least 60 degrees and all frost danger has passed. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Bury the transplant slightly deeper than it grew indoors, as tomatoes can develop roots along buried stems.

Pick fruits when fully colored golden-yellow and slightly soft to gentle pressure. Unlike many tomatoes, Brandywine Yellow develops its full flavor only when fully ripe on the vine, so patience yields better taste. Harvest in the morning once dew has dried. If frost threatens before all fruit matures, you can pick mature but not-fully-colored fruits and ripen them indoors at room temperature.

As an indeterminate variety, Brandywine Yellow continues growing and producing fruit throughout the season. Prune suckers (shoots growing between the main stem and branches) early in the season to encourage strong main branches that can support the heavy, large fruits. Remove lower leaves as the plant matures to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Avoid aggressive pruning once fruit begins to set, as you need adequate foliage to shade the large fruits from sunscald.