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Beef Tomatoes

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Grub (U13235409) on Thursday, 23rd February 2012

  I wanted to try and grow some beefsteak tomatoes again this year after giving them a miss for several years.
  
  If anyone can give some advice, particularly on variety choice it would be greatly appreciated.
  
  I seem to recall seeing some with a very smooth texture inside with very little seed and wondered if anybody knows what these could be.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Friday, 24th February 2012

  
  In my opinion the best variety for flavour by far is Brandywine. There is a newer variety called apricot brandywine, but isn't as good as the original.
  
  Big thick slice fried in olive oil with shavings of garlic, plonked on a thick bit of decent toased bread. luverly jubbly. Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by BigDave (U3975543) on Friday, 24th February 2012

  Hi there, I have found that starting the seed as early as you can get away with helps....Start them off now if you have a window sill free, I know that most of us don't at this time of year....I started mine the first week of the year and I like to plant them deep when I plant them out in the GH.....I grew Black Russian last year and they went well....realy good for cooking and not to bad fresh on a sandwih.
  
  Country Taste is also a good beef tom but I didn't get as many Toms as with Black Russian.
  
  The one you mite be after is called Yellow stuffer...they look a bit like a sweet pepper when you cut them open.
  
  Hope that helps
  
  Whatsthemarrow....

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Sunday, 26th February 2012

  Yes, the original Brandywine (Sudduth) is considered the King of Tomatoes. Its only problem is that production can be extremely fickle and will refuse to set fruit in extended period of heat and/or humidity. When in Sydney, I had to grow them as an autumn crop. The Sydney summer was too much for them. Still, the flavour is glorious, like a glass of the best, complex red wine.
  
  Grub, there are any number of excellent beefsteak varieties. The upside with heirloom varieties is flavour. The downside is that production can be variable. Marianna's Peace, for example, is a glorious tomato - rivals Brandywine (Sudduth), I think - but I got a total of six toms from two plants last season.
  
  Given that beefsteaks are usually mid-late/late season, hence a decent wait for them, you might be better opting for a hybrid if volume is a priority. Varieties like the hybrid Big Beef are pretty good for flavour.
  
  If you want to chance your arm with heirlooms, I can give you some suggestions.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Grub (U13235409) on Sunday, 26th February 2012

  Thanks everyone, that has helped.
  I've decided to try some brandywine as they received 2 mentions.
  Should get them in in next few days, so fingers crossed.
  
  I have room in the G/house for a number of plants, so with quantity not being the main requirement I shall hope to have several plants and hope to get enough for a few wine and tomato evenings.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  Grub, you need to be a bit careful with the Brandywines. It's a famous tomato and there are more than a few fakes around, either deliberate or mis-identified, and some confused naming.
  
  The Apricot Brandywine mentioned above, for example, is - or should be - a legit Brandywine, only it's actually a Yellow Brandywine that, for some reason, someone decided to call Apricot and distributed it as same. It's a lovely tomato.
  
  The most famous is the Pink Brandywine. It should be a potato leaf plant. There's also a Red Brandywine that should be a regular leaf plant. Trouble is, you only find out the leaf shapes when the thing's already in the ground!

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  Another vote for Brandywine here! Got some corkers last year, not far off a kilo each.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Grub (U13235409) on Monday, 27th February 2012

  Grub, you need to be a bit careful with the Brandywines. It's a famous tomato and there are more than a few fakes around, either deliberate or mis-identified, and some confused naming.
  
  The Apricot Brandywine mentioned above, for example, is - or should be - a legit Brandywine, only it's actually a Yellow Brandywine that, for some reason, someone decided to call Apricot and distributed it as same. It's a lovely tomato.
  
  The most famous is the Pink Brandywine. It should be a potato leaf plant. There's also a Red Brandywine that should be a regular leaf plant. Trouble is, you only find out the leaf shapes when the thing's already in the ground!  Italophile.
  
  I have ordered seed which simply says 'Tomato Brandywine, a heritage beefsteak tom with potato leaves'
  
  Its from Simply Seeds, who I had never heard of before, so hopefully it will be the real deal.
  
  thanks again

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Tuesday, 28th February 2012

  Grub, I had a look at their website. It's notoriously difficult to determine a tomato's colour on a computer monitor but it looks like a red to me. There is a potato leaf Red Brandywine doing the rounds that isn't a legit Brandywine. No one knows exactly what it is but it's said to be very very nice regardless. It will be interesting to see what colour it turns out to be!

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Grub (U13235409) on Tuesday, 28th February 2012

  Well they came today and are now planted.
  
  Must say Simply seeds were very efficient, very cheap, and very well packed. (with Shallots/Onions + other seed) so now the wait.

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