Black Brandywine, Heirloom Tomato Seeds

Black Brandywine, Heirloom Tomato Seeds — The Darkest Brandywine, Incomparably Sweet

Bred sometime in the late 1920s by Dr. Harold E. Martin, Black Brandywine is the darkest and most dramatic member of the legendary Brandywine family — and many who grow it consider it the most flavorful. Large, potato-leaf vines produce reddish-black fruits in clusters of 3–5 with an outstanding, rich, intense tomato flavor that is incomparably sweet. Very meaty with few seeds, Black Brandywine delivers the classic Brandywine depth in a darker, more complex package that is as beautiful on the plate as it is satisfying to eat.

As with all Brandywines, this open-pollinated variety breeds true from generation to generation — a genuine heirloom in every sense. Indeterminate, 80–90 days.

Why Grow Black Brandywine?

• 1920s heirloom by Dr. Harold E. Martin — a variety with genuine historical provenance
• Reddish-black fruits in clusters of 3–5 — dramatic and visually stunning
• Incomparably sweet, rich, intense flavor — the darkest and most complex Brandywine
• Very meaty with few seeds — maximum flesh, exceptional eating quality
• Potato-leaf foliage — the classic Brandywine plant character
• Open-pollinated heirloom — breeds true, save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in fertile, well-draining soil. Transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed, spacing plants 24–36 inches apart in full sun. Stake or cage large vines. Water consistently. Harvest when fruits are fully dark red-black and give slightly to gentle pressure.

Days to maturity: 80–90 days
Packet size: ~25+ seeds
Type: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Indeterminate
Fruit: Reddish-black, clusters of 3–5
Spacing: 24–36 inches
Origin: US (Dr. Harold E. Martin, 1920s)
Sun: Full sun
USDA Zones: 3–12