Hello to ever body. New to the forum. Trying BB this year. Just want to see what all the talk is about.

Hi delbar - welcome to the world of Brandy Boy. Are you just new to "Growing Tomatoes" forum - or are you new to growing tomatoes too? Either way - look at the first post on this thread - click on the links to Brandy Boy Contest (1) & (2) - read them and read this thread also (3) and that will bring you up to speed. If you are growing Brandy Boy this year or have grown BB in the past - please participate - we would like your opinion too. The purpose of the thread is to learn all we can about Brandy Boy from everyone's individual experience including good and bad - and - have fun doing the BB reviews by including competition as stated on the very first post of the first thread (this is continuation thread (3)). It doesn't matter if you are a fan of Brandy Boy or not - but if you like the taste of this tomato - and it is as prolific for you as it is for most - you will soon find out - what all the talk is about!!

I know I can't win on the fruit size or earliness, but I sure have large leaves, especially on the lower part.:)

Looks like you are a winner in the big leaf category Pennypond! It must be in the BrB genes or our conditions are similar. They look healthy! Hope you will share more about how your Brandy Boy is doing in CA - does it like it there in your climate, blossoms per truss, fruit setting %, size of fruit, taste - etc etc

Sey - I definitely consider my F11's an OP Brandy Boy. They would not be considered so by the commercial growers because my sample size is too small and they were not isolated (although separated from the F1 by 20'). To my novice eyes & taste buds they are true duplicates of the F1's.

Last year was a truly awful growing year for me because of the critters, so I didn't get any F11's from my own garden. A kind lady (Dee) whom I had given F10 seed came to my rescue by returning F11 seed that were saved from the seed I had given her. So, I consider the strain still continues. This year's plants are doing well so far, and we finally have some rain.

Hi delbar! now you have to participate! That's the same way I got shanghaied into this, tryin' to see what all the fuss was about in this Brandy Boy fan thread, and I'm loving it -- and wishing I had planted a couple more plants and much earlier!

pennypond, you are in too LOL and those are definitely prize winning leaves. Please don't show them to my pet cabbage loopers here (a caterpillar that refuses to go to someone else's yard no matter what I do). You can definitely compete for the best looking fruit category, since your lower leaves are in such good shape I bet you have a good shot at it!

PC

Ha ha! Pennypond! Your tomatoes may not be early, but your plants are sprouting dollar bills! Have you thought of changing your name to Moneypenny and can you save me some seeds?

Linda

Thanks goodground and John.
I will bump that thread and stir the discussions . Maybe we can discuss other similar things.

Let the contest go on here. I am in it to win it . LOL

Sey

Thank everyone for your comment on my humongous plant.

Linda, I'm trying to sprout five dollar bills on the middle leaves and twenty dollar bills on the upper. But it's not happening yet. :)

PC, my puny fruit can't compare to yours, but I sure hope to have a shot in the best looking plant category. It's a very dense 4x6 now, outgrowing CRM and HortiNova. I'm tying new growth to the crossbar over the PVC structure.

Hudson, this is my first time with BrB. It is definitely taller and earlier than it's same age bed-mates. It's not easy to count trusses, i don't know how to do it without losing track. I think this plant has at least 15 trusses that has at least 15 blossoms or more. The best has 23.

Wow - Pennypond - you must be giving your plant steroids!! There are tons of blossoms and those little BrBs I see in there - turn into 8-14 oz tomatoes and some larger! That is a huge - very healthy plant! I would recommend pruning the yellow leaves/branches off at the bottom though for better circulation and to help prevent disease - if you want to. I see what you mean about counting blossoms on a truss - heck - you may have an 18 ouncer hiding in the middle of the foliage!! you will have lots of tomatoes with that many blossoms per truss - and I can't wait to hear your report about the taste!

Seems my Brandy Boy has hit puberty. On the first truss there are 4 open flowers with 6 or 7 more buds still developing on it.

Rodney

Penny, better than good plants.

Rodney, good report from MI, zone 5/6. Hope your temps go up fast to warm up the garden.

My BrBy s have been flowering for longer than 2 weeks now, but I cannot see any fruits. I think either the pollination did not take or it has not been just warm enough. But not to worry. They are growing more and bigger clusters of buds/flowers. Between 3 of them I should get some fruits soon.

Sey

[OFF TOPIC]

May I suggest a Brandywine contest next year ?

Hi Daniel - Brandywine may be a good choice - I'll let you or someone else introduce the thread for Brandywine or other tomato varieties of choice - though. I only grew Brandywine once and do not have but one or two photos and do not have much experience with the Heirloom - and - it was not prolific the one time I planted it - although had fantastic taste (very similar to Brandy Boy - I couldn't tell much difference). I would plant a Brandywine or other varieties and participate though - if you or someone decides to introduce a thread next year.

My seeds just sprouted. By the looks of them, something is wrong. They are very weak and sick looking. I planted all thirty seeds that were in the packet. Yes, 30. Seven came up , and three are growing. The other four did not make it. I'm going to let these three play out and see what happens. I have had seeds a lot older then these and had better results. Will keep everyone up dated.

Just wondering, has anyone made a list of all the folks who are participating in this contest?

Rodney

Rodney, are you volunteering to count everyone that has checked in, starting from the original thread? lol

haha - Yes Rodney - are you volunteering? Just kidding - this contest is totally driven by the participants. The only call for entries will be several weeks leading up to Sept 30 for the largest tomato and final call for all entries. All other entries should be posted as the participant's have entries. For example: the prettiest tomato - one should post their entry when they feel they have the prettiest tomato. Winners will be determined after Sept 30th but can be posted at any time. I am not keeping track of the participants but I am keeping track of entries by the entry itself on these threads. Anyone can participate and jump in at any time - one does not have to register. Hope that clears it up - let me know if there are any other questions.

delbar - if you go back to the first thread - you will see that several of us got some bad seeds this year. I got a bad batch too with poor germination and Burpee sent me another package at no charge. The second batch had almost 100% germination. Looks like you got a bad package too - dang - it happens. The seeds that germinated will grow fine - if they like your environment - IMO.

Actually, I thought about volunteering to do so. Then figured it would be easier if perhaps we had a thread strictly for people to comment whether they are participating and include their zone/general location.But it was just a thought. Guess I'll wait for the final call. :)

Rodney

Hi Rodney - you can wait for the final call for entries if you wish but I hope participants will post their entries as they have entries - like Nate (Centexan) did with his first ripe tomato and it's weight - that gives everyone following this thread and participants a chance to make comments, follow the progress of Brandy Boy, compare performance of BrB that other growers experience with our own plants, ask questions and increase motivation to do better!

Keep in mind - the purpose of this thread is more about learning and reviewing the Brandy Boy Hybrid throughout the season - comparing our growing methods and results - than winning a contest. Otherwise we would just list the categories and have deadlines for entries. The competition aspect is to increase interest and recognize outstanding performance of growers that achieve superior results. Then maybe we can ask ourselves - are there things I can change in my growing methods that will change my outcome and give me better results? Everyone wins by sharing!!

Once in the first thread, I counted casually. There were like 10 or 12 participants, I think.. But ever since then the number friends growing BrBy and reporting here , has grown.
Let us see what number Rodney comes up with .

Sey

WHO IS IN ?
I surveyed the first thread. Here are the participants. 30 fans
(Those joined in later in 2nd and 3r thread not included.
Chronologically :

HUDSON <<>>> .SEY <<>>> .SUNCITYLINDA <<>>> .HOOSIER <<>>> .NCREALESTATEGUY <<>>> .PC <<>>> .TRIPLEION <<>>> .HUMSI <<>>> .
NITSUA <<>>> .WERTACH <<>>> .DISNEYNUT <<>>> .CHRISTACHARLENE <<>>> .RODNEY <<>>> .AAGARDNER <<>>> .YOLOS <<>>> .CARRIEHELEN <<>>> .59DODGE <<>>> .NATE(centexan) <<>>> .CARAROSE <<>>> .JENNIEDHS <<>>> .HELEN <<>>> .JOHN11840 <<>>> .ANTMARY <<>>> .YOOPER <<>>> .MNWSGAL <<>>> .BCSKYE <<>>> .FIREDUCK <<>>> .SJETSKI(steve) <<>>> .LARTOMATO <<>>> .

Sorry for any omission and errors.

Now, you can survey the next threads, if you will.

Sey

Here is a review of the Contest Categories for all participants. If I have missed a category or you would like me to add a category - please let me know - soon!

Note: Ripe tomato for all categories means picked on the vine ripe or ripened on the counter and >90% red/pink. All entries for any category must include a photo. Tomato must be weighed ripe in grams or converted to grams.

Note: Please post entries during the season as you have entries. The deadline for all entries must be posted by 12/31/2015. I will make a summary post after 12/31/2015 with the winner of each category (except the prettiest and most unusual ripe tomatoes).

Note: Thread participants will determine the winner of the prettiest and most unusual ripe tomatoes from my summary post after 12/31/2015.

Note: You need not register to post an entry - Please post an entry at any time prior to 12/31 - the more entries the better!!!!

Note: There are not restrictions for fertilization and serenading !! - haha

Contest Categories

1. Largest ripe tomato including fused fruit - the winner of this category receives the $25 gift certificate from Burpee.

2. Largest ripe tomato from a single blossom.

3. Earliest ripe tomato for all zones and by each individual zone.

4. Latest ripe tomato for all zones (entry must be posted by 12/31/2015)

5. Prettiest ripe tomato over 383 grams (note: photo for this category should not include a scale - the weight of 383 grams is just a threshold).

6. Most unusual ripe tomato

7. Most blossoms/buds on a truss (note: a photo of the truss showing blossoms/buds is fine - we trust your total count).

8. Most ripe tomatoes from a truss (note: photo can show the ripe tomatoes that are on the truss at the time of the photo - we trust your total count of ripe tomatoes from that truss).

9. Most ripe tomatoes from a single Brandy Boy Plant by 12/31/2015

The Brandy Boy trusses are heavily populated and lookin' good. One truss checks in with 22 blossoms/buds.

The contest is really fun! In addition to the features of one single fruit I'm always interested in learning the amount of total production per plant. But I have to admit I'm not good at keeping track. How do people keep track of the total number or weight day in and day out?

Great photos Nitsua!! When have you planted a variety (beside a cherry tomato) that produced 22 blossoms on one truss?? Brandy Boy is very prolific for you and most of those participating on this thread - I have more blossoms on two of my Brandy Boy Trusses than on my entire Red Brandywine plant that is the same age/size - and the taste is just as remarkable - IMO.

It is obvious from all the photos that my brandy boys will only be going for biggest or prettiest. No flowers yet with my late start, though on Sunday it looked like they might be starting to form. Haven't checked since then because it's been raining -- finally.

I've never tracked production, penny, except maybe in my head. I usually grow so many plants that one low producer doesn't crush me, although I will say that a variety that seems not to thrive is usually not grown again. This is my third year trying Super Sauce and I think I've had two tomatoes from it. Last year the plant died soon after planting. This year it was one of the three I started under WOWs and the only one of the 3 that has no fruit yet. The other two are Anna Russian and Black Krim and both have a few tomatoes.

Nitsua, those trusses are incredible. I hope they all get pollinated and grow tomatoes. In the meantime think about supporting them.

Sey

I'm seeing a blush of color on my first Brandy Boy!

Just checkin' in from zone 6. My plants have certainly taken off after recovering from cold and overly wet beginning of Spring.

pennypond ... I've never really kept close track of production (counting/weighing), However, at the end of the season, I do have a pretty good idea if a variety was a low, medium or high producer. I'll be counting and weighing the Brandy Boys this year.

hudson ... I'm absolutely astounded at these incredible trusses. Planted them out only 35 days ago and every plant now has 3 or 4 loaded trusses. I have an Indian Stripe with a truss count of 11, but nothing else comes close to the Brandy Boys.

caryltoo ... Those trusses will just seem to show up overnight. Quite fascinating.

Sey ... good point regarding support. Those clusters will likely get heavy. Maybe hudson will have some pointers on how to handle this issue.

Finally taking off here after about a month of not much growth.

Tripleione, You got me beat on fruit set, I had a few tiny, tiny ones but broke them off trying to take a picture. Now look what you made me do! :-)

hoosier, nice.

I would suggest:

1. to remove the lower leaves that touch the ground

2. to mulch. I use fabric.

3. to fungicide. I use copper.

btw, how do you plan to water your tomatoes?

Thanks Daniel.

I have been removing lower branches but left the ones you see to try and get some growth before I resumes my pruning.

I am planning on putting down plastic or landscape fabric but have not got it done yet.

I spray regularly with Daconil.

I generally do not water at all. If I have to at some point it will be with a soaker hose run along the bottoms of the plants.

Impressive !!! Brandy Boys are full of energy now - It is awesome to see how well the plants are doing for everyone!!

Hoosier - how many of those plants are BrB?? They look great! Nice supports!

Nitsua - My BrBs are grown in a GH - supports are different there - Hossier appears to have awesome supports in a garden setting?!

Tripleione - your plants are taking off - looking good!

Socalgal - how about of photo of the blushing one?

Caryltoo - we haven't seen your plants yet - have we?

Here is an update on my Brandy Boys. I serenaded them as suggested by PC - played them the elemental tune - gave them a dose of Azomite which contains most trace elements - threatened "they are next" if they don't get with it after reading the "Good Bye Brandywine" poem (thanks PC) - tossed them some phosphorus - and here is how they responded !

I showed this Brandy Boy photos of Nate's 517 gram BrB and asked him if he was going to let 517 grams win the prize - he promised to pig-out on the elements if I promised not to serenade again! - haha

Serenade, Azomite, Phosphorus... you really pamper those babies...

Thanks Hudson! I have 4 Brandy Boys. I started with 3 but had an extra one that I used to replace an Italian Heirloom that didn't make it.

What form of Phosphorus do you use, Hudson?

Here's my blushing BB, and a bunch of green ones.

My Brandy Boys are within a Florida Weave, so I think I'm gonna pound some stakes in about 18 inches from the base of the plants so I can rig up some extra support of the heavy trusses with pantyhose slings.

I may need to request used pantyhose from some (ahem) larger ladies this year.

My BrBys have no fruits . so nothing to boast. hehe
But I post a long shot view of my garden.

Nice socalgirl. Can we see picture(s) of the entire plant(s)?

Sey neat garden.

I think I asked you in the past: did you think of a
greenhouse?

Also did you dig the soil under the raised beds?

Usually how long are your tomatoes' roots?

Hudson, I posted pix of my Anna Russian on the first fruit thread, but since I have no blossoms or fruit on my BrB yet I haven't taken pictures of them. Maybe in the next few days. Lots of rain this week, usually not a great thing but our ground was really dry, after a month and a half of almost no rain. The weeds are certainly taking off and the peppers and cukes look very happy.

Sey, your raised beds look very nice.

Hoosier, that's a big plot of tomatoes. What do you plant in the rest of the garden?

Hudson, lots of future good eating in that shot.

And socalgal, not long before you get to taste the fruit of your labor. Lucky you. :)

Sey - thanks for showing your tomato support system - you do have a large number of raised beds - your plants look healthy and happy. It looks like you have a few empty beds for vegetables yet to be planted?

Wow! Missing out on all the fun here after reformatting my entire disk drive for two nights, uggg, and days straight :-(

pennypond, I love your innovative cage/trellis support system - it really looks sharp! What an excellent use of that Hortonova webbing. I'm thinking about getting some to hang horizontally in my hoop where my plants are out of control, like a cheap version of what Hudson has in his GH! I bet my tomatoes aren't as big as you think. The other guys have the big 'uns, I'm just happy to participate and learn about this variety and see how many different growing styles everyone has. Loved your pics!
forgottenone, are things heating up in Michigan yet? If not can I pipe some of our heat up there!
Sey & goodground, thanks for summing up who's here, I had no idea there were so many! Beautiful pics of your piece of paradise, Sey, nicely arranged!
delbar, hang in there. Brandy Boy seems to be a weak plant at the beginning to me even if you have healthy seeds. I had bad seeds, and very low germination, but my sole-surviving plant is falling in line now and doing well, after a rough start.
Nitsua, Really enjoyed your closeups of your panicles of tomato flowers!
caryltoo, don't forget the most interesting looking tomato, too!!! Lots of categories to try out for and I think one on total yield from a plant would be my favorite to win if I could choose hahaha!!!
socalgirl, nice plant and I really like your Tomato Towers, and now that mine are covered in rust that goes everywhere I can see how it's worth it! Yay for that first blush!
tripleione, I love the simplicity of your weave! I hope Brandy Boys aren't too heavy with tomatoes to be held up, but I guess there are worse problems to have than that!
hoosier, that is one nice Indiana farm. If I ever get some land it is just the sort of thing I'd like to do! To think you don't have to water. If I could do that there would be no stopping me to plant acres of tomatoes!
Daniel, I don't use mulch and that is a problem. But it attracts moths. I try to cover the ground with plastic for the better or worse and my plants are in containers uncovered. Greenhouses don't work here but I have a greentunnel ... BrB is outside in the heat though ;-)
Hudson, Beautiful pics and now you're on this year! LOL!!!...I hope we don't outgrow GW and need a website all of our own. Maybe we should reserve brandyboycentral.com!!! Great job on the category summary. Was there a reason you didn't include October or even November entries, I'd been meaning to ask and apologize I missed that. Now I better break out my old guitar, it's getting hotter by the minute in the kitchen here for serenading and taking our Brandy Boy girls out to dinner (they are Tomboys to me, haha get it? with a name like Brandy ;-)
NCrealestate guy, I bet you're getting close to ripe BrBs too!

Here's my stuff so far, showing my two largest tomatoes, they are only passing the 4-ounce mark (113 g) by now, due to a late start. My real season would be October/November based on the dates of the contest, but I'll definitely have a BrB tomato by July 1 -- I think & hope!

Nice twins PC - they look larger than 4 ounce! Glad you got the disk drive reformatted - what a pain! Yes - photos are now from 2015 Brandy Boys.

It appears I need to extend the contest for all entries to December 31st (I thought gardeners would be done growing tomatoes by the end of Sept - I was wrong) does anyone disagree? If not - I will post the contest categories again on the next continuation thread (coming soon) with the 12/31/2015 date and add one more category - "Most ripe tomatoes from one Brandy Boy plant"! I like that category - I think it will be revealing - if we can keep track of the count - haha

I will edit the " contest category" post earlier - to the updated information.

ncrealestateguy - I was just kidding about adding more phosphorus - I do fertilize our tomato plants with fertilizer purchased from an area bulk farm supplier. The fertilizer is 12-15-15-13s-7h

Thanks Hudson, I hope the twins do well, but they are pretty small still. The fruit set around May 18 for the two. It would be so cool if mine stayed green till the end of June for a 14 oz entry, beautiful or not. Centexan's 18.3 oz is a nice big mater that's there to set sights on. Now that the contest is extended I think some new Southern growers could have a chance to start in a month, and northern folks will have a better chance too, like those near the Great Lakes and PNW.

Great on most massive harvest from a single plant! Anyone who counts/weighs their tomatoes and keeps it straight over the whole haul from one plant deserves an honorable mention! What starts as an easy enough sounding task somehow is as hard as doing New Years resolutions ;) I can see why you made it counting them (and not weighing)!

PC

caryltoo,

I also grow sweet corn, beans, potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, zucchini, squash, and cantaloupe. We do a lot of canning and freezing. The last 2 years have been pretty thin on canning tomatoes so I hope to make up for it this year and get about 60 quarts in. I am a little behind on the garden as a whole because I have been putting in 80 to 100 hour work weeks since March. That is over for awhile now so finally maybe I can finally get some more stuff planted.