[Stree]

trying different toms this year, and so  far going well.
I have 2 types of cherry, Sweetie and  white cherry. some Marglobe which are more"ordinary tom" and Black truffle and Brandywine yellow both of which are very large fruited..Not sure if these last two qualify as beefsteak toms or not.
Anyway, I have noticed that  the Truffle and Brandywine  leaves, most of which are now on the second set of true leaves, lack the deep lobes of all the other toms, just a plain long spear shaped leaf. Is this the norm for larger fruited toms?

[sunshineband]

Some are known as 'potato leaved' tomatoes: these are not always large fruited sorts though

[Stree]

Thank you, its an ongoing learning process this gardening lark!

[DD.]

I grow Brandywine and they are indeed a potato leaved variety.

[Stree]

Thank you DD.  Any tips pertinent to the  growing of  Brandywines? New plant  to me.
 How big do the plants grow? How large does the fruit grow? Do you grow them  in the garden or the greenhouse?
One needs to know these things !
and are yours the yellow ones like mine?

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Stree, how's it going?

I've grown yellow brandywine and they got quite big Some over 1lb fruits!  They do look a bit strange on the bottom.  I thought there was something wrong with them, but DD told me that's how they look.

The heavy fruits can sometimes pull the truss down quite a bit, but I never had any trouble with them.  I only grew them in the polytunnel though.

[DD.]

I find that they grow better outside, having done both.

In the foreground are Brandywine plants - they grow huge!



Here's one of the toms:




I've not grown the yellow ones, but doing so this year.

[devonbarmygardener]

You are proud of that tom aint' ya DD??

And so you should be

[Growing4mykids]

I have some alicante growing, havn't grown toms before, the lower leaves seem to be drying out and curling under on themselves, the plants are at around 7-8 ins, they are on a south facing windowsill that is above a radiator, could it be that or something else, thanks

[azubah]

Are they susceptible to blight? I have tried to grow tomatoes outside before but find they always get blight. I would love a huge tomato plant like that!

[DD.]

All tomatoes are, some more so than others. These were from 2 years ago when we didn't have the problems we had last year.

I do take precautions though.

[azubah]

Might I ask what precautions?

[DD.]

Here:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=56717.0

[azubah]

Thanks, DD. I have ordered some seeds and hope to get a plant like yours!

[snow white]

Blimey. I'm just growing normal varieties.  Feel boring now.  Ah well there's always next year!