Are Brandywines water hogs?

Hello all, it's my first time growing an heirloom tomato (and only second time growing any type of tomato, for that matter!). I started two Brandywine tomatoes from seed and they are growing quickly in my sunny South window. But they seem to droop very easily, even though the Mel's Mix always still feels quite moist to me. I give them more water and they perk up though. So maybe they just don't have enough roots out in the mix yet? Or maybe they're just real water hogs?

What do you think?

hey gwennifer,

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question but I am just wondering which Brandywine are you growing? I'm growing(meaning someone I know) the Landis Valley strain.

I would think that perhaps the pots there are in are not giving them enough roots space for the amount of heat they are getting in the window.
They should not be drooping.
I have grown them a few years starting indoors and did not find brandy wines that different from the other non heirlooms in watering needs.

What size of pot are they in?
My brandy wines are in my green house in 3 inch pots with mels mix... seem to be doing well.....so far

Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:hey gwennifer,

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question but I am just wondering which Brandywine are you growing? I'm growing(meaning someone I know) the Landis Valley strain.

I will have to check my seed package as I have Brandywine plants as well. Is the strain on the seed package?

[quote]it's my first time growing an heirloom tomato[quote]
BTW, you will be changed forever after having grown heirloom......
they are SOOOO good

Gwen, I've grown heirloom Brandywines before. And I just planted seeds Monday. My seeds came from "Seeds of Change" and does not indicate the strain. The seeds are also several years, and still germinating (pre-tested last month).

They are delicious, huge and indeterminate.

I grew them in the dirt in my patio garden (this time they are in the plot).

Like all tomatoes, they don't like "wet feet." So if they seem droopy, I'd check the size of the pot, too.

I'm with GWN...I've kept back seeds and planted from green zebra and purple Cherokee...I hope they come up what they were! YUMMY!

Someone sent me some heirloom seeds. They are WV63 heirloom tomatoes and I will have them as well.

Brandywine is said to be one of the best pink heirlooms and been around for a long time. Am looking forward to both of them and will save seeds from both for next year

I had several two pounders last year.... took them to the post office
Funny avagardener, my sister complained about my tomatoes being TOO juicy..... It has become our family joke

Mine are just called brandywine, says an old amish heirloom dating back to 1885

The other heirloom I am growing is Alicante, this will be my first year for this one though...

GWN wrote:I had several two pounders last year.... took them to the post office
Funny avagardener, my sister complained about my tomatoes being TOO juicy..... It has become our family joke

GWN...why did they go to the PO? Did you mail them? Or is the PO the central gathering place of your town (it was when I lived in boonies of Long Island, NY).

AvaDGardner wrote:

GWN wrote:I had several two pounders last year.... took them to the post office
Funny avagardener, my sister complained about my tomatoes being TOO juicy..... It has become our family joke

GWN...why did they go to the PO? Did you mail them? Or is the PO the central gathering place of your town (it was when I lived in boonies of Long Island, NY).

Think AvaDGardner meant she took them to the post office to weigh them on the postal scales.

Before I got into tomatoes, I just thought there was Brandywine. I didn't realize that there were a lot of Brandywine varieties.
I got the Landis Valley strain because the description of it sounded better. It's supposed to be a better producer than the others.

avadgardner...
WELL.....
The post office just so happens to be the only store in town, it is a grocery store, a post office and a liquor store, which in the US might not seem to be a BIG deal, but in Canada it is definitely a big deal
And Yes I DID go to the post office to weight my tomatoes, not just to know how big they were, but so that there were "witnesses"

Yes they were THAT big, AND there were witnesses.....

I really didn't think they weren't getting enough water. But I still can't figure it out! I actually think I'm going to lose one of them.

They were started in peat pellets on March 3rd. I up potted them to 6 oz yogurt cups (cut up the sides in the air pruning pot method) a week or so ago. I'd say those are about the same size as the 3" jiffy pots. I can't imagine that their roots are getting cooked in the window - I didn't even find any when I potted them. I actually was wondering if they are too cold up there. We haven't had much sunshine and the next sunny day isn't forecast until April 5th!

They sprouted at the same time as some hybrid romas, were up potted the same day, and are the same size. But now they are so sad looking while the romas look great. If they don't like wet feet I'm in trouble, because I decided to build a collar for them today because they were quite tall again and I had to wet in the new batch of Mel's mix around their necks. So they are quite soaked again. I was operating on the idea that "you cannot overwater Mel's mix".

Oh and sorry TooTall, I checked my packet and no strain is given.

I have Brandywines uppotted in cut off 2 litres with MM. They don't seem to want a lot more water than any of the other plants. Not sure what the problem is, I just wanted to tell you that I'm not sure it's the type.

Gwennifer have you thought of/or interested in trying Josh's self watering soda bottles used in his wall of flowers thread? I have some older transplants in those that seem happy .... just a thought.

One other thing
When I use the peat pucks, with less aggressive rooters, I remove the netting.... carefully....
Because I am not sure that all plants can push their roots through that stuff.
Just something I do....I am sure that peas have no problemo..... but tomatoes .....

I checked my package of brandywine seeds and they are"Quisenberry" strain. I got these from Johnny's seeds.

Has anyone else tried these?

Thanks GWN, I did remove the netting. It's very easy to remove.

I wish I could re-name this thread. I definitely see it's not that they needed more water than my other tomatoes. There's truly something wrong with them. Although at this point maybe they are just water-logged! Leaves are curling in on the sides all funny. Guess I could post a pic but I need to go finish dinner instead.

You should post a picture
Heirloom leaves are very different from regular tomatoes......
However it does sound like something has gone wrong with your plants...

I'm voteing too hot if the mix is moist and additional water perks them up. All tomatoes will become "water hogs when they start setting fruit so give them a little extra drink and they will thank you.