Bradley

Douglas14 · October 12, 2015

I'm considering trying Bradley next year. Just looking for input from those who have grown it before. It seems to be more well known in the southern U.S. Any northerners that have tried it?

AlittleSalt · October 12, 2015

I can't help you with the northern part, but it is a very good tasting/producing tomato here in Texas. Being that you're in Minnesota, there are probably much better producing/tasting tomatoes. From what I've read, I would go with a Brandywine instead, but that's just my opinion from Texas.

joseph · October 13, 2015

I think that there are two tomatoes named Bradley... I grow "Potato Leaved Bradley" which is often my earliest tomato. And it is indeterminate, so it keeps producing all season long. Fruits are saladette sized.

AlittleSalt · October 13, 2015

I've been working on a 10 year old computer that keeps resetting internet history among other things (Not this PC I'm using now). I didn't think it posted my reply - post #2.

Douglas, the Bradley plants I planted this past spring produced heavily in a semi-determinate way until the 100F days started in mid-July. I planted out March 17. Bradley is said to be heat tolerant, but I'm not sure any tomato likes growing in 100+F days and overnight lows around 85F. The two plants produced tomatoes that were near 1 pound. If you have the room or a 5 gallon bucket/tote - I myself would grow them in Minnesota. Just don't overwater them. Basically treat them like a Sungold plant and they should produce a nice crop for you.

**carolyn137** · October 13, 2015

Here's what Tania, etc., have to say about Bradley:

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Bradley

She also lists a Bradley's Pink, with no seed sources:

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/B...b=General_Info

Carolyn

ContainerTed · October 13, 2015

I've always looked at Bradley and Rutgers as a pair of good canning tomatoes. Rutgers is the Red fruit and Bradley is the Pink Fruit. Both have that taste that takes you back to earlier days when you helped get the tomatoes ready to put into the jars.

I have always associated Bradley with the Pink color. I'm not sure I've ever seen a Bradley Red.

travis · October 14, 2015

I've grown Bradley from seeds purchased from Victory Seed Co.
It's semi-determinate, or extended production determinate; approx. 80-days from transplant in 6a/6b, moderate weather conditions.

Susceptible to some foliar diseases such as Septoria leaf spot, but still produces well even when grown in pots. Baseball size, pink, normall globes with tall round shapes in weather stressed conditions. Good flavor. Hotset capabilities.

Used it in cross with Cherokee Purple, it produced better than any other F1 that I ever created. Mixed results in the F2 and F3, etc., growouts.

Edit: Traveler is an improved Bradley type, and Ozark Pink also is an improved Bradley type that produces very well, and is indeterminate, but will shatter (drop fruit) when nearly or fully ripe.

Douglas14 · October 16, 2015

Thanks everyone for the input.

I'm looking for good all-purpose tomatoes for next year. Most of the tomatoes I grow/use end up in a canning jar. Bradley sounds like it might fit the bill.

travis....I didn't know that Traveler and Ozark Pink are improved Bradley types. I should check those out as well.

October 12, 2015	#1
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	Bradley I'm considering trying Bradley next year. Just looking for input from those who have grown it before. It seems to be more well known in the southern U.S. Any northerners that have tried it?

October 13, 2015	#3
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	I think that there are two tomatoes named Bradley... I grow "Potato Leaved Bradley" which is often my earliest tomato. And it is indeterminate, so it keeps producing all season long. Fruits are saladette sized. Last edited by joseph; October 13, 2015 at 10:34 AM.

October 13, 2015	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Here's what Tania, etc., have to say about Bradley: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Bradley She also lists a Bradley's Pink, with no seed sources: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/B...b=General_Info Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

October 13, 2015	#6
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	I've always looked at Bradley and Rutgers as a pair of good canning tomatoes. Rutgers is the Red fruit and Bradley is the Pink Fruit. Both have that taste that takes you back to earlier days when you helped get the tomatoes ready to put into the jars. I have always associated Bradley with the Pink color. I'm not sure I've ever seen a Bradley Red. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

October 14, 2015	#7
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	I've grown Bradley from seeds purchased from Victory Seed Co. It's semi-determinate, or extended production determinate; approx. 80-days from transplant in 6a/6b, moderate weather conditions. Susceptible to some foliar diseases such as Septoria leaf spot, but still produces well even when grown in pots. Baseball size, pink, normall globes with tall round shapes in weather stressed conditions. Good flavor. Hotset capabilities. Used it in cross with Cherokee Purple, it produced better than any other F1 that I ever created. Mixed results in the F2 and F3, etc., growouts. Edit: Traveler is an improved Bradley type, and Ozark Pink also is an improved Bradley type that produces very well, and is indeterminate, but will shatter (drop fruit) when nearly or fully ripe. Last edited by travis; October 16, 2015 at 10:18 AM.

October 12, 2015	#2
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I can't help you with the northern part, but it is a very good tasting/producing tomato here in Texas. Being that you're in Minnesota, there are probably much better producing/tasting tomatoes. From what I've read, I would go with a Brandywine instead, but that's just my opinion from Texas.

October 16, 2015	#8
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	Thanks everyone for the input. I'm looking for good all-purpose tomatoes for next year. Most of the tomatoes I grow/use end up in a canning jar. Bradley sounds like it might fit the bill. travis....I didn't know that Traveler and Ozark Pink are improved Bradley types. I should check those out as well.