How to Grow Beefmaster Tomato
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Beefmaster Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Beefmaster'
vegetableBeefmaster is a large, indeterminate heirloom tomato variety known for producing massive fruits weighing 12-16 ounces or more. The fruits are deep red, meaty, and have few seeds, making them ideal for slicing and fresh eating. This vigorous plant continues growing and producing throughout the season, requiring substantial support and pruning.
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Example Beefmaster Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Beefmaster Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Beefmaster Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Beefmaster Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; grows best in zones 5-9 where it has adequate time to mature before frost
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Get my Beefmaster Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves develop over 3-4 weeks under grow lights or in a warm windowsill.
Maintain warm soil (70-80°F), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, provide bright light for 14-16 hours daily, thin seedlings to prevent leggy growth.
Transplant/Early Growth
2-3 weeksSeedlings grow stronger with 6-8 true leaves and develop a robust root system over 2-3 weeks before hardening off.
Gradually expose to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days, maintain consistent moisture and warmth, fertilize lightly with diluted balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks.
Vegetative/Vine Development
4-6 weeksPlant rapidly grows tall and wide with substantial foliage, reaching 5-8 feet or taller, developing thick stems and multiple branches.
Install sturdy support immediately (cages, stakes, or trellises); prune suckers (side shoots) for airflow and energy direction; fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer; maintain consistent watering.
Flowering
3-4 weeksYellow star-shaped flowers appear in clusters, indicating fruit set is beginning.
Continue pruning selectively to improve airflow, reduce nitrogen fertilizer and increase phosphorus/potassium to encourage fruiting, maintain steady water supply, avoid over-watering.
Fruiting & Harvest
8-12 weeks or until frostLarge green fruits develop and gradually ripen to deep red over 3-4 weeks per fruit; multiple fruits mature at staggered intervals.
Support heavy fruit with slings or extra stakes, maintain consistent watering to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot, continue light pruning to expose fruit to sun, harvest when fully red and slightly soft.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick or use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); encourage parasitic wasps; check daily under leaves
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Remove lower leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply sulfur or copper fungicide, maintain consistent watering
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Remove infected foliage immediately, apply fungicide (mancozeb or chlorothalonil), ensure excellent airflow, avoid overhead watering
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Use reflective mulch, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, vacuum adults with handheld device
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, introduce ladybugs, apply neem oil
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Maintain consistent moisture, apply calcium (add crushed eggshells or gypsum), mulch to regulate soil moisture
Uses
Slicing and Fresh Eating
CulinaryBeefmaster's large, meaty fruits with few seeds are perfect for thick slices on sandwiches and burgers. The sweet, full tomato flavor and firm texture make them ideal for fresh eating and classic tomato dishes. [source]
Sauces and Canning
CulinaryThe substantial flesh and relatively low seed/gel content make Beefmaster excellent for homemade tomato sauce, salsa, and canning. One fruit can produce significant sauce yield. [source]
Home Gardening & Food Security
HouseholdA single Beefmaster plant can produce 15-25 large fruits over the season, providing substantial home harvest and reducing grocery costs for a family. [source]
Lycopene & Antioxidants
MedicinalTomatoes, including Beefmaster, are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. Heat processing increases lycopene bioavailability. [source]
Seed Saving
CraftAs a heirloom variety, Beefmaster produces viable seeds that can be saved, fermented, dried, and replanted year after year for true-to-type offspring. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick fruits when fully red and slightly soft to the touch, but still firm. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Twist gently or use pruners to avoid damaging the plant. In late season, pick mature green tomatoes before frost and ripen indoors at room temperature. Beefmaster's large fruits take longer to mature than smaller varieties, so be patient. Peak flavor develops 1-2 days after full color develops.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Beefmaster was developed by Harris Seeds in the 1950s by crossing Big Boy, Black, and Italian Red varieties to create the ultimate large-fruited tomato.
- 🌱 A single fully mature Beefmaster fruit can weigh as much as a can of soup and contain enough flesh for 3-4 burger slices.
- 🌱 The variety name 'Beefmaster' refers to both the beef-like, thick-fleshed fruit and the plant's 'mastery' of producing reliably large tomatoes in home gardens.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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