How to Grow Big Beef Tomato

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Big Beef Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Big Beef'

vegetable

Big Beef is an indeterminate hybrid tomato renowned for producing exceptionally large, flavorful fruits weighing 10-16 ounces. This disease-resistant variety combines the sweetness of heirloom tomatoes with the vigor and reliability of modern hybrids. It's a favorite among gardeners seeking substantial yields of meaty slicing tomatoes perfect for fresh eating.

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Example Big Beef Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Big Beef Tomato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Big Beef Tomato
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Big Beef Tomato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (minimum 6-8 hours; more sun increases yield and sugar content)

💧

Water: Consistent deep watering, 1-2 inches per week. Water at soil level to keep foliage dry and reduce disease. More frequent watering during fruit development and hot spells; avoid extreme fluctuations.

📏

Spacing: 24-36 inches between plants, 36-48 inches between rows inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant to first fruit

🌱

Planting depth: Plant transplants deeply (up to first true leaves); tomatoes can root along buried stem for stronger plants. Direct sowing: ¼ inch depth.

Soil

Type: Well-draining, nutrient-rich loamy soil

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or well-aged manure Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or tomato-specific blend) Bone meal or rock phosphate for phosphorus Calcium source (lime or gypsum) to prevent blossom-end rot

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 5-9 are ideal; can be grown as annual in zones 3-4 with season extension

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with 2-4 true leaves emerging. Cotyledons (seed leaves) are followed by the first true leaves which show characteristic tomato shape.

Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Maintain warm temperatures (70-75°F). Thin seedlings if overcrowded.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks from seed; 1-2 weeks for transplants to establish

Rapid stem and leaf development with multiple sets of compound leaves. Plant grows 6-12 inches tall before transplanting or reaching flowering stage in garden.

Continue bright light. Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Plant deeply when transplanting. Begin staking or caging early to support heavy future fruit load.

Flowering

3-4 weeks, continuing throughout season

Yellow flowers appear in clusters (inflorescences) along the main stem and lateral branches. Each flower cluster can produce multiple fruits.

Ensure consistent watering and adequate phosphorus/potassium. Maintain warm temperatures (70-85°F) for good pollination and fruit set. Provide sturdy support as plant increases in weight.

Fruiting & Maturation

4-6 weeks

Golf-ball sized green fruits develop and enlarge over 3-4 weeks. Color gradually transitions from green to yellow-orange blush to deep red at maturity. Large fruits (10-16 oz) become heavier, requiring robust support.

Water deeply and consistently to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced or slightly higher potassium blend. Prune lower leaves for air circulation. Monitor for pests and diseases.

Harvest

Continuous from mid-summer through first frost

Fruits are fully red, slightly soft to firm touch, with aromatic fragrance. Indeterminate growth continues producing new flowers and fruits throughout season until frost.

Harvest when fully red but slightly firm for best flavor and shelf life. Continue regular watering and feeding through growing season. Pick ripe fruits to encourage continued production.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Carrot Marigold Nasturtium Onion Parsley Borage Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Dill Potato Walnut

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for smaller larvae; encourage parasitic wasps
Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use yellow sticky traps; reflective mulch; maintain good air circulation
Increase humidity; spray with water; neem oil; insecticidal soap; avoid sulfur fungicides which worsen mites
Spray with strong water stream; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
Remove affected leaves immediately; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; fungicide with copper or chlorothalonil
Remove affected plant parts; ensure excellent drainage and air circulation; copper fungicide; resistant varieties helpful

Uses

🍳

Fresh Slicing & Sandwiches

Culinary

The large 10-16 ounce fruits are ideal for thick slices on sandwiches, burgers, and salads. The balanced sweetness and acidity make it excellent for fresh eating straight from the vine. [source]

🍳

Sauce & Preserves

Culinary

The meaty texture and high sugar content make Big Beef suitable for homemade tomato sauce, salsa, and canning. The meatiness means less liquid to reduce during cooking. [source]

💊

Lycopene & Antioxidants

Medicinal

Red tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with heart health and cancer prevention. Cooking slightly increases bioavailability of lycopene. [source]

🏠

Container Growing Indicator

Household

Big Beef is an excellent choice for large container gardening (20+ gallon pots), demonstrating that indeterminate hybrids can thrive in limited space with proper support and care. [source]

🎨

Seed Saving Consideration

Craft

As a hybrid variety, Big Beef seeds won't breed true to type in subsequent generations. Saving seeds for next year will produce variable offspring; purchase new seeds annually for consistent results. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest Big Beef tomatoes when fully red and slightly soft to gentle pressure (usually 20-30 days after flowering). Twist gently or cut with pruners. For last harvests before frost, pick mature green tomatoes and ripen indoors at room temperature (68-77°F) in a paper bag with a ripe banana. Regular harvesting encourages continued fruit production on indeterminate plants.

Fun Facts

🌱 Big Beef tomatoes were introduced by the Burpee seed company and won the All-America Selections award, a prestigious recognition for garden vegetable performance and reliability.
🌱 The large fruit size is a result of hybrid vigor—crossing two carefully selected inbred parent lines—which also contributes to the plant's disease resistance and productivity.
🌱 Indeterminate tomatoes like Big Beef continue growing and producing fruit until killed by frost, with some plants reaching 8-10 feet tall or more in long growing seasons, requiring substantial pruning and support to manage.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Heirloom Hybrid pH Pollination Transplant True Leaves

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