How to Grow Big Bertha Tomato Beefmaster

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Big Bertha Tomato Beefmaster

Solanum lycopersicum 'Big Bertha' / 'Beefmaster'

vegetable

A large, indeterminate beefsteak tomato variety known for producing massive, meaty fruits that can weigh 1-2 pounds each. Big Bertha Beefmaster tomatoes are prized for their rich flavor, few seeds, and impressive size, making them ideal for slicing and fresh eating. These vigorous plants require substantial support and produce continuously throughout the growing season.

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Beefmaster Big Bertha Brandywine Cherokee Purple Mortgage Lifter Black Krim

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

Plant Big Bertha Tomato Beefmaster
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Big Bertha Tomato Beefmaster
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (more sun produces sweeter, larger fruit)

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Water: Deep, consistent watering 1-2 inches per week; avoid wetting foliage to prevent disease. Water at soil level, keeping soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Irregular watering causes fruit cracking and blossom end rot.

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

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Days to maturity: 75-85 days from transplant to first ripe fruit

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Planting depth: Start seeds 1/4 inch deep indoors; transplant deep (bury stem up to first true leaves) outdoors

Soil

Type: Rich, well-draining loamy soil with high organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Bone meal (phosphorus for fruiting) Calcium sources (crushed eggshells, gypsum) to prevent blossom end rot Peat moss or coco coir for moisture retention

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-10, can be grown in 3-4 with season extension

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny sprouts with cotyledons (seed leaves) emerge 5-10 days after planting. True leaves appear within 2-3 weeks.

Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily (grow lights). Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain 70-75°F for optimal germination. Thin seedlings to 2-3 inches apart.

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks (until first flower clusters appear)

Plant develops strong stem and robust foliage. Height increases rapidly, eventually reaching 6-8+ feet. Multiple sets of true leaves form continuously.

Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Plant deep to encourage strong root system. Install sturdy support (cage or stake) immediately. Pinch off lower suckers to improve air circulation. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer.

Flowering

3-4 weeks (flowers continue throughout season)

Yellow flower clusters (inflorescences) appear in leaf axils. Multiple flowers bloom simultaneously; each cluster can produce 6-12 potential fruits.

Maintain consistent watering and warmth (70-85°F ideal). Gently shake plants in early morning to aid pollination if growing indoors/in hoop house. Apply calcium-rich fertilizer (bone meal, gypsum) to prevent blossom end rot. Remove excessive foliage only to improve light penetration to fruit.

Fruiting & Development

6-8 weeks from flower to mature fruit

Flowers are pollinated and fruits develop rapidly, swelling from marble to golf ball to tennis ball size. Fruits transition from green to light pink to full red at maturity. Individual beefsteak fruits can reach 1-2 pounds.

Provide unwavering support; heavy fruits may snap branches. Prune only selectively to avoid exposing fruit to sunscald. Maintain deep, consistent watering—irregular watering causes cracking. Fertilize with low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus formula. Mulch to regulate soil moisture and temperature.

Harvest & Senescence

Until first frost (8-12 weeks or more in favorable climates)

Fruits reach full size and color; plant continues to flower and set new fruit until frost or disease pressure becomes severe. Late-season fruits develop more slowly.

Harvest ripe fruits regularly to encourage continued production. Pick when fully colored and slightly soft. In late season, pinch off new flowers to direct energy to already-developing fruit. Watch for late blight and other fall diseases; improve air circulation.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrots Onions Garlic Marigolds Nasturtiums Borage Chives Lettuce

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Dill Potatoes Corn Walnut trees

Common Pests

Hand-pick daily; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; encourage parasitic wasps; use pheromone traps
Spray insecticidal soap or neem oil; use yellow sticky traps; reflective mulch; encourage beneficials like ladybugs
Blast off with water spray; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; plant garlic and chives nearby; release ladybugs
Increase humidity; spray water on undersides of leaves; use miticide or neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves
Remove lower affected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide; avoid overhead watering
Remove infected plant material immediately; apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicide; ensure excellent air flow; avoid wetting foliage
Remove and destroy infected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide
Choose resistant varieties; practice crop rotation; avoid overhead watering; remove wilted plants; solarize soil if replanting

Uses

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Fresh Slicing & Sandwiches

Culinary

The large, meaty beefsteak tomatoes are ideal for slicing into thick steaks for sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Their few seeds and low juice content make them perfect for fresh eating without excess mess. [source]

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Tomato Sauce & Preserves

Culinary

The dense, fleshy texture and rich flavor make Big Bertha excellent for homemade tomato sauce, paste, canning, and soups. Their large size means fewer fruits are needed for a big batch. [source]

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Lycopene & Antioxidants

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and cancer prevention. Cooking tomatoes increases bioavailability of lycopene. [source]

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Seed Saving

Household

Open-pollinated Beefmaster varieties allow home gardeners to save seeds from the largest, most flavorful fruits for next season's planting. [source]

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Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Tomato flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators during mid to late summer, supporting local pollinator populations. [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 colored and yielding slightly to gentle pressure. Tomatoes continue to ripen off the vine if picked at the 'breaker stage' (first blush of color). Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Pick in the morning when fruits are cool. In cool climates, harvest remaining green fruits before frost and ripen indoors. Beefsteak tomatoes are best harvested individually rather than left on the vine too long, as they can become overripe and crack.

Fun Facts

🌱 The Beefmaster variety was developed by the University of California and released in 1971; it remains one of the largest and most flavorful tomato varieties available to home gardeners.
🌱 Beefsteak tomatoes are 'indeterminate,' meaning they grow indefinitely and produce fruit throughout the season until frost—a single plant can yield 100+ pounds of fruit in favorable conditions.
🌱 Tomatoes are botanically classified as berries, not vegetables, because they develop from the flower's ovary and contain seeds; in the United States, they are legally classified as vegetables for tariff purposes.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Germination Mulch pH Pollination Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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