Big Beef: A portrait of the tomato variety

The tomato variety ‘Big Beef’ lives up to its name. Find out what makes the big beef tomato special and how to grow it in the garden here.

The hybrid variety ‘Big Beef‘ not only produces tasty, large fruits, but also has many resistances to common tomato diseases. We present the robust tomato variety to you in the profile.

Big Beef Tomato: Wanted poster

fruit	Beefsteak tomato; Red
taste	sweet Sour
Ripening time	medium early
growth	Stake tomatoes, up to 250 cm
Location	Greenhouse, open field, bucket

Origin and history

The ‘Big Beef F1‘ is a breed by the American Colen Wyatt from the company Seminis Vegetable Seeds - just like the award-winning varieties Celebrity ‘and‘ Husky Gold ‘. The hybrid variety even won the All-American Selections Award (AAS) in 1994, making it the best edible vegetable in North America. In the 1990s, the trend towards breeding multi-resistant varieties began and the ‘Big Beef F1‘ itself is already resistant to five

Tomato diseases.

Description and taste of the big beef tomato

The ‘Big Beef F1‘ grows up to 2.5 meters in height as a plant. In the open it usually stays smaller at a height of around 150 centimeters. The fruits of the ‘Big Beef F1‘ are round to flattened, slightly ribbed and bright red when fully ripe. They weigh around 350 to 400 grams and thus belong to the large-fruited beefsteak tomatoes. The variety ripens mid-early from early to mid-August and can bring very high yields. The taste of the ‘Big Beef F1‘ is pleasant with a good balance of sweetness and acidity. She is resistant to two FusariumStrains, Verticillium, Alternaria, the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and the infestation with Nematodes.

Planting and caring for big beef tomatoes

The ‘Big Beef F1‘ can be cultivated in the greenhouse, in the field and also in the tub. From the beginning of May the red beefsteak tomato is placed in the greenhouse, later after the ice saints in the bed or in the pot. Tomatoes should be in nutrient-rich potting soil, like ours Plantura organic tomato soil, be set. The pre-fertilized substrate supports the young plants in growing and provides essential nutrients for the first weeks of growth. After planting, the big beef tomato should be watered and, due to its vigor, be well supported and tied up.

The large-fruited beefsteak tomato should be grown with one or a maximum of two shoots. To do this, leave a strong side shoot at the bottom of the plant stem and remove all other overlying ones regularly and carefully. In our article on the Skinning tomatoes you will find detailed instructions on how which type of tomato should be grown and how you can identify and remove the side shoots.

The large beef tomato will benefit from regular fertilization from June onwards, which will provide it with optimal nutrients for the period of fruit growth. Our purely organic, liquid one Plantura organic tomato & vegetable fertilizer is applied about once a week together with the irrigation water. The roots of the tomatoes can absorb the nutrients they contain quickly and efficiently. In this way, symptoms of deficiency such as yellowing of the lower leaves, which indicates a lack of nitrogen, can also be remedied. In addition, a protective layer of mulch supports the life of the soil and reduces evaporation on hot summer days, especially outdoors and in greenhouses. In this way, you can save liters of water and at the same time protect your soil from erosion and drying out.

Harvest and use ‘Big Beef’ tomatoes

The first ripe, bright red fruits of the ‘Big Beef F1‘ can be harvested from August. The mild, tasty tomatoes can be used universally in the kitchen. Whether raw with a snack and in salads, grilled and gratinated or cooked in soups and sauces - the big beef tomato is equally suitable for all purposes.

Especially for the unprotected Growing tomatoes outdoors the tomato varieties should be robust and disease-resistant. We present suitable varieties for beds and give tips on growing tomatoes in the open air.