No. 017 · hybrid
Big Beef
Big Beef is an indeterminate hybrid beefsteak with red fruit. It ripens in about 73 days.
Flavor
Described in catalogs as full flavored and among the best, meaty not mealy, with a balanced combination of size, taste and earliness. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.
Origin
Bred by Colen Wyatt at Seminis Vegetable Seeds and named a 1994 All-America Selections winner.
What it does well
- 1994 All-America Selections winner
- Broad disease resistance including Verticillium, Fusarium races 1 and 2, nematodes and tobacco mosaic virus
- Large fruit with reliable, early yields
Where it frustrates
- Tall indeterminate vines can reach 6 to 7 feet and need sturdy support
- As an F1 hybrid, seed cannot be saved true to type
- Big fruit benefits from steady watering to avoid cracking
Growing it
- Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
- Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
- Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
- Will set in cooler conditions, though warmth still helps it along.
- Prone to cracking and splitting after wet spells.
- One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.
Disease resistance
Carries broad resistance including Verticillium, Fusarium races 1 and 2, nematodes and tobacco mosaic virus.
Why no hardiness zone?
Tomatoes are warm-season annuals, so variety choice comes down to days to maturity and your local frost dates.
Like Big Beef, but...
Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.
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Where to buy seed
Related reading
Common questions
- Is Big Beef determinate or indeterminate?
- Big Beef is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
- How long does Big Beef take to ripen?
- Big Beef ripens in about 73 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
- Is Big Beef an heirloom or a hybrid?
- Big Beef is a hybrid (F1), so seed saved from it will not come back true to the parent and is best bought fresh each year.
- What can I grow instead of Big Beef?
- A close swap is Celebrity, but Celebrity is a more compact, semi-determinate disease-resistant hybrid.
Sources
- Tomato Big Beef F1 · All-America Selections
- Big Beef F1 Tomato Seed · Johnny's Selected Seeds
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