Beefsteak Tomato Plant: How to Grow Beefsteak Tomatoes

Beefsteak tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) grow up to six feet tall and produce edible fruits that often weigh more than one pound. The beefsteak tomato is the largest of the tomato plants, producing fruits that expand up to six inches in diameter. Ripe tomatoes have a full, meaty texture and sweet flavor. The beefsteak tomato’s juicy taste makes it a popular addition to sandwiches and salads. In fact, beefsteak tomatoes are the most common tomato grown in North America.

This slicing tomato comes in many varieties. Consider these five common beefsteak varieties for your vegetable garden.

1. 1. ‘Cherokee Purple’: Known as one of the most flavorful beefsteak varieties, the ‘Cherokee Purple’ tomato is also distinct for its pinkish color. Undertones of brown, green, and purple are also visible on this tomato cultivar.
2. 2. ‘Brandywine’: The ‘Brandywine’ tomato is an heirloom variety, meaning it is open-pollinated. ‘Brandywines’ produce a low yield of tasty, late-season heirloom tomatoes. Be aware that this variety is known to ripen unevenly.
3. 3. ‘Big Beef’: As the name suggests, ‘Big Beef’ is a hybrid tomato known for its full-bodied, “beefy” taste and texture.
4. 4. ‘Black Krim’: Another of the heirloom varieties, ‘Black Krim’ gets its name from the Black Sea region where it originates. Darker flesh and a salty flavor set ‘Black Krim’ apart from other beefsteak tomatoes.
5. 5. ‘Mortgage Lifter’: This beefsteak tomato cultivar dates back to the Great Depression in West Virginia. Large, heavy, and mild tasting, the ‘Mortgage Lifter’ cultivar was an important commodity during lean times.

A few key conditions are necessary when planting beefsteak tomatoes. Under the right conditions, germination will take place within a week of planting tomato seeds.

1. 1. Soil: Organic matter like compost works best for beefsteak tomato plants. Beefsteaks also do better deep in warm soil rather than in containers. Take care when transplanting beefsteak tomatoes from indoor to outdoor environments.
2. 2. Light: Choose a sunny location in your vegetable garden that receives plenty of direct light.
3. 3. Surrounding plants: Avoid planting beefsteak tomatoes near members of the Brassicaceae family—such as turnips, kale, and cauliflower—because they compete for nutrients. Consider planting pest-deterring herbs like basil or oregano near your beefsteaks to ward off pests.
4. 4. Spacing: Space your beefsteak tomato plants at least eighteen inches apart. Allow up to thirty-six inches of space between plants.
5. 5. Trellising: Tie the stalks of your plant to a trellis to support their growth. Tomato cages work well for smaller tomato plant varieties—like the cherry tomato—but the larger beefsteak calls for a trellis arrangement.

Growing tomatoes is relatively easy if you follow some basic steps.

1. 1. Light: Beefsteak tomatoes thrive in full sun. Give your tomatoes a minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight daily.
2. 2. Temperature: Your beefsteak tomato plants will do best in temperatures of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and above. Protect your beefsteaks from unexpected bouts of frost by placing row covers or blankets over them at night.
3. 3. Watering: Water your tomato plants frequently during the growing season of spring and summer. Beefsteak tomatoes require up to two inches of water per week for optimal growth and ripening. Consider using a drip irrigation system to ensure your tomatoes receive enough water.
4. 4. Fertilizing: Tomato plants need a potassium-rich fertilizer to grow well. Phosphorus is another key nutrient for tomatoes. Choose an NPK fertilizer with higher ratios of potassium and phosphorus and lower levels of nitrogen. Fertilize your tomatoes every few weeks.
5. 5. Mulching: Add mulch around the base of your plants to help your beefsteak tomatoes stay disease-resistant. Black plastic mulch is helpful for disease resistance against blossom end rot.
6. 6. Pruning: Prune your beefsteak tomato plants to ensure proper growth. While grape tomatoes are determinate, meaning they are bushy and produce fruit in a short period of time, beefsteak tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning they have sparser foliage and produce fruit over the course of a growing season. As indeterminate plants, they grow higher and require staking as well. Snip off the suckers, leaves, and stems when pruning to help direct nutrients to the fruits.
7. 7. Pests: Tomato hornworms and flea beetles are common pests that threaten the health of the beefsteak tomato plant. In addition, fungal diseases like late blight might strike. Growers can combat these pests and diseases by avoiding overwatering and watering only the base of the plant, not the leaves. Good air circulation is also crucial to prevent disease problems.

Beefsteak tomatoes are generally ready to harvest within eighty-five days of planting. You’ll know your beefsteak tomato plants are ripe when the fruit is a medium to deep red color. Observe the bottom of the tomato to determine if the color looks ripe. Your beefsteaks will also be easy to pluck from the vine if they’re ready to harvest. Harvesting beefsteak tomatoes at the right time delivers the freshest tasting fruit. Store your harvested tomatoes at room temperature or refrigerate them. Eat beefsteak tomatoes within one week if stored at room temperature and two weeks if refrigerated.

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