Beefsteak Tomato

Beefsteak tomatoes are large-fruited types of the tomato species, Solanum lycopersicum. Their slices are big enough to cover a sandwich, and single fruits often weigh more than one pound. The plant is usually grown as an annual, though it is a perennial in frost-free climates. Plants can reach 1 to 10 feet (30 to 305 cm) tall and 1 to 4 feet (30 to 122 cm) wide.

Beefsteak-type fruit is usually late to ripen. In North Carolina, larger fruits like these are harder to produce because the hot summers can make blossoms drop before they set fruit.

Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your area. Some guides count from planting out instead, saying 5 to 6 weeks before planting. Sow the seed about ⅛ inch (0.3 cm) deep. Seeds will sprout in 6 to 12 days when the soil is warm, ideally 75 to 90 °F (24 to 32 °C).

Move plants outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Plant as early as possible in the season, since the heat can hurt fruit set. Space plants 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) apart. Choose a full-sun spot, since the plant needs full sun.

Staking, caging or trellising keeps the vines and fruit off the ground. It also keeps stems from breaking under the weight of the fruit. Container growing is possible in a pot of at least 5 gallons (19 L), with one plant per pot.

Keep the soil consistently watered to help prevent blossom end rot and split fruit. Containers need more frequent watering because they dry out quickly from sun and wind. Too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen, can produce lots of leafy growth with little fruit.

Uneven watering can cause fruit cracking and blossom end rot. Large fruit is prone to splitting and cracking. If the daytime temperature reaches 90 ºF (32 ºC) by 10 a.m., blossoms that opened that morning can drop without setting fruit.

Tomatoes are susceptible to many pests, including stink bugs, cutworms, tomato hornworms and aphids. Fusarium wilt is a common disease that can destroy an entire tomato crop. Always choose cultivars with disease resistance.

Harvest as soon as the fruit color begins to change. Days to harvest are counted as 65 to 90 days from transplant. Another guide gives 2 to 3 months after planting the seeds, or up to 4 to 5 months, depending on the variety.

Don’t refrigerate tomatoes. Allow them to ripen fully indoors at room temperature. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked, so store them at room temperature. Store tomato fruit between 55 and 70 °F (13 to 21 °C).

Cats and dogs: a page lists tomato plants as a problem for both cats and dogs. For people, the leaves and stems are listed as the poisonous parts, with the risk tied mainly to eating large amounts. Don’t eat the leaves or stems. The fruits are edible raw, cooked or processed.