Characteristics and description of the Big Beef tomato

It's hard to find a tomato variety that's early-ripening, large, and easy to care for. But Dutch breeders have developed such a hybrid and named it Big Beef.

That is, a large beefsteak. It was named so for the meatiness of its flesh and the large size of the fruit.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Big Beef tomato is a mid-early hybrid. It takes 100-110 days from sowing to harvesting the first crop. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor cultivation. The indeterminate bushes are very tall and spreading. They require trellis support and training. The bush has medium foliage. The leaves are large and dark green. The trunk is thick, succulent, and vigorous, reaching a height of up to 180 cm.

The fruits are large, up to 800 grams each. They form in clusters, with 3 to 5 tomatoes per cluster. The tomatoes are rounded and flattened. The surface is gently ribbed and glossy. The flavor is sweet, with a hint of tartness typical of tomatoes. The aroma is aromatic and distinct. The ripe fruit is bright red. Inside, there are 6 chambers containing a few seeds.

The hybrid's fruiting period is extended. Timely harvesting of ripe fruits ensures new ovaries.

This variety produces very good yields. A single plant can yield up to 5 kg. A slightly lower yield is possible in open ground. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption, juices, and tomato pastes.

Features and disadvantages of the variety

The variety's advantages include large fruits and high yields. It is grafted to resist many nightshade diseases, including late blight and tobacco mosaic virus. The fruits ripen quickly and produce fruit over a long period. The hybrid is rich in vitamins and minerals and is suitable for baby food. It can be grown in all regions of Russia. It is suitable for short-term storage and tolerates transportation well.

The disadvantages of this variety are that it is very tall and requires shaping and tying.

Sowing for seedlings

Seeds for seedlings are sown 60-65 days before transplanting the plants to their permanent location. In central Russia, this is early March.

Choose fertile and light soil for seedlings. Fill the pots, moisten the soil, and sow the seeds. Plant them 2 cm deep in the soil. Cover with plastic wrap and store in a warm place. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 20-22 degrees Celsius (68-72 degrees Fahrenheit). After the first shoots appear, remove the plastic wrap and move the seedlings to a bright, warm windowsill or under artificial lighting. The optimal temperature for initial growth should be no more than 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit). Then, after transplanting, increase the temperature to 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius (73-77 degrees Fahrenheit).

Seedlings are pricked out when they have 2-3 true leaves. After pricking out, they should be fed with a full mineral fertilizer complex.

Growing and caring for the variety

Transplant seedlings to their permanent location when at least 8 true leaves have appeared on the plant, or when the threat of further frost has passed.

Choose a sunny planting site. It's best to avoid drafts, as this variety grows very tall and there's a risk of wind breaking its branches.

Prepare the soil in advance. Remove weeds, add fertilizer, and dig. Leave the soil for about a week to settle. Then dig holes at least 25 cm deep. Place a large spoonful of wood or grass ash at the bottom. Then place the seedlings and the stake (which will later be used to attach the tomato plant) in the hole and cover with soil.

The bush should be formed into 1-2 stems. The remaining stems should be removed by pruning. Also, remove any excess or small flowers from the cluster. Leave 4-5 flowers per cluster. Plant in a 60x50 pattern, as the bushes are very vigorous.

At first, watering should be done daily. Once the seedlings have established themselves, water infrequently but thoroughly, 1-2 times a week.

Fertilizing also helps increase yield. At least four applications are needed per season. The first application is done immediately after transplanting. Use phosphorus-containing fertilizers. The second application is done two weeks after planting with a complex mineral fertilizer. The third application is done at the fruit set stage. The fourth application is done during fruit filling. It's also worth applying fertilizer between harvests to prevent weakening the plant and reducing fruit quality.

It's also worth regularly removing weeds and loosening the soil around the plant's trunk, especially after watering.

Reviews from those who planted the variety

According to numerous reviews from gardeners, farmers, and summer residents, this variety is excellent. Children love it because it's sweet and large, like an apple. Housewives appreciate this variety for its good shelf life and the excellent sauces and juices it produces. Farmers really appreciate its transportability and the appearance of the tomatoes. In greenhouses, this variety stays green until deep frost.