It is said there are two things money can’t buy: true love and homegrown beefsteak tomatoes. The love you must entrust to chance; however, the prized, large tomatoes—those you can readily cultivate this summer.
Beefsteak-type tomatoes are massive. The Guinness Book of World Records notes the largest tomato ever grown weighed a staggering 7 pounds 12 ounces—roughly the size of a honeydew melon! It was grown in 1986 by Gordon Graham of Edmond, Oklahoma.
Although the giant tomatoes you grow may not be quite as hefty as Graham’s record-breaker, chances are a healthy Beefmaster will weigh from 1 to 2 pounds, producing single slices that reach well beyond the boundaries of your sandwich.
Quick Facts: Beefmaster Tomato Profile
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Indeterminate (Vining) F1 Hybrid |
| Average Fruit Size | 1 to 2 lbs (up to 1 kg) |
| Days to Maturity | Approx. 80 days |
| Disease Resistance | Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, Root-knot nematodes (VFN) |
What is a Beefmaster Tomato?
There are around 13 wild tomato species and hundreds of hybrids. Hybrids are carefully created to breed selected, highly desirable traits into a single tomato plant. Such is the case with Beefmaster combinations (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Beefmaster), which were selectively bred to produce larger, meatier, and highly disease-resistant tomatoes.
Beefmasters are categorized as F1 hybrids, meaning they have been crossbred from two distinct “pure” tomato lines. This first-generation hybrid exhibits remarkable “hybrid vigor,” producing higher yields and demonstrating excellent tolerance to cracking and splitting.
However, because they are hybrids, if you save their seeds, the fruit in subsequent years will likely be unrecognizable from the parent plant. You must buy fresh seed or transplants each year.
How to Grow Beefmaster Plants
Cultivating Beefmaster tomatoes is relatively easy. You can start seeds indoors 5-6 weeks before the last frost date for your area, or you can frequently locate them as healthy seedlings at a local garden center.
Once all peril of frost has passed, you can set the transplants out in the garden. Space the seedlings at least 2 to 2 ½ feet (61-76 cm) apart to ensure adequate airflow. Fertilize with a slow-release vegetable food when planting.
Beefmaster tomato plants are “indeterminate,” meaning they are aggressive vining plants that will continue to grow vertically until the first frost. They routinely reach a mature height of 8 to 10 feet! Because the fruits are so massive (up to 2 lbs each), you must provide heavy-duty support. Use heavy-gauge wire tomato cages that are at least 72 inches tall, or securely tie the main stems to sturdy wooden stakes.
How to Break the Size Record
Gardeners out to break records should always start with varieties notorious for big fruits. If you want to grow a massive, scale-tipping tomato, follow these specialized hints:
- Perfect the Soil: Build the ideal soil with liberal additions of organic compost and aged manure before planting.
- Start Early: Start the plants in early spring to give them the longest possible season of growth.
- Consistent Feeding: Add a small amount of fertilizer at planting, and feed with a liquid or granular fertilizer every two weeks.
- Moisture Control: Extra-large fruits are highly susceptible to cracking, so keep the soil heavily mulched and water faithfully so the soil never completely dries out.
- Cluster Thinning: Allow only two or three tomatoes to develop per plant. The first fruits formed will likely grow the biggest. Select the best one, and prune out the others (along with all future flower clusters) so the plant directs 100% of its energy into that single giant fruit.
Pro-Tip: Do not heavily sucker or prune away the main foliage. Each leaf is a food manufacturing center that feeds the fruit!
When you finally harvest a whopper of a tomato, call your county agricultural extension agent. The growing location must be verified, and the agent will take needed measurements and section the fruit to ensure it has not been altered for record-keeping purposes!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum height of Beefmaster tomato plants?
Because Beefmaster tomatoes are an indeterminate (vining) variety, the plants easily reach a mature height of 8 to 10 feet. You must use tall, heavy-duty cages or strong stakes to support the vines and the heavy fruit.
Are Beefmaster tomatoes good for canning?
Yes! Because Beefmaster tomatoes are incredibly large, solid, and meaty with very few seeds and low water content, they are exceptionally good for slicing, making thick sauces, and canning or drying in the oven.
Can I save seeds from a Beefmaster tomato?
No, it is not recommended. Beefmaster tomatoes are F1 hybrids. If you save and plant their seeds next year, the resulting plants will not breed true to the parent and will likely produce smaller, inconsistent, or unrecognizable fruit.
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