How to Grow Beefsteak
Solanum lycopersicum 'Beefsteak'
Beefsteak tomatoes are large, flavorful heirlooms prized for their juicy flesh and rich taste. Gardeners cultivate them to enjoy substantial slices perfect for sandwiches or salads, though they require attentive care to thrive.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoStarting Beefsteak: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Beefsteak is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last spring frost has passed and soil temperatures are consistently warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 before planting. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date when soil is cool. Sow seeds one inch deep; they typically germinate within seven to fourteen days once warmth arrives.
Space plants thirty-six to forty-eight inches apart to ensure air circulation and prevent disease. Install sturdy cages or trellises early, as these varieties can reach ten feet tall. Maintain consistent moisture with deep watering and apply mulch to retain water while feeding regularly during the growing season.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, spider mites, and cutworms; practice good hygiene and ensure airflow to deter late blight, fusarium wilt, blossom end rot, and cracking. Harvest large fruits eighty-five to ninety days after transplanting when they reach full size and color.
When to Plant Beefsteak
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Beefsteak
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Loosens soil around tomato roots and doesn't compete for space
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Deters nematodes and repels hornworms and other pests
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels aphids and spider mites while attracting pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects and acts as living mulch
Similar growing requirements and compatible root systems
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and death
Heavy nitrogen feeders that compete with tomatoes for nutrients
Both attract corn earworms and compete for similar nutrients
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
