How to Grow Burpee's Big Boy
Solanum lycopersicum 'Big Boy'
Burpee's Big Boy is a popular hybrid tomato variety known for its excellent disease resistance and reliable yield in warm climates. Gardeners choose this cultivar for its ability to withstand common soil-borne pathogens like verticillium wilt while producing large, flavorful fruit.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Burpee's Big Boy: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Burpee's Big Boy is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors before the last frost; instead, plant seedlings directly outdoors only after all danger of spring frosts has passed and the soil has warmed up sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 to support healthy root development. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors only after the last spring frost date has passed or when soil temperatures are consistently warm. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep; they typically germinate within seven to fourteen days once warmth is established.
Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart in full sun to ensure proper air circulation. Install sturdy cages or trellises early, as this variety can reach heights of one to ten feet. Maintain consistent moisture by watering deeply at the base and applying mulch to retain soil humidity while reducing weed competition.
Monitor for tomato hornworms, aphids, cutworms, and spider mites; inspect leaves regularly and remove pests manually or use organic controls. Prevent late blight, early blight, and blossom end rot by practicing crop rotation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest ripe fruit 78 to 85 days after transplanting when the color is fully developed.
When to Plant Burpee's Big Boy
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 Burpee's Big Boy
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Attracts pollinators and may deter tomato hornworms
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may improve tomato flavor
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels pests and may enhance tomato growth
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for space
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and death
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworm which damages tomato fruits
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
