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Family
Solanaceae
Botanical Name
Lycopersicon esculentum 'Big Beef'
Plant Common Name
Big Beef Tomato, Tomato
General Description
The big slicing tomato ‘Big Beef’ is an indeterminate type with VFFNTASt pest and disease resistance. This 1994 All-American Selections winner offers big flavorful tomatoes with old-time rich taste. They are deep red, produced in abundance and ready for harvest around 73 days after germination.
The garden tomato is a short-lived tender perennial vine that is grown as an annual crop. Its compound leaves are medium green, hairy and have a strong fragrance. Mature vines produce star-shaped yellow flowers in clusters along the branches. Most modern types, like ‘Big Beef’, are self-fertile.
Tomato plants have two growth types, determinant and indeterminate. Determinant tomatoes have short bushy habits, do not vine, and set fruit over a four to six week period. In contrast, indeterminate vines, like ‘Big Beef’, grow very large and produce a large crop of fruit over a longer period. They produce more fruit than determinant types but require staking, trellising or cages and more general maintenance.
Tomatoes require full sun and perfectly drained, slightly acid garden loam. The vines root along the stems and should be planted deep for better establishment. They are cold sensitive, so plant after the danger of frost has past. Production and fruit flavor are best when both nights and days are warm. The fruits themselves are cold sensitive and become tough and less flavorful under cool temperatures, so refrain from storing them in the refrigerator if you can. In subtropical locations, tomatoes can be grown as a winter crop—if temperatures remain warm enough.
These veggies are heavy feeders, so it is important to feed and water them regularly for best growth and production. Be sure to choose a fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes, and avoid over-watering because too much water can reduce flavor and cause cracking.
Tomatoes are susceptible to a wide range of pests and other problems. There are hundreds of varieties available, many of which are resistant. The following code indicates resistance tomatoes have to a specific pests and diseases:
- V=Verticillium wilt resistance
- F or FF= Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) resistance. “F” stands for Race 1 and “FF” Race 2.
- N=Nematode resistance, usually root-knot nematodes
- A=Stem canker (Alternaria alternate) resistance
- T=Tobacco Mosaic Virus resistance
- TSWV=Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus resistance
- St or G=Gray leaf spot disease (Stemphylium) resistance
- BSp=Bacterial Speck disease resistance
Another really common problem is blossom end rot, a fruit defect caused by calcium deficiency. Fruits with end rot have a sunken, rounded black patch at the base. Even moisture and fertilization will control this problem.
There is nothing like a fresh garden grown tomato and ‘Big Beef’ produces truly luscious summer fruit for sandwiches and salads.
