Beefsteak varieties are especially tall and require lots of space and training. For optimal growth and air circulation, space 5 feet or more apart. Tie the plant to a trellis, stake, or cage. They usually grow too tall for a typical tomato cage, so they will need extra support as their baseball-sized fruit can be quite heavy.
Dig a to inch deep hole for each plant and consider using a post-hole digger. Establish a post or stake down the center of the row between the two end posts at each end of the row if end posts are more than 20 feet apart.
Posts that are 3 inches in diameter and 6 feet tall are ideal. Replace the dirt and pack it in firmly so that the posts do not fall over. Wrap a gauge wire around the top of one end post about 6 feet above the soil surface. Nail or staple the end of the wire to the post.
Stretch the wire to make it taut, extend it to the next post, and keep the post anchored in place. Tie a second wire between the posts about 12 inches above the ground.
Tie twine to the bottom wire and stretch it to the top wire. Tie the other end to the top. Attach any additional lengths of twine for each plant and space the twine 36 inches apart on the length of the trellis.
Once the trellis system is ready, plant a seedling at the base of each length of twine. Plant each seedling deeper than it was growing in its starter pot. Establish deep enough so that the bottom leaf is just above the soil surface. Do this by planting it straight into the soil or sideways to encourage healthy rooting.
Beefsteaks thrive most if planted deeper in the ground rather than being planted in containers. As the plant grows, you should prune it regularly.
Do this weekly throughout the growing season to ensure that the plant develops no more than one or two main stems. This will make it easier for the plant to grow on the trellis, and it will slow upward growth and promote better branching. When you see suckers growing out of the crevices between the main stem and leaf-bearing branches, pinch them off. In this image, the bottom two red circles show crevices where branches have been pruned away to prevent them from becoming new main stems.
The top circle shows a branch that still needs to be clipped. Humidity and water droplets can allow fungal spores and disease remnants to enter through the open plant wounds. The tomato plant will continually try to grow new main stems out of the crevices between the existing stem and leaf-bearing branches. Ensure that your tomato beefsteak batch has a continuous supply of moisture for it to thrive.
A common mistake made by those new to Beefsteak tomatoes is to underestimate the amount of space the plants require. They can grow as much as eight feet in height and spread two to three feet wide, so a minimum spacing of 36 inches is a must. As with most tomatoes, pinching early shoots will encourage upward growth and production. They should be tied to a trellis, staked, or caged. Beefsteaks often get end-rot and other problems when not held upright.
Watering correctly is vitally important to Beefsteak varieties. Watering on the ground and increasing frequency when tomatoes begin forming will discourage blossom end rot and larger fruits.
Harvest when the tomatoes are at their peak color. This is usually at 65 to 90 days, depending on the climate and specific strain. Beefsteaks are a medium-red color when ripe and will be easily plucked from the vine. Some of these disease problems include:. Hybrid and heirloom beefsteak tomatoes are used in a variety of dishes to add flavor to your meals. You can use your very own crop when:. You can also keep any ripe tomato in your fridge to slow decay, although this may dampen its flavor.
If you have lots of them and want to conserve them for longer, you can dry or can them. This is a great way of enjoying the fruits of your labor over a long period like cold winter months. This is your one-stop site for all of your gardening needs. Learn how to plant, grow, harvest, protect, and use all kinds of plants.
Photo from YouTube by Gary Pilarchik. You say nothing of sunlight. I live in Florida and it is very hot, humid and bright. How do I prevent early blossom drop off. Are Beefstake ok as container plants? Thanks, Tom. Check MIgardener on YouTube for his video on 3x tomato production. Re: blight — I use 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon veg oil, and a gallon of water to spray my plants.
By low, I mean trimming the bottom inches to reduce splash contact and allowing for fungal issues. I hope this helps. Medium-sized, very dark maroon beefsteak, with wonderfully rich flavor. Tomato, Porterhouse Hybrid The greatest extra-large beefsteak tomato weve ever bred. Filter By: Fruit Bearing. Indeterminate 25 items Determinate 2 items. Yes 11 items. Yes 6 items. Seeds 27 items Merchandise 1 item Plant 12 items. Planting Time. Spring 27 items.
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