Lycopersicon esculentum 'Big Beef'

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Lycopersicon esculentum 'Big Beef' Plant of Merit

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Kemper Code: A174

Common Name: tomato
Zone: 10 to 11
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Solanaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: Flowers not showy
Bloom Color: Yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained garden soils in full sun. Prefers moist, humusy, deep, fertile loams. Select varieties that are resistant to verticillium (“V”) and fusarium (“F”) wilts. Start indoors in spring from seed 5-6 weeks before last frost date or purchase starter plants in cell packs for planting outside after last frost date. Seed can be sown directly in larger patio containers outside around the last frost date. For large plantings of standard size tomatoes, consider planting in rows that are 4-5’ apart. Space plants every 2-4’ within each row, depending on type. Plants may be spaced 1.5’ apart if staked, caged or otherwise supported. For supported tomatoes, consider removing suckers to limit plants to 1-2 central stems. Mulching root zone helps reduce weeds and retain moisture. Water plants regularly throughout the growing season. Select varieties that mature at different times to maximize total harvest time. Crop rotation from year to year helps cut down on diseases. For additional information on the growing of tomatoes in Missouri, see Fresh Market Tomatoes (University of Missouri Extension publication - G6370), which is available for inspection and/or purchase at the Kemper Center Information Desk.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This tomato is an indeterminate, red beefsteak-type weighing 8 to 12 ounces. The harvest period is about 73 days making it very early for the size. It has good resistance against several fungal wilt pathogens, stem canker, nematodes and tobacco mosaic virus. Plants should be staked and pruned. All-America Selections® Winner in 1994.

Problems:

Disease problems include anthracnose, bacterial spot, early blight, fusarium wilt, late blight, verticillium wilt and viruses. Insect pests include tomato hornworms, tomato fruitworms, stinkbugs, aphids, Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, cutworms and whiteflies. Nematodes can be a problems in some areas. Watch also for physiological disorders such as blossom end rot, catfacing, blossom drop, leaf roll and sunscald.

Uses:

Tomatoes have no ornamental value for the landscape. They are grown primarily in vegetable gardens or containers for their fruits.