For over nineteen years, Big Beef has remained one of the most popular red tomatoes in North America. Almost foolproof, 8 to 12 ounce fruit can be harvested beginning about 73 days from transplanting into warm garden soil. Easy to grow from seed or plants is an understatement. The hybrid vigor is obvious from the seedling size to the vining plant. Big Beef began a trend toward multiple disease resistances packed into plant genes using old-fashioned breeding techniques. Big Beef is resistant to Verticillium, Fusarium Race 1 & 2, Stemphylium, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Nematode, and Alternaria Stem Canker.
Colen Wyatt, at Seminis Vegetable Seeds, was one of the most successful home garden vegetable plant breeders in the last half of the 20th century. He bred Big Beef, Celebrity and Husky Gold tomatoes, all very successful AAS Winners. In addition to tomatoes, he bred cucumbers, pumpkins, and winter squash. Early Butternut Squash was a 1979 AAS Winner bred by Colen. In 1998 AAS presented the prestigious Medallion of Honor to him for the abundance and superior quality of his vegetable introductions.”
Plants are an indeterminate habit best if grown on a stake with pruning.
Debbie Maxwell –
I just wanted to let you know how awesome your Big Beef tomato plants are! I bought them for the first time this year (2020) from my local greenhouse in Deloraine, MB, Canada and I was concerned as my regular big beef plants were unavailable. What a great surprise to find how delicious and juicy and flavourful they were! In addition they matured much faster than the ones I used to plant! We shared our bounty with friends and everyone commented on the deliciousness of the big beefs! Thank you so much for the availability of these tomato plants and I sure hope to find them again next season!