Beefsteak tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Also known asSlicing tomato · Beef tomato (UK)
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates. Strict on light; outside the DLI band, yields drop sharply.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 10–13 (winter low around -1°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: very heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.2 |
| flowering | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2.6 |
| fruiting | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Companion-growing notes
- Heavy uptake of potassium, calcium, phosphorus. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.
- Very high transpiration. Reservoir drops fast; expect daily top-ups and EC creep.
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A high-value hydroponic crop that rewards careful management. Dutch bucket, drip-to-waste or large deep water culture suit the indeterminate beefsteak types, which grow as continuous vines rather than compact bushes. Hold EC around 2.0-3.5 mS/cm, toward the top of that band for beefsteaks since the big fruit needs strong feeding, and pH 5.5-6.5. Run 20–28°C by day and 15–18°C at night; the day-night swing improves fruit quality. Light demand is very high, on the order of 22-30 mol/m2/day, more than most hydroponic vegetables. Train the vines up strings or stakes, remove suckers to keep one or two leaders, and clip or sling the heavy fruit. Calcium is the make-or-break nutrient: blossom end rot, driven by localised calcium deficiency and uneven watering, hits beefsteaks hardest because the large fruit needs more calcium delivered, and it can cost up to half the crop. Keep calcium near 150-200 ppm and water steadily, since calcium uptake follows transpiration. Strip the lower leaves up to the first ripening truss for airflow. Pick when fruit is fully coloured and gives slightly to pressure. Expect 5 to 15 large fruits per plant, roughly 3–8 kg.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Origin | Days | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandywine | heirloom | 90 | 450 g | Pre-1885 Amish heirloom. Pink-red, deeply lobed fruit with intense complex flavor most growers rate as the gold standard. Low yield (a few large fruits per truss), prone to cracking, long season. Indeterminate, reaches 2.5m. | |
| Cherokee Purple | heirloom | 80 | 380 g | Tennessee Cherokee heirloom released to the seed trade in 1990. Dusky purple-brown shoulders, brick-red flesh, rich savory flavor distinct from any red beefsteak. More productive than Brandywine; somewhat disease-prone in humid summers. | |
| Big Boy | hybrid | Burpee | 78 | 450 g | Burpee's 1949 release; one of the first F1 hybrid tomatoes sold to home gardeners. Indeterminate, disease-resistant (VFN). Reliable productivity in a wide climate range. Flavor is solid mid-tier; chosen for yield and consistency rather than peak taste. |
| Mortgage Lifter | heirloom | 85 | 500 g | West Virginia 1930s heirloom, named because the breeder reportedly paid off his mortgage selling seedlings. Pink-red fruit often topping 500g. Mild sweet flavor, low acid. Productive; one of the easier large heirlooms for less-than-ideal climates. | |
| Black Krim | heirloom | 80 | 280 g | Crimean heirloom. Smaller than most beefsteaks (around 280g) but with deep mahogany-purple shoulders and savory salty flavor. Tolerates heat better than Brandywine; cracks easily after rain. | |
| Beefmaster | hybrid | Burpee | 80 | 700 g | F1 selected for fruit size (often 700g+ per fruit, occasionally over 1kg). Disease resistance package (VFN). Less complex flavor than the heirlooms but the size makes it the choice for stuffed tomato dishes and burger slicing. |