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Post by daylilydude on Apr 24, 2020 13:24:16 GMT -5
Did you like it as far as a hybrid tomato, and how was your production? Big Beef...
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 24, 2020 15:35:15 GMT -5
I grow Big Beef every year. It is a sure thing for me, disease resistant and good production. I grow heirlooms too but I like Big Beef because I know that I will have plenty of tomatoes to make my pasta sauce for the freezer.
I also like the fact that the fruits are medium sized and nice and round so they are really good for freezing whole.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 24, 2020 16:01:06 GMT -5
I grow Big Beef every season, with good results - good disease resistance and production; though it does get blossom drop from the heat, it gets it a little later than most (and, like most, the tomatoes that develop after it comes back later in the season are smaller, but still delicious). The tomatoes are 6-8 oz, some early ones quite a bit larger, and almost never splits, with nice shoulders on them. And when I have those blind taste tests (I know what varieties they are, of course, but my friends don't), Big Beef has beat out most other slicer tomatoes, heirloom or others that season, and the few times another variety came out on top, they were not keepers, despite the flavor. Only a few tomatoes that I keep growing every year, and this is one!
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Post by spike on Apr 24, 2020 19:44:12 GMT -5
Never heard of Big Beef. I thought you were talking about cows sadly. Gonna have to buy me some seeds!!
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Post by octave1 on Apr 24, 2020 20:42:22 GMT -5
Big Beef is probably the best hybrid tomato out there, along with Early Girl.
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Post by paulf on Apr 25, 2020 9:13:48 GMT -5
Last year I grew Big Beef for the first time after hearing all the talk about how good it was. Got a plant from a box store, I think it was a Bonnie Best, and it thrived in the garden. Only thing is, it produced a large amount of really small tomatoes. Three ounces at best, and not really tasty at that. Very much like a grocery store tomato. When the results were posted here I was told to try again with a "real" Big Beef. I didn't waste time or energy this year on any hybrids, but it is on my list to attempt again from seeds purchased from a good seed seller. Maybe it knew it was all alone in a garden full of real tomatoes and was intimidated.
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 25, 2020 9:31:07 GMT -5
paulf , that is not normal for Big Beef. I have grown it for about 8 years and I have never had tomatoes that small. I always grow mine from seed so maybe you got a mis labeled plant or maybe it was just a dud.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Apr 25, 2020 11:47:06 GMT -5
I have definitely gotten the wrong plants a number of times when buying Bonnie brand seedlings at the big box stores. I have no idea how many of those times happened due to mix-ups at the nursery and how many times were from shoppers moving tags. At least some of it must happen at the nursery, because I have bought Heatwave at least 3 times and it has never resembled the description.
When I want to give a hybrid variety a fair trial I always buy seeds from a reputable seller and grow it myself.
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Post by paulf on Apr 25, 2020 13:35:27 GMT -5
My attempt at Big Beef was a last minute decision so a plant was the only choice. From seed next time for sure.
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Post by paquebot on Apr 25, 2020 13:44:52 GMT -5
Laura, when there was a big "hate WalMart" campaign years ago, one of the things which were to be done was switch tags on plants. Cherry and large tomatoes were one and hot and sweet peppers were another. WalMart then switched to UPC labels on the containers.
As for Big Beef, can't believe that Spike had not heard of it. It was one of the early hybrids and I would not be far off in saying that 90% of longtime gardeners have grown it at least once. I just came in from a long visit with Tanzanian pal who only thinks Big Beef and Roma. They will be in his garden again this year.
I'll add a tip on how to grow them. Friend stakes them and does not allow any laterals. Fruit are formed close to the stalk and they are all big slicers. I've seen him do that since 2006 with same results. Each plant also gets 2½ gallons of horse manure.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by spike on Apr 25, 2020 22:24:43 GMT -5
can't believe that Spike had not heard of it. My Old Uncles grew Red Ox Heart tomatoes period. Everything that went into the garden was from seed saved from the previous year and you could get voted off the land if you tried something new and Lord Honey don't try none of that fancy wasting grow space on flowers.
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Post by september on Apr 26, 2020 9:28:53 GMT -5
One year, I grew 4 or 5 of the similar big red Burpee F1 hybrids in the same garden - Big Beef, Better Boy, Big Boy, Big Bite, and I can't remember the other names without digging out old records. I could not tell any difference in flavor in any of them. They were good enough tomatoes, but I grow for flavor, not production, so I didn't keep track of whether some were more productive. Heirloom flavors are much more interesting to me, so the only hybrid I grow is now Sungold F1. Big Beef seems to be the big red hybrid most people like these days.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Apr 17, 2021 10:19:46 GMT -5
can't believe that Spike had not heard of it. My Old Uncles grew Red Ox Heart tomatoes period. Everything that went into the garden was from seed saved from the previous year and you could get voted off the land if you tried something new and Lord Honey don't try none of that fancy wasting grow space on flowers. Don’t feel bad, I’ve heard of it, but this is the first year growing it because I didn’t start seeds. In fact just about every tomato out there is a hybrid. EXCEPT I have a Cherokee Purple and Black Cherry that I was lucky enough to find in the big box store.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 17, 2021 10:38:24 GMT -5
I have 3 BB seedlings, with 2 spaces allotted to them in the garden. I always grow some; all of the other similar beefsteak hybrids have not been as good, for one reason or more (usually more).
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theozarkan
Junior Member
Posts: 9
Joined: March 2019
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Post by theozarkan on Apr 17, 2021 13:43:55 GMT -5
It's been awhile but the main thing I remember is being disappointed in the size. I was expecting something bigger with a name like big beef.
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Post by paquebot on Apr 17, 2021 19:57:50 GMT -5
If you've grown it and not happy with the size, see my previous reply. Trim the foliage back and it will produce huge fruit. Energy goes to fruit instead of leaves.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by brownrexx on Apr 18, 2021 7:47:00 GMT -5
They are large but not huge and I like them that way. I like this variety because it produces lots of fruits and they are totally round which makes them nice for freezing whole.
I make lots of tomato sauce for my freezer each year and I like Big Beef because it is so dependable and rarely has disease problems. I can depend on it and I usually grow 3 plants of Big Beef.
I grow several other varieties mainly for fresh eating.
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Post by octave1 on Apr 18, 2021 10:33:42 GMT -5
Big Beef is not a beefsteak type, despite the name. In size and shape they resemble Early Girl tomatoes, but its flavor is superior. It's a vey dependable variety, and it's delicious both raw and cooked. I have grown Big Beef several times, always from seeds, and I can only say good things about this tomato.
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