Beefsteak Tomato

Beefsteak Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Start beefsteak tomato indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant out 2 weeks after your last spring frost. Space plants 36 in (91 cm) apart.

Photo: Rob Bertholf, CC BY 3.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended
  1. Start indoors4 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week after your last spring frost
  3. Plant out2 weeks after your last spring frost
  4. First harvestabout 70 days after planting out

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant out2 weeks after your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 70 days after planting out

Growing beefsteak tomato

Spacing in the row
36 in (91 cm)
Between rows
48 in (122 cm)
Planting depth
0.25 inches
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-draining, loamy (pH 6.0-6.8)
Germination
5-10 days at 75-85°F
Harvest season
Summer to Early Fall
Mature height
48-72 inches
Support
Staking, Caging, Trellis
Life cycle
Annual

Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Use heat mat and grow lights for optimal germination.

Watering. Consistent, deep watering. Avoid overhead watering to prevent disease. Maintain even soil moisture.

Feeding

Seedlings
Start with dilute balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g., 5-1-1) after true leaves appear.
Growing
Switch to a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-5) or organic compost once established outdoors.
Flowering and fruiting
Apply a high-potassium fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10) when fruits begin to set.
How often
Every 2-4 weeks during active growth and fruiting.
Note
Monitor plant health and adjust feeding. Avoid excessive nitrogen after flowering.

Your beefsteak tomato, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add beefsteak tomato to your planting calendar →