Tomatoes - Beefsteak
Type: Vegetable
Rotation Group: 1, Potatoes and Tomatoes
| | MARMANDE(Semi-determinate) The fruits won't win prizes for beauty, but the flavour is what matters and Marmande has it in abundance. The fruits are large, early and contain few seeds. Outdoor variety. |
| | COUNTRY TASTE(Indeterminate) A really meaty, beefsteak tomato. The fruits have a full, rich flavour and can each weigh up to 450g/1lb. The plants are notably disease resistant. Can be grown in the greenhouse or outdoors. |
| | BIG DADDY(Indeterminate) An easy to maintain, disease resistant variety with a long harvest season. Big Daddy gives a yield of large, delicious, meaty, ruby-red fruits each weighing up to 250g. Can be grown in the greenhouse or in a sheltered sunny position outdoors. |
| | BRANDY BOY(Indeterminate) This tidy, shapely grower with good disease resistance holds the favourite flavour of the Brandywine heirloom tomato but gives larger, earlier yields. Disease resistant. Can be grown in the greenhouse or in a sheltered sunny position outdoors. |
Site, Soil and Preparation
They are great for growing in pots or grow bags in a greenhouse, but will also do well in a sunny spot outdoors, either in the ground, in large pots or in grow bags against a south-facing wall. Smaller types can even be grown in hanging baskets! A fertile soil is required.
Indoor Sowing
Sow from late February to mid-March if you are growing your crop in a greenhouse, or from late March to early April if you are growing outside. Sow in thinly on the surface in pots or trays of seed compost and cover with a thin layer of seed compost or vermiculite. Keep covered (clear cover) in a warm place of about 18 centigrade - a heated propogator is ideal. Uncover and place in a well lit place (window sill) as soon as seedlings appear.
Outdoor Sowing
To improve success in germinating and to develop hardier plants it is best to sow and bring on tomatoe seeds indoors.
Thinning
After about two weeks from the seedlings appearing pot them on into individual pots buried up to the first pair of leaves. Keep on a window sill or in a greenhouse above 16 centigrade for a further month.
Transplanting
After about a month the tomatoe seedlings should be ready to plant to their final growing position.
Care
Water tomato plants regularly to keep the soil moist and feed every 10-14 days with a recognized tomato fertiliser.
Cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes will need tying into tall supports and have side shoots removed regularly.
Bush (determinate) tomatoes should not need supports unless they are carrying heavy fruit, when support canes may be needed.
Harvest
Check tomato fruit regularly and pick individual tomatoes as they become fully coloured and ripe.