Beefsteak tomatoes
Large, fleshy tomatoes for slicing; give each heavy truss sturdy support.
Beefsteak tomatoes seeds
£2.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
February–April indoors
Plant out
Support and tie in the heavy fruiting stems; allow more room than for cherry types.
Harvest
August–October
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, 6–8 hours a day
Water
Little and often — keep compost evenly moist to avoid splitting
Soil
Rich, free-draining, pH 6.0–6.8
Spacing
45–60cm between plants
Containers
Excellent in 30cm pots or grow bags (2 plants per bag)
Indoors
Greenhouse growing gives earlier and heavier crops
Care and harvest
Feeding
High-potash tomato feed weekly once the first truss sets
Pruning
Pinch out side shoots on cordon varieties; stop after 5–6 trusses
Harvesting
Support and tie in the heavy fruiting stems; allow more room than for cherry types.
Storage
Room temperature for up to a week — never the fridge
Good companions: Basil, French marigold, Chives