Big Beef Hybrid - Page 4

Hudson_WY · May 21, 2016

Oh Man - these Big Beef Hybrid are picture perfect tomatoes!! Not a blemish on any of them. Don't taste them before they are ripe though - I almost pulled the plant - haha. Wait until they are deep red and somewhat soft when you push against the skin. I think they taste good but not as good as a Brandywine. I think they are in the Better Boy taste spectrum. I prefer Big Beef over Better Boy though.

Hudson_WY · May 21, 2016

Here's what it looks like on the inside

Barb_FL · May 21, 2016

YEP!!! and they produce well in Florida vs Brandywine that grow fine but don't produce a single tomato.

My Big Beef Cutting from last summer (produced 20 tomatoes in early 2016) looked on it's last legs a couple of weeks ago. Ready to pull it out but noticed some new foliage so let it grow ...; it looks/flowering like a young plant.

It now all depends if the night time lows stay low enough for fruit set.

This is amazing because I had TYCLV last summer/fall on most of my plants; Could have been all of them but some/most set fruit just fine. The cutting came from an infected plant and never looked this good even when first flowering Dec/January.

It has no signs of TYCLV.

NarnianGarden · May 21, 2016

Beautiful, pink-ish.

wildcat62 · May 21, 2016

If that cutting board was in front of me now that tomato would be gone in a flash.

We like the Big Beef for their disease resistance, production & taste. Probably my favorite hybrid.

Great pics & beautiful setup on the greenhouse.

Durgan · May 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudson_WY

Oh Man - these Big Beef Hybrid are picture perfect tomatoes!! Not a blemish on any of them. Don't taste them before they are ripe though - I almost pulled the plant - haha. Wait until they are deep red and somewhat soft when you push against the skin. I think they taste good but not as good as a Brandywine. I think they are in the Better Boy taste spectrum. I prefer Big Beef over Better Boy though.

Never have I seen more perfect tomatoes. You have reason to be proud.

Hudson_WY · May 21, 2016

That is amazing Barb! Your plants look healthy! I just took some cuttings from my Big Beef for our attempt at a 2nd crop in our GH. I think I will be able to plant them in a couple or three weeks.

Thanks Wildcat & Durgan !

AKmark · May 21, 2016

I agree Hudson, they are better than Big Boy, Better Boy, Fantastic, Super Fantastic, etc, I used to grow all of those hybrids many years ago. One I do like better is Mountain Fresh, straight up heirloom taste for me, big red beefsteaks too.

Cole_Robbie · May 21, 2016

I agree that Big Beef has superior flavor for a hybrid. Jet Star gets an honorable mention. I think it equals Big Beef flavor-wise, but it yielded less for me and the fruit were smaller. It also got BER when Big Beef didn't. Jet Star was my grandparent's market variety in the 1980's, which was long before Big Beef existed.

pmcgrady · May 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudson_WY

Here's what it looks like on the inside

WOW!

Deborah · May 21, 2016

Those are beautiful! I'd have those slices in a tomato sandwich sooooooo fast!

pmcgrady · May 21, 2016

I started all my plants from seed, except for 4 Big Beefs purchased at a local hardware store.
The Big Beefs are really kicking it, trying to catch up to plants that were started months ago...

Gardeneer · May 21, 2016

Hudson, done it again.

My Big Beef is almost 3 ft tall with flowers that should set soon.

For comparison, I am also growing Better Boy and Big Boy. The Better Boy is as vigorous as Big Beef. All three varieties look almost identical at this stage. But the real winner will come known when they fruits. The envelope is empty right now.

Gardeneer

Hudson_WY · May 22, 2016

Thanks for all of your reviews regarding Big Beef Hybrid!! I doubt we would have tried it without all of your comments!

Gardeneer - I am looking forward to your comparison! I grew Better Boy for several years but have not grown Big Boy - please keep us posted!!

Gardeneer · May 22, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudson_WY

Thanks for all of your reviews regarding Big Beef Hybrid!! I doubt we would have tried it without all of your comments!

Gardeneer - I am looking forward to your comparison! I grew Better Boy for several years but have not grown Big Boy - please keep us posted!!

Sure thing .
I will keep you posted. This is one of my fun garden adventures.

Gardeneer

May 21, 2016	#56
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Those are beautiful! I'd have those slices in a tomato sandwich sooooooo fast! __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

May 21, 2016	#58
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Hudson, done it again. My Big Beef is almost 3 ft tall with flowers that should set soon. For comparison, I am also growing Better Boy and Big Boy. The Better Boy is as vigorous as Big Beef. All three varieties look almost identical at this stage. But the real winner will come known when they fruits. The envelope is empty right now. Gardeneer Last edited by Gardeneer; May 22, 2016 at 01:18 AM.

May 21, 2016	#49
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Beautiful, pink-ish.

May 21, 2016	#50
wildcat62 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,094	If that cutting board was in front of me now that tomato would be gone in a flash. We like the Big Beef for their disease resistance, production & taste. Probably my favorite hybrid. Great pics & beautiful setup on the greenhouse.

May 21, 2016	#52
Hudson_WY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Smoot, Wyoming Posts: 523	That is amazing Barb! Your plants look healthy! I just took some cuttings from my Big Beef for our attempt at a 2nd crop in our GH. I think I will be able to plant them in a couple or three weeks. Thanks Wildcat & Durgan !

May 21, 2016	#53
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I agree Hudson, they are better than Big Boy, Better Boy, Fantastic, Super Fantastic, etc, I used to grow all of those hybrids many years ago. One I do like better is Mountain Fresh, straight up heirloom taste for me, big red beefsteaks too.

May 21, 2016	#54
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I agree that Big Beef has superior flavor for a hybrid. Jet Star gets an honorable mention. I think it equals Big Beef flavor-wise, but it yielded less for me and the fruit were smaller. It also got BER when Big Beef didn't. Jet Star was my grandparent's market variety in the 1980's, which was long before Big Beef existed.

May 21, 2016	#57
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	I started all my plants from seed, except for 4 Big Beefs purchased at a local hardware store. The Big Beefs are really kicking it, trying to catch up to plants that were started months ago...

May 22, 2016	#59
Hudson_WY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Smoot, Wyoming Posts: 523	Thanks for all of your reviews regarding Big Beef Hybrid!! I doubt we would have tried it without all of your comments! Gardeneer - I am looking forward to your comparison! I grew Better Boy for several years but have not grown Big Boy - please keep us posted!!