Big Beef 8/12/2015

[GreenFarmer]

Originally Posted by justplainmike

Here you go folks . Now you can get an idea of the average size of the Big Beef tomato's I'm getting off this plant . They are a bit larger then my Better Boys . And no cracking at all .
jpm

that is a beautiful head, looks delicious!

[justplainmike]

Originally Posted by Carriehelene

Beautiful! My first year growing Big Beef. Loving it!

Do you have any pictures of yours ? Anyone else have pictures of their Big Beef tomato's ?

jpm

[Hellmanns]

Originally Posted by justplainmike

Do you have any pictures of yours ? Anyone else have pictures of their Big Beef tomato's ?

jpm

Here are some pics of a Big Beef tunnel grow I did in 09. The year Big Beef was released I grew it, the next year I grew it in a tunnel. It has been my tunnel variety since! I've tried many other varieties since, but NONE have even came close to quality or productivity.

[justplainmike]

Just fantastic wow

[justplainmike]

Ok folks here is the out come .
jpm

[Barb_FL]

JPM - It looks delicious!!!

Hellman's - Thanks for sharing your pictures - I loved the progression. I have BB seeds I bought in 2013 from Parkseed - unopened. My germination from PS is really good but don't seem to grow into healthy plants. I stopped buying from PS at the end of 2013 due to this.

If I'm going to plant BB seeds for the fall season I need to do it soon so I don't want to mess with the PS seeds if where the seeds originate matter. Where do you get your seeds / who do you suggest? Need someone that mails out quickly too.

Thanks,
Barb

[justplainmike]

Barb , Good Lord I got these plants from HD . "Bonnie Plants" The old fella that I did business with passed away last winter so I just picked these up for the heck of it . But I also picked up a Bonnie Plants Mr. Stripey which is a huge disappointment for me . I planted it in the ground and pampered it thinking I would be getting some big sandwich tomato's and they are all like golf balls .
The plant is showcase though !!! I'm thinking of starting mine at home but I've never done it . I do not have an east facing window or a south for that matter that I can use .
jpm

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

JPM - It looks delicious!!!

Hellman's - Thanks for sharing your pictures - I loved the progression. I have BB seeds I bought in 2013 from Parkseed - unopened. My germination from PS is really good but don't seem to grow into healthy plants. I stopped buying from PS at the end of 2013 due to this.

If I'm going to plant BB seeds for the fall season I need to do it soon so I don't want to mess with the PS seeds if where the seeds originate matter. Where do you get your seeds / who do you suggest? Need someone that mails out quickly too.

Thanks,
Barb

[RJGlew]

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

... I have BB seeds I bought in 2013 from Parkseed - unopened. My germination from PS is really good but don't seem to grow into healthy plants. I stopped buying from PS at the end of 2013 due to this...

Like you, I also have a package of 2013 Park Seed Big Beef F1 seeds. I have great confidence in what I purchased since they have grown true for me without issue in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and I'll finish them next year.

I also have 2015 BB F1 seeds from McKenzie Seeds here in Canada. If you like, I would be happy to swap some of these for your unopened Park Seed BB. I PM'd you earlier today on Klee's "New F1" seeds so we may want to do this swap in that offer.

rg

[justplainmike]

Originally Posted by RJGlew

Like you, I also have a package of 2013 Park Seed Big Beef F1 seeds. I have great confidence in what I purchased since they have grown true for me without issue in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and I'll finish them next year.

I also have 2015 BB F1 seeds from McKenzie Seeds here in Canada. If you like, I would be happy to swap some of these for your unopened Park Seed BB. I PM'd you earlier today on Klee's "New F1" seeds so we may want to do this swap in that offer.

rg

RJ ,
What kind of growing season do you have there ?
jpm

[RJGlew]

Originally Posted by justplainmike

RJ ,
What kind of growing season do you have there ?
jpm

We plant out in the 1st or 2nd week in June and our first frost is typically the 2nd or 3rd week in Sept (Sep 8th last year). I typically get the first 2 trusses of BB ripening here, and the 3rd in a good year. So far this year it looks like 3 trusses - touch wood.

In the picture, 1 is BB, 2 is Steak Sandwich, 3 is Moskvich, 4 is Early Girl, 5 is 4th of July, 6 is Stupice and 7 is Arctic Fire.

Every year I daringly plant a single 80 DTM variety. Some times it works, most times it does not.

Most tomatoheads here have greenhouses, but I do not.

rg

[Barb_FL]

All these tomato pictures are mouth watering. I haven't had a tomato since early July. Last year made it to early August but it was exceptionally hot and dry in April/May. No fruit set, but what was growing was absolutely delicious.

RJG - sending you a PM

[justplainmike]

RJ , Well you have a nice crop going for you there . Which part of Alberta are you from?
jpm

[justplainmike]

OMG Barb I just looked up Indialantic FL . You are in the Atlantic for sure !!! Do you live in a hurricane bunker cause you are right in Andrew territory there ?
jpm

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

All these tomato pictures are mouth watering. I haven't had a tomato since early July. Last year made it to early August but it was exceptionally hot and dry in April/May. No fruit set, but what was growing was absolutely delicious.

RJG - sending you a PM

[RJGlew]

Originally Posted by justplainmike

RJ , Well you have a nice crop going for you there . Which part of Alberta are you from?
jpm

FULL DISCLOSURE - that pic is not from this season - I'm just midway through my earlies right now. I have piles of big green midseasons, but no blushes yet. The hybrids are loaded, as are Sakharnyi Pudovichok and Sakharnyi Zheltyi, and the heirlooms are typically so-so.

I am in Calgary, a Zone 3a location. We are on the lee side of the Rockies so super dry. At 3,450ft, we tend to have hot days & cool nights - most people here do not have home air conditioners. Folks here with greenhouses tend to plant out very large plants from large pots and get a significant jump on folks like me who plant out typical seedlings.

[Bipetual]

Originally Posted by justplainmike

I'm wondering if any of you have given these a shot ?

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/gar...s/200803010163

jpm

B54red lists them as one of his three best fall tomatoes, if I remember correctly.