Big Boy

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your spoon into Big Boy’s lush, meaty flesh—rich, classic tomato flavor with a sweet, garden-ripe perfume and a juicy, velvety bite.

This beefsteak standout forms large, globe-to-slightly-flattened fruits with a smooth, satin skin and substantial interior chambers that hold their character for bold slices. Grow Big Boy for showy summer harvests that shine in fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, and thick, spoonable sauces that capture its full-bodied taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Determinate

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 18th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Big Boy is built for spoons and knife work—its beefsteak meat-to-gel ratio gives you slices that stay structured and sauce that clings instead of splashing. Go heavy on olive oil and garlic (and fresh mozzarella if you want that hot-summer caprese swagger), and it’ll taste like peak market mornings even when cooked.

Best Uses

thick slices on sourdough—holds shape without turning the bread to mush
jammy, spoonable tomato sauce from a quick sauté and gentle simmer
warm summer salads where you want sturdy, not watery, tomato chunks
layered sandwiches that benefit from interior chamber juices staying cohesive

Flavor Profile

rich, classic tomato tang sweet, garden-ripe perfume meaty, velvety bite with juicy gel smooth satin skin that slices clean

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic balsamic vinegar fresh mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

Big Boy tomato: what should I do about early blight?

Early blight shows up as brown, target-like spots on lower leaves that gradually move upward, often with yellowing around the spots. Remove and discard affected lower leaves immediately, water at the soil line (not the foliage), and space plants so leaves dry quickly. If it keeps spreading, apply a labeled tomato fungicide that targets early blight and repeat according to the label schedule.

How often should I water Big Boy tomatoes during peak growth (after flowering begins)?

During peak growth, water deeply so the soil is evenly moist to about 6–8 inches, typically about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings to prevent constant wetness, then water again thoroughly to avoid fruit cracking and blossom-end rot. Use drip irrigation or a soaker hose to keep leaves dry.

How can I tell when Big Boy tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Pick when fruits are fully colored (deep red for Big Boy) and give slightly when gently squeezed—shouldn’t feel hard. Harvesting should start around day ~75–85 and continue as new fruits mature, usually every few days in warm weather. If a tomato still shows green near the stem end, wait a few more days until it ripens evenly.