Big Boy

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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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

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Big Boy Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Oct 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 27th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 24th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 18th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 13th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Sep 3rd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jul 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

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.