Goliath Bush Early

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Goliath Bush Early to a garden.

Sink your fingers into Goliath Bush Early’s thick, juicy flesh and savor the rich, classic beefsteak tomato flavor—boldly sweet with a gentle, tangy lift.

Fruits are large and meaty, with a satisfying, slice-ready texture that shines in hearty salads and showy sandwiches, and it also performs beautifully for robust sauces and canning. Built for home gardens, this early beefsteak brings impressive size and dependable harvest rhythm to a compact, bush habit.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Determinate

Botanical illustration of Goliath Bush Early

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Goliath Bush Early 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 13th	Oct 1st – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 7th	Sep 25th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 1st	Sep 19th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 14th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 22nd	Sep 10th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 19th	Sep 7th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 13th	Sep 1st – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 8th	Aug 27th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	May 29th	Aug 17th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 20th	Aug 8th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 11th	Jul 30th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	Apr 24th	Jul 13th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Mar 30th	Jun 18th – 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	80
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)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This early beefsteak is built for maximum slice integrity: the meaty gel and juicy flesh hold their shape instead of turning slick. When you let it meet salt, olive oil, and heat, it tastes like summer with a clean tang that doesn’t get lost in a simmer.

Best Uses

thick slices on sturdy bread with a swipe of salt—no watery flop
hearty salads where the flesh stays structured under vinaigrette
robust sauce simmering that thickens cleanly with minimal coaxing
home canning for a chunky, meaty tomato pack

Flavor Profile

bold, sweet beefsteak tomato flavor gentle tangy lift meaty, slice-ready flesh with juicy bite

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil black pepper mozzarella fresh thyme

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) in home gardens, and how can I stop it?

Early blight and Septoria leaf spot often show up as dark spots on older leaves, spreading upward on Solanum lycopersicum. Remove and discard infected leaves, water at the soil line (not the foliage), and improve airflow so plants dry quickly after rain or irrigation. If spots keep expanding, use a labeled tomato fungicide and repeat as directed on the label for 2–3 week protection windows.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase (from flowering through fruit set)?

During fruit set and early fruit growth, keep soil evenly moist so tomatoes don’t swing between dry and saturated—aim for about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on weather. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly rather than light daily watering, and let the top inch of soil start to dry slightly before the next watering. Consistent moisture helps reduce cracking and blossom-end rot risk.

How do I tell when Solanum lycopersicum ‘Goliath Bush Early’ is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety (no green shoulders) and the fruit is firm but gives slightly to gentle pressure. In practice, start checking at about 80 days from transplanting and pick fruits that have reached their final size and color. Use a light twist-and-lift to avoid tearing the stem and leave the remaining green fruits to ripen on the plant.