The Heirloom Amish Beefsteak Tomato Seeds produce vines that bear meaty, dull pink fruit weighing up to 2 lbs apiece. A best choice for slicing and fresh eating. The hefty size and flavor also make Pink Beefsteak tomatoes a great for canning and cooking sauces and soups.
Growing
Tomatoes are available in a wide variety of shapes, color and sizes. They are broadly classified into two categories:
- Determinate are those that grow to pre-determined height. They are good choices for canning and sauces.
- Indeterminate are those that continue to grow in height and produce fruits throughout the growing season.
Planting
- Select a site with full sun. For northern regions, it is VERY important that your site receives at least 6 hours of daily sunlight.
- Tomatoes will grow in many different soil types, but it needs to be well drained. They prefer a slightly acid soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8.
- Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost date.
- Two weeks before planting tomato plants outdoors, dig into soil and mix in aged manure or compost.
- Harden off seedlings for a week before planting in the garden. Set young plants outdoors in the shade for a couple of hours the first day, gradually increasing the amount of time the plants are outside each day to include some direct sunlight.
- Place tomato stakes or cages in the soil at the time of planting to avoid damaging roots later on.
Transplants
- Apply fertilizer such as 5-10-5, or 10-10-10 per package instructions. Do not apply high nitrogen fertilizers, as they promote luxurious foliage growth but will delay flowering and fruiting.
- Space tomato transplants at least 2 feet apart.
- Plant the root ball deep enough so that the lowest leaves are just above the surface of the soil.
- If transplants are leggy, bury up to ⅔ of the plant including lowest leaves. Tomato stems have the ability to grow roots from the buried stems.
- Be sure to water the transplant thoroughly to establish good root/soil contact and prevent wilting.
- Newly set transplants may need to be shaded for the first week or so to prevent excessive drying of the leaves.
