VegetableTomato
Kentucky Beefsteak Tomato
Kentucky Beefsteak Tomato is a luminescent yellow-orange heirloom from the hills of eastern Kentucky that grows with the generosity of the region itself. These massive indeterminate vines produce globe-shaped fruits that easily reach 2 pounds each, with a distinctly mellow, low-acid flavor that separates them from the typical tomato. Expect your first ripe fruits 100 to 109 days after transplanting (sources vary between 80 and 90 days from seed, or 75 to 115 days from transplant). Plant these in full sun with moderate water, spacing them 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches wide, and you'll have a variety that local seed collectors have treasured for generations.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
96 in
Height
TypeIndeterminate
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The yellow-orange color alone catches the eye in any garden, but it's the flavor that wins over skeptics. Expert tomato grower Roger Postley simply called it "the one you want" if you truly love tomatoes. Each fruit carries a low-acid, mellow character that makes slicing into these 2-pound giants feel like opening a gift. The plants grow tall and vigorous as indeterminate types do, reaching between 3 and 8 feet, meaning they demand proper support but reward you with fruit all season long.
Common Uses
These massive beefsteaks are slicing tomatoes at heart, their substantial size and mellow flavor making them exceptional on sandwiches, in salads, or simply sliced fresh with a pinch of salt. The low-acid profile appeals to those with sensitive stomachs or those who find typical supermarket tomatoes too sharp. Because individual fruits weigh up to 2 pounds, one tomato often provides multiple servings, and the meaty texture suits chunky salsas, fresh tomato sauce, and any preparation where you want the fruit to hold its shape rather than dissolve into juice.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Seeds germinate within 7 to 14 days under warm, consistent conditions. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent them from becoming leggy.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the soil warms to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Bury the stem deeper than it was in the pot; tomatoes will root along buried stems, creating a stronger plant.
Harvesting
Pick fruits when they reach full golden-yellow or orange-yellow color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Some fruits may show a pink tinge on the blossom end, but wait for the bulk of the fruit to develop color for peak flavor and sweetness. Harvest in the morning after dew dries but before intense heat. If frost threatens in fall, pick fruits at the yellow or orange stage and allow them to ripen indoors at room temperature. Ripe fruits store best at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator.
Pruning
Because Kentucky Beefsteak grows indeterminate, it will continue producing new flowers and fruit throughout the season unless frost stops it. Light pruning of lower leaves improves air circulation and reduces disease risk, but avoid excessive removal of foliage that shades the fruit. Some gardeners remove suckers (shoots that emerge between the main stem and branches) to direct energy into fewer, larger fruits; this is optional but can increase individual fruit size. Focus pruning efforts on maintaining an open canopy that allows sunlight and air to reach all parts of the plant.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“This heirloom emerged from the rolling hills of eastern Kentucky, where local seed collectors nurtured and preserved it across generations. The variety represents the kind of agricultural heritage that lives in families and communities rather than corporate seed catalogs. By the time it reached modern gardeners through heirloom seed companies, Kentucky Beefsteak had already earned its reputation among those who understood that a truly exceptional tomato is worth the space and care it demands. Its preservation by Kentucky's heirloom seed saving community speaks to how deeply this variety became woven into the region's gardening culture.”