Patty's Striped Beefsteak Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Provide warm conditions (70 to 80°F) and keep soil moist but not soggy. Seedlings need strong light to develop sturdy growth.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before moving them to the garden. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.

Pick fruit when fully colored and slightly soft to the touch, typically 80 to 89 days after transplant. These tomatoes can be harvested at the mature color stage and will continue ripening off the vine if needed, though vine-ripened fruit offers superior flavor. Harvest in the morning when temperatures are cool, and handle gently to avoid bruising the soft flesh.

As an indeterminate variety, Patty's Striped Beefsteak benefits from selective pruning to manage growth and improve fruit quality. Remove suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) throughout the season to direct energy into fruit production. In late summer, prune excess foliage to increase air circulation around ripening fruit and reduce fungal disease pressure.