Beefsteak Tomato
Blue Beauty Tomato is a striking heirloom slicer that delivers as much visual drama as it does flavor. Bred by tomato expert Brad Gates from a cross between 'Beauty King' and a blue tomato variety, this indeterminate plant produces modest beefsteak fruits weighing around 6 to 8 ounces, distinguished by their gorgeous deep blue-black shoulders that fade to red at the base. In just 80 days, you'll have fruits that combine outstanding antioxidant content with genuinely excellent flavor, plus the practical bonus of natural sunburn and crack resistance that keeps harvests pristine on the vine.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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What sets Blue Beauty apart is its striking two-tone appearance, those deep blue-black shoulders are genuinely unique among slicing tomatoes and make it a standout for market or table. The fruit holds beautifully on the vine without splitting or sun-scaling, a real advantage during hot summers. Beyond looks, this variety delivers serious flavor alongside impressive antioxidant levels, proving it's far more than just a pretty tomato. The modest size makes it perfect for slicing into salads or sandwiches without overwhelming a plate.
Blue Beauty shines as a fresh slicing tomato, particularly stunning on the plate where its blue-black shoulders add visual interest to salads and composed dishes. The modest 6 to 8-ounce size makes it ideal for individual servings and sandwiches, and the excellent flavor means it truly tastes like a tomato should, no compromise between looks and substance. Its natural resistance to sunburn and cracking makes it reliable enough for both home gardeners and small-scale market growers who need fruit that photographs well and survives the picking season intact.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost in warm soil around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping the soil consistently moist until germination appears in 5 to 10 days.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions, then transplant after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees. Space plants 24 inches apart in amended, well-draining soil with consistent moisture.
Harvest Blue Beauty when the fruit is fully colored, the blue-black shoulders will be deep and rich, and the red base should show full maturity, typically 80 days after transplanting. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure but still feel firm. Tomatoes will continue ripening off the vine if picked at the breaker stage (when color is just beginning to show), which is helpful at season's end, but for best flavor, allow full ripening on the vine. The excellent fruit hold on the vine means you can pick selectively over several weeks without the urgency some varieties demand.
As an indeterminate variety, Blue Beauty will grow vigorously throughout the season and benefits from consistent sucker removal, pinch out the small shoots that grow between the main stem and leaf branches. This redirects the plant's energy toward fruit production rather than excessive vegetative growth. Remove lower leaves as the plant matures to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but preserve enough foliage to protect fruit from sunburn.
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“Blue Beauty Tomato emerged from the thoughtful breeding work of tomato breeder Brad Gates, who selected this variety from a deliberate cross between 'Beauty King' and an existing blue tomato. This recent introduction represents the modern continuation of heirloom tomato development, taking proven genetics and combining them to create something genuinely new while honoring the characteristics that make heirlooms special. The variety bridges the gap between traditional flavor-first breeding and practical growing concerns, addressing both the desire for distinctive appearance and the real-world frustrations of sunburn and cracking that plague many heirloom types.”