VegetableTomato
Kellogg's Beefsteak Tomato
Kellogg's Beefsteak Tomato is a West Virginia heirloom with a remarkable story and equally remarkable flavor. This open-pollinated, thin-skinned beefsteak produces fruits weighing 1-2 pounds with a distinctive pale orange color and rich, deep taste that makes it exceptional for cooking and fresh eating alike. Growing 48-72 inches tall on indeterminate vines, it reaches harvest in 80-89 days and thrives in zones 3-10, making it adaptable to most North American gardens. The variety traces back to Darrell Kellogg, whose careful preservation has given home gardeners access to one of the most flavorful tomatoes available.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
72 in
Height
TypeIndeterminate
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-10
Size
72in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Pale orange beefsteak tomatoes with thin skins and remarkably deep flavor distinguish this heirloom from the standard red varieties dominating seed catalogs. The 1-2 pound fruits hang from vigorous indeterminate vines that continue producing until frost, and the relatively early 80-89 day harvest window means you'll be slicing into these beauties by mid to late summer even in cooler climates. Grown in raised beds, garden plots, or under greenhouse cover, this variety rewards consistent attention with a harvest that justifies every bit of summer effort.
Common Uses
The thin skin, tender flesh, and rich flavor make this tomato exceptional for baking and slow cooking, where its depth develops into concentrated, complex sweetness. Slicing fresh into salads showcases the pale orange color and subtle flavor that sets it apart from standard beefsteak varieties. The 1-2 pound size and meatiness also suit it well to canning, sauce-making, and any preparation where you want a tomato that contributes real flavor rather than watery bulk.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, maintaining soil temperature around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. Transplant to larger containers once seedlings develop true leaves, and begin hardening off (gradually exposing to outdoor conditions) 7-10 days before moving to the garden.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally waiting for 65-70 degree soil. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Install cages or stakes at planting time to avoid root damage later.
Harvesting
Pick tomatoes when they've turned their full pale orange color and yield slightly to gentle hand pressure; unlike red varieties, pale orange heirlooms don't change color dramatically as they ripen, so color and softness are your primary indicators of readiness. Harvest in the morning after dew dries for best flavor and shelf life. Expect the first ripe fruits around 80-89 days after transplanting, with continued harvest until the first frost in zones 3-9.
Pruning
As an indeterminate variety, this tomato will grow continuously throughout the season and benefits from careful pruning of suckers (vigorous shoots that grow between the main stem and branches). Removing suckers early in the season directs energy toward fruit production and improves air circulation, reducing disease pressure. However, avoid over-pruning; maintain enough foliage to shade fruit from intense summer sun and prevent sunscald on the pale orange skin.
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
“Kellogg's Beefsteak Tomato originates from West Virginia and carries the legacy of Darrell Kellogg, who preserved and shared this heirloom with the seed-saving community. The variety represents the kind of regional agricultural heritage that nearly disappeared as industrial tomato breeding prioritized shipping durability over flavor. Through Darrell Kellogg's dedication to maintaining this open-pollinated line, gardeners today can grow the same tomato that once graced West Virginia dinner tables, connecting them directly to Appalachian gardening traditions and the broader movement to preserve heirloom vegetables from extinction.”