Beefmaster Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept consistently moist at 70 to 75°F. Seedlings will emerge in 5 to 10 days. Provide bright light (14 to 16 hours daily under grow lights) and keep temperatures warm to prevent stretching.

Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors once nighttime temperatures remain above 50°F and all danger of frost has passed. Plant at the spacing of 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, burying the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system.

Beefmaster tomatoes are ready to harvest 80 to 89 days after transplant when they reach full color and feel slightly soft when gently squeezed. Pick tomatoes when they show complete color development; they will finish ripening off the vine if picked at the breaker stage (when the first blush of color appears). Twist and lift gently, supporting the fruit to avoid damaging the vine. Morning harvest, when fruit is coolest, helps preserve flavor and shelf life.

Beefmaster is an indeterminate variety that will grow vigorously throughout the season, so pruning suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) helps direct energy toward fruit production and improves air circulation. Once plants reach 3 to 4 feet tall, consider removing lower leaves below the first fruiting cluster to reduce disease risk; repeat this as the plant grows taller. Stop pruning about 6 weeks before your first expected frost to allow the plant to focus on ripening existing fruit rather than generating new growth.