Big Boy
Single source · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Hybrid F1 beefsteak from USA, 1949. The 1949 hybrid that made F1 tomatoes mainstream: big, round, red, dependable. Ready in about 78 days from transplant.
- Hybrid F1
- 78 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 10–16 oz (280–450 g) · Globe (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Big Boy is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Flavor
“The 1949 hybrid that made F1 tomatoes mainstream: big, round, red, dependable.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Slicing
- Fresh & salads
- High yield
- Beginner friendly
Origin
Burpee introduced Big Boy in 1949 and it became the variety that made hybrid tomatoes normal in American gardens. Large, round, red and dependable, it set the template that Better Boy and the rest of the 'Boy' series followed. It carries no modern disease resistance package, which is the main reason newer hybrids displaced it.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
| True Leaf Market | Seeds | $3.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | 10 Seeds | Check availability | Buy |
| Eden Brothers | Seeds | $6.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet | Check availability | Buy |
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Big Boy tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Big Boy tomatoes -
Big Boy tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Big Boy tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Big Boy tomatoes -
Big Boy tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Big Boy take to mature?
Big Boy is ready in about 78 days from transplant.
Does Big Boy need staking?
Big Boy is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Can Big Boy be grown in a container?
Big Boy is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Big Boy resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Big Boy.
See also
Other beefsteak varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
