- Heirloom
- Beefsteak
- 75 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Dwarf
- Pink
New Big Dwarf
Heirloom beefsteak from USA, 1914. From 1915: the original attempt at beefsteak fruit on a plant that fits a pot. Ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 8–12 oz (230–340 g) · Flattened globe (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Rugose leaf
- Days to harvest
- 75 days (estimated) from transplant · Midseason
- Plant height
- 1½–2½ ft (45–75 cm) (estimated) Compact
- Spacing
- 16 × 24 in (40 × 60 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 3 gal (15 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Pink
- Interior
-
- Pink
Plant size and habit
Compact · Dwarf
1½–2½ ft (45–75 cm) (estimated) · Rugose leaf
New Big Dwarf is a dwarf plant — compact and sturdy on thick stems, still productive over a full season; it does not need staking. Expect a plant of 1½–2½ ft (45–75 cm).
Flavor
“From 1915: the original attempt at beefsteak fruit on a plant that fits a pot.”
Growing calendar
75 (estimated) days from transplant Midseason
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- Juicing
- Container star
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
- Gift worthy
Origin
New Big Dwarf was introduced by Isbell's Seed Company in 1914 as "Ponderosa fruits on Dwarf Champion vines", the original attempt at putting beefsteak-sized fruit on a plant small enough for a pot. The whole modern Dwarf Tomato Project traces its ancestry to varieties like this one.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyAll photos
Questions
How do you grow a New Big Dwarf plant?
A New Big Dwarf plant grows 1½–2½ ft (45–75 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 16 in (40 cm) apart in rows 24 in (60 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does New Big Dwarf take to mature?
New Big Dwarf is ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Does New Big Dwarf need staking?
New Big Dwarf is a dwarf plant — compact and sturdy on thick stems, still productive over a full season; it does not need staking. Expect a plant of 1½–2½ ft (45–75 cm).
Can New Big Dwarf be grown in a container?
Yes — New Big Dwarf grows well in a container of at least 15 L (3 gal).
Is New Big Dwarf resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for New Big Dwarf.
