Big Boy Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Big Boy'
vegetableBig Boy is a longtime favorite hybrid slicing tomato introduced by Burpee in 1949 and still one of the most-grown big reds in American gardens. The indeterminate vines produce large, smooth, deep-red globes that commonly run from 10 oz to a full pound or more, with thick meaty walls and the rich, balanced old-fashioned flavor that made the variety famous. It keeps growing and setting fruit until frost, ripens its main crop about 78 days after transplanting, and the heavy fruit needs sturdy staking or a tall cage.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 2 days
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Harvest
~78 days
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
24-36 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/4 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Loamy, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 11
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At transplant, then every 3-4 weeks at fruit set
Fertilizer
Balanced 5-10-10, low nitrogen
🌱 Growing Guide
Start seed indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost and transplant after nights stay above 50F, setting plants deep so roots form along the buried stem. The tall indeterminate vines need a stout stake or tall cage set at planting, and pinching the suckers below the first flower cluster channels energy into fewer, larger fruit. Water deeply and evenly and mulch to keep soil moisture steady, since these large fruit crack and develop blossom-end rot when watering is erratic. Side-dress with a balanced low-nitrogen fertilizer once the first fruits set.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jul 16
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Basil: Repels thrips and whiteflies and may improve flavor
- Borage: Attracts pollinators and parasitic wasps that prey on hornworms
- French Marigold: Suppresses root-knot nematodes
- Calendula: Acts as an aphid trap crop and draws hoverflies
❌ Keep away from
FennelBrassicas
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Interplant dill and basil to attract parasitic wasps; handpick at dusk
Water deeply and evenly; mulch; keep calcium adequate
Mulch against soil splash, prune lower leaves, avoid wetting foliage
🌾 Harvest & storage
Main-crop fruit ripens about 78 days from transplant. Pick when the tomato is fully red but still firm, twisting it gently from the vine, and harvest every few days as the heavy fruit ripens. Vine-ripened fruit has the best flavor, so store at room temperature and never refrigerate ripe tomatoes, since cold flattens the flavor.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Tomatoes are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin A, and they are the leading source of lycopene, the red antioxidant linked to heart and prostate health that the body absorbs better from cooked tomatoes.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Eat the ripe fruit only. Tomato leaves and stems (and large amounts of very unripe green fruit) contain solanine-type compounds and are not for eating.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.