Even though some have small backyards, growing tomatoes is an activity for all!
You can learn how to plant and harvest beefsteak tomatoes in just six easy steps.
Keep reading to learn all the information you’ll need to grow beefsteak tomatoes in pots.
Steps to Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes
Step 1: Choose Your Pot Size
The first step to growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots is choosing the right-sized pot.
Tomato plants will need lots of room to grow, so a bigger pot is usually better.
Furthermore, beefsteak tomato plants can tip over smaller pots when fully grown, so you’ll want to make sure that the pot is big enough that this won’t be an issue.
Because of these factors, a two-gallon or five-gallon pot is a good starting size.
In addition to ensuring that you have the correctly sized pot for your beefsteak tomato plant, there are a couple other factors that you’ll need to keep in mind to find the right planter for growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots.
For example, you’ll need to choose a pot that has drainage holes on its bottom surface.
Drainage holes not only make sure that the soil doesn’t retain too much water, but they also help protect the plant from coming into direct contact with an extremely hot or cold surface.
Finally, because beefsteak tomato plants need so much room as they grow, it’s a good idea only to put one plant in each pot.
Step 2: Fill Your Pot with Soil
Next, you’ll need to find some soil to fill your pot!
It’s essential that you use fresh soil that plants haven’t grown in before so that your tomato plants are able to absorb the nutrients they need.
Beefsteak tomato plants will grow the best in soil with a pH of approximately 6.5, but the soil’s pH must be between 6 and 6.8 for it to grow.
In addition, you’ll need nutrient-rich soil when growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots because tomato plants are known as heavy feeders. This means that you should look for a potting mix with lots of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and organic materials to keep your plant well-fed.
When growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots, soil that drains well is also a must.
To help the soil drain even better, ensure not to fill the pot all the way up to the top with soil so that there’s still enough room for water.
Step 3: Plant the Seedlings
Now it’s time to plant your seedlings!
The most important part of this step is that you can’t start your tomato plants in the pot as seeds. Because they won’t grow effectively in pots starting as seeds, you have to begin growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots as seedlings.
To solve this problem, you can either buy seedlings and plant them directly in the pot or buy seeds, grow them for a little while in smaller containers, and then transfer them to the pot.
If you’re growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots outdoors, after the last frost of the season is the ideal planting time.
Specifically, anywhere from early March to early April generally works, but this may vary a little based on the climate where you live.
Ideally, the soil temperature should be between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why you have to wait until after the last frost when growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots!
When planting your seedlings, the seedling roots should go deep into the soil and be completely covered so that you can’t see them anymore.
Once they’re properly planted, your seedlings will begin germinating in the pots between 6 and 12 days.
For more details about how to plant tomatoes, check out our post on the best ways of planting tomato seeds!
Step 4: Make Sure Your Plant has Enough Water, Sunlight, and Nutrients
Now that your seedlings are planted, there are a few crucial elements to growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots so that they stay healthy.
Water
Throughout the process of growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots, your tomato plants are going to need consistent watering, so you’ll have to pay attention to their hydration levels.
Keeping a tomato plant well-watered requires a delicate balancing act. The soil should never be dry, but you never want to overwater the plant, which could cause root rot.
When you water your plant, wet the soil, but try not to water the leaves or stems to prevent disease.
Water your tomato plants at the beginning of the day when the sun isn’t at its peak for maximum effect.
Sunlight
Right when you start growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots, be sure to put them in an area where they’ll get lots of direct sunlight.
Specifically, tomato plants need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to grow well.
Nutrients
Your tomato plants will need a lot of nutrients to stay fed and healthy!
Typically, if you’ve chosen good soil with lots of nutrients, you should be okay for the number of nutrients that your plant is receiving.
If your plant’s really struggling though, you can always supplement with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Step 5: Support the Growing Vines
While a pot is obviously the most important object you’ll need for growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots, you’ll probably end up needing some additional support!
As your tomato plant grows taller, vines will also begin to sprout and grow taller. These vines will need somewhere to go.
This is where a tomato cage comes in!
Use a small cage or stake to support the vines and give them something to grow around.
A beefsteak tomato plant generally grows anywhere from 6 to 8 feet tall, so plan for that amount of height when constructing or purchasing your support mechanism.
Step 6: Harvest Your Tomatoes
The final step of growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots is harvesting them!
The entire growing cycle for beefsteak tomatoes is generally around 85 days, but they can be ready to harvest anywhere from 60 to 96 days.
If you’d like, you can even harvest them a little early and let them finish ripening off the vine.
There are a couple of different characteristics you should look for when figuring out if a tomato is ready to harvest.
Specifically, the tomato should be pink or very close to turning red when you harvest (for red variety tomatoes), and the skin should have a waxy but smooth texture.
When picking your beefsteak tomatoes, be sure to remove the stem from the tomato itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow beefsteak tomatoes indoors, or do they need to go outdoors?
Yes, you can grow beefsteak tomatoes indoors! You’re good to go as long as they have access to the required amount of sunlight.
If you’re growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots indoors and your plant isn’t receiving enough sunlight, you can supplement with LED grow lights.
Will pest control be an issue for tomato plants grown in pots?
Growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots actually reduces exposure to pests, so this probably won’t be as much of an issue as it would be compared to tomato plants grown in a garden, especially if your plant is indoors.
If pests do become an issue, try using an insecticide like neem oil or pruning the affected area of the plant to keep pests away and reduce their damage to your plant.
How should I store my harvested tomatoes?
For maximum flavor and enjoyment, it’s best to keep your tomatoes unrefrigerated once you’re done growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots, and they’re harvested.
However, they don’t last particularly long when unrefrigerated, so be sure to eat them around 2 or 3 days after harvesting.
Learning about Growing Beefsteak Tomatoes in Pots
Whether you’re an experienced gardener transitioning to growing in pots or you’ve never grown anything before, this step-by-step list will help you figure things out!
If you follow these directions, you’ll have juicy, colorful beefsteak tomatoes in no time.
If you’ve enjoyed learning about growing beefsteak tomatoes in pots, check out our Tomato Plants page for lots of helpful tricks and tips on caring for tomato plants.