Hybrid

Big Boy

Solanum lycopersicum 'Big Boy'

America's most famous hybrid tomato, introduced in 1949 and still a top choice for gardeners seeking reliable, large red tomatoes with classic flavor. This dependable variety consistently produces smooth, round fruits weighing up to a pound each, making it perfect for gardeners who want the satisfaction of growing impressive tomatoes without the challenges of finicky heirlooms.

Harvest

78-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Blossom-End Rot of Tomato

☀️

Zones

10–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-10 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Big Boy in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Big Boy · Zones 10–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy to Moderate

Spacing24-36 inches

SoilWell-drained garden soil, moderately fertile

pH6.0-7.0

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonYear Round

FlavorClassic tomato flavor, well-balanced sweet and tangy

ColorDeep red

Size10-16 oz

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – April	June – July	—	September – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	—	September – October
Zone 5	March – March	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 6	March – March	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	—	July – September
Zone 8	February – February	April – May	—	July – September
Zone 9	January – January	March – April	—	June – August
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	—	May – July

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible, Showy

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Bloom time: Fall, Summer

Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly harvested Big Boy tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days to maintain optimal flavor – refrigeration diminishes their taste. Once fully ripe, they'll keep in the refrigerator for up to one week, but bring them back to room temperature before eating.

For preservation, Big Boys excel at canning due to their meaty texture and balanced acidity. Their large size makes them perfect for making sauce, paste, or whole canned tomatoes. Blanch and peel easily by scoring an X on the bottom and plunging into boiling water for 30 seconds.

Freeze whole Big Boys for winter cooking by removing cores and placing in freezer bags – the skins slip off easily when thawed. Their substantial flesh also makes them excellent for dehydrating into tomato leather or dried tomato slices. Avoid water-bath canning without added acid due to varying pH levels in hybrid varieties.

History & Origin

Big Boy was developed by Burpee Seeds and introduced in 1949 as one of America's first widely successful hybrid tomatoes. Created through careful crossbreeding to combine the large fruit size of beefsteak varieties with improved disease resistance and more reliable production, Big Boy represented a breakthrough in tomato breeding for the home garden market.

The variety was specifically bred to satisfy post-World War II gardeners who wanted the satisfaction of growing impressive, restaurant-quality tomatoes without the unpredictability of many large heirloom varieties available at the time. Its consistent performance and classic tomato flavor quickly made it the gold standard against which other large tomatoes were measured.

For over 75 years, Big Boy has remained largely unchanged, a testament to the original breeding work. It earned its place as 'America's most famous hybrid tomato' by delivering reliable results across diverse growing conditions, from backyard gardens to commercial operations. Many modern large tomato varieties trace their lineage back to Big Boy's genetics.

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
+Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
+Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Basil

Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor

Marigold

Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds

Carrots

Helps break up soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for nutrients

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that eat aphids

Chives

Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases

Nasturtium

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Oregano

Repels many pests and may enhance tomato flavor

Borage

Attracts pollinators and may repel hornworms

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and death

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Brassicas

Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth

Corn

Both attract corn earworms and compete for nitrogen

Nutrition Facts

Calories

27kcal(1%)

Protein

0.83g(2%)

Fiber

2.1g(8%)

Carbs

5.51g(2%)

Fat

0.63g(1%)

Vitamin C

27.2mg(30%)

Vitamin K

4.2mcg(4%)

Iron

0.33mg(2%)

Calcium

11mg(1%)

Potassium

260mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good overall disease resistance, less prone to cracking than many large varieties.

Common Pests

Tomato hornworm, aphids, whiteflies, cutworms

Diseases

Early blight, late blight, fusarium wilt

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Big Boy tomato take to grow?▼

Big Boy tomatoes require 78-85 days from transplant to harvest. Starting from seed, plan on 110-120 days total growing time. In northern climates, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date to ensure enough warm weather for fruits to fully ripen before fall frost arrives.

Can you grow Big Boy tomatoes in containers?▼

Yes, but use very large containers – minimum 20 gallons for each plant. Big Boy's vigorous growth and heavy fruit production demands substantial root space and consistent moisture. Choose wheeled containers for easy repositioning and ensure excellent drainage with sturdy support structures rated for the plant's mature size.

Is Big Boy tomato good for beginners?▼

Big Boy is excellent for beginners due to its forgiving nature and disease resistance. While it requires proper staking and consistent watering, it's much more reliable than finicky heirloom varieties. New gardeners appreciate its predictable performance and classic tomato flavor that rewards their efforts with impressive results.

What does Big Boy tomato taste like?▼

Big Boy offers the quintessential tomato flavor – perfectly balanced sweet and tangy with rich, full-bodied taste. It lacks the complex flavor notes of some heirlooms but delivers consistent, crowd-pleasing taste that works equally well for fresh eating, sandwiches, and cooking applications.

When should I plant Big Boy tomato seeds?▼

Start Big Boy seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your area's average last frost date. Transplant outdoors only after soil temperatures consistently reach 60°F and all frost danger has passed. In most temperate zones, this means starting seeds in March for May transplanting.

Do Big Boy tomatoes need support?▼

Absolutely – Big Boy plants reach 4-6 feet tall and produce fruits weighing up to one pound each. Install heavy-duty cages or 6-foot stakes at planting time. Flimsy supports will collapse under the weight, potentially damaging plants and ruining your harvest.