Burpee's Big Boy
Solanum lycopersicum 'Big Boy'
A legendary hybrid beefsteak tomato that has been America's favorite large slicing tomato for over 50 years. Produces massive 1-pound fruits with exceptional disease resistance and reliable yields. Perfect for gardeners who want guaranteed success with impressive sandwich-worthy tomatoes.
Harvest
78-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Burpee's Big Boy in USDA Zone 7
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Burpee's Big Boy · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
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 ripe Big Boy tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight for maximum flavor—refrigeration dulls their taste and creates mealy texture. Fully ripe fruits keep 3-5 days on the counter, while those with slight green shoulders can ripen over 7-10 days.
For longer storage, preserve by freezing whole (blanch first, then peel after thawing) or as sauce—their meaty flesh and balanced flavor make excellent pasta sauces and soups. These large tomatoes are perfect for canning as crushed tomatoes or tomato juice due to their substantial size and good acid content. Slice and dehydrate for concentrated tomato flavor in winter cooking, or ferment green Big Boys into tangy relish.
History & Origin
Burpee's Big Boy was developed by Burpee Seeds in 1949 through the hybridization work of their breeding team, who crossed 'Oxheart' and 'Pritchard' varieties to create a large, disease-resistant tomato for home gardeners. The variety was revolutionary for its time—combining the massive size that gardeners craved with reliable disease resistance that had been lacking in many beefsteak varieties.
Introduced to the American public in the 1950s, Big Boy quickly became a backyard garden staple during the post-war suburban boom when victory gardens transitioned into hobby gardening. Its fool-proof growing characteristics and impressive 'dinner plate-sized' fruits made it perfect for novice gardeners wanting guaranteed success. For over 70 years, it has remained virtually unchanged—a testament to the original breeding work. The variety helped establish Burpee's reputation as America's premier seed company and remains their best-selling tomato variety, with millions of packets sold annually.
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 tomato flavor
Marigolds
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for space
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Oregano
Repels pests and may enhance tomato growth
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato flavor
Borage
Attracts pollinators and may deter tomato hornworms
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and death
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm which damages tomato fruits
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes (VFN)
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, cutworms, spider mites
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, blossom end rot