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Big Boy

Big Boy Stats

Height: 72 - 96" (1.83-2.44 m)
Plant Spacing: 24 - 36" (0.61-0.91 m)
Row Spacing: 36 - 48" (0.91-1.22 m)
Days to Maturity: 69 - 80
Growing Habit: Indeterminate
Sun: Full Sun
Color: Red
Size: Large
Shape: Large
Genetic Type: Hybrid
Variety Type: Paste/Canning, Really Big Ones, Slicers
Disease Resistance: V, F, T

Common Uses

Salads, sandwiches, sauces, eaten fresh or canned

Other Names

N/A

Information for Big Boy

The Big Boy hybrid tomato was first introduced in 1949 by the late geneticist and vegetable breeder Oved Shifriss for the W. Atlee Burpee & Company. It is Burpee's second hybrid tomato.

Despite the continuous production of Big Boy tomato seeds today, the specific genetic parentage of the Big Boy is still considered a trade secret. This tomato variety was created between two identifiably different inbred lines. Shifriss came up with a good hybrid enabling Big Boy tomatoes to have increased yields and plant vitality.

Big Boy grows in an indeterminate bush-like plant form. Coined "Big Boy", the plant produces large and meaty standard-shaped fruits. The fruits have perfectly smooth, reddish-colored skins. The fruits weigh in a good 10 ounces (283 g) or more reaching up to two pounds (907 g).

Benefited with good resistance to plant diseases, Big Boy tomatoes are fast-growing, strong producers that launched the value of present-day tomato breeding. This variety is an instant hit with growers and consumers alike because of the rich flavor and delightful aroma. Many tomato growers herald Big Boy tomatoes as their choice best-sellers due to its excellent uniform quality and firm, fleshy texture.

Big Boy tomatoes are grown in the summer until the killing frost. They have good local adaptability and can survive under various weather conditions. However, they are not as commercially available as some people would like since they do not bode well outdoors.

They do thrive under full sunlight but require attentive nurturing for it to produce fruits excellently. Big Boys are ideal for growing in nurseries and greenhouses. Due to the heavy weight of the tomatoes, the vines are supported by tall stakes or bound by cages.

Photo Credit: Suzba
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