How to Grow Beefsteak Tomatoes Inside

Homegrown tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) typically taste a lot better than tomatoes you find in the supermarket. But, not everyone has the space to garden outdoors or lives in a climate that is suitable for growing tomatoes. Even with a lack of outdoor space or warm weather, you can successfully grow your own tomatoes, provided your indoor space is suitable. If you want big, slicing tomatoes, even in the middle of winter, try growing a variety of beefsteak tomato indoors.

Garden gloves

Beefsteak tomato seedling

10-gallon bucket or container with drainage holes

Potting soil

Trowel

Tray for catching water

Tomato cage, or 3 bamboo stakes and twine

Fish emulsion

Watering can

Choose a window in your home that gets a lot of sunlight each day. A south-facing window is ideal. The larger the window, the more light the plant will receive. Tomatoes need at least six hours of sun daily.

Fill the bucket or container to within 2 inches of the top with potting soil. Use a trowel to make a hole in the potting mix in the middle of the bucket. The hole should be twice as wide as the seedling's root ball and twice as deep. Set the tomato seedling in the hole, then fill in with the potting mix. It's OK to bury part of the seedling's stem in the soil, as it will form roots along the stem. Press down on the soil.

Place the tray in front of the window, then set the container on top of the tray. Water until water runs out of the drainage holes to help the tomato plant get settled in.

Push the ends of the tomato cage into the soil around the plant. The cage will provide support for the tomato as it grows, keeping it off of the floor. If you don't have a cage, you can push three bamboo stakes into the soil around the plant, then bring the tops together to form a pyramid shape. Tie the tops of the stakes together. As the tomato grows, gently tie its stem to the stakes using twine.

Fertilize the plant every other week using a 5-5-5 fish emulsion fertilizer. Pour about a tablespoon of the fertilizer into a watering can, then fill with water and mix. Pour the diluted fertilizer on the soil. Alternatively, follow the directions on the fertilizer package for mixing and application.

Water the plant when the top inch of soil is dry. Don't water so much that the soil stays permanently soggy. You might need to empty the tray underneath the container from time to time.

Help pollinate the tomato plant by gently shaking it or tapping it once flowers form. Tomatoes self-pollinate, but need a bit of assistance, usually from the bees or the wind. Since neither appear indoors, you'll need to help out by moving the plant.

Prune "suckers," additional branches that appear on the plant, to keep it from growing too large and to focus the plant's energy on producing fruit, not more stems and leaves.

Harvest the fruits when they are deep red in color and full-size, usually between 8 and 16 ounces for beefsteak tomatoes. The fruits should be slightly firm to the touch, not mushy.

Several varieties of beefsteak tomato are available. "Burpee's Early Pick" is a hybrid that does well in cooler conditions. "Big Beef" is a variety that resists many diseases. Other varieties include "Celebrity" and "Red Sun."

Turn the tomato plant from time to time so that each area of the plant gets ample sunlight.