Plant Library

Group/Class:  Beefsteak-Determinate

Description:

Sturdy and heavy yielding, this variety produces unusually large beefsteak tomatoes on compact, dwarf plants; plants only reach 16" tall; excellent choice for containers and window boxes; meaty and juicy, perfect for slicing, salads or stuffing

Edible Qualities

Megabite Tomato is an annual vegetable plant that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces clusters of red round tomatoes (which are technically 'berries') with red flesh which are usually ready for picking from mid summer to mid fall. This is a determinate variety, which means it bears a full crop all at once. The tomatoes have a delicious taste and a juicy texture.

The tomatoes are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Eating When Cooked/Prepared
• Cooking
• Baking

Planting & Growing

Megabite Tomato will grow to be about 16 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 inches. When planted in rows, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. Because of its vigorous growth habit, it may require staking or supplemental support. This fast-growing vegetable plant is an annual, which means that it will grow for one season in your garden and then die after producing a crop.

This plant can be difficult to integrate into a landscape or flower garden, and is best grown in a designated vegetable garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant is a heavy feeder that requires frequent fertilizing throughout the growing season to perform at its best. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Megabite Tomato is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing the canvas against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.