When to Plant Beefsteak Tomato in Bird Island, Minnesota (55310)

Location

Bird Island, Minnesota

ZIP Code

55310

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Based on last frost Tuesday, May 5, 2026 · Zone 4b

Pro tip: Start Beefsteak Tomato seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Solanum lycopersicum

Days to Maturity 85 days

Mature Height 60-96"

Spread 36"

Type Indeterminate

Fruit Size Large (10-16 oz)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1-2 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

36" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days

Ready to Plant Beefsteak Tomato in Bird Island?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

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🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Beefsteak Tomato Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Mortgage Lifter

heirloom 85d

Legendary heirloom bred by "Radiator Charlie" — up to 2.5 lb fruits with mild, rich flavor.

Big Beef

hybrid 73d

Classic hybrid beefsteak with reliable yields and resistance to common tomato diseases.

Supersteak

hybrid 80d

Uniform 2-pound hybrid fruits with meaty flesh and excellent shelf life.

Dinner Plate

heirloom 85d

Enormous heirloom fruits often exceeding 2 lbs; classic old-fashioned tomato flavor.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

⚠️ Many varieties are F1 hybrid — look for OP/heirloom types

When to Harvest Seed

Let fruit ripen fully — slightly overripe is ideal. Use only heirloom beefsteak varieties for reliable seed.

Processing

Ferment seeds in their gel for 2–3 days, rinse, dry flat on a screen for 1 week.

Seed Viability

Up to 4 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Most commercial beefsteak tomatoes are F1 hybrids. Try open-pollinated varieties like Brandywine or Cherokee Purple.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 3 plants of Beefsteak Tomato. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Beefsteak Tomato in Bird Island, Minnesota? +

In Bird Island (Zone 4b), start Beefsteak Tomato seeds indoors around Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Bird Island, Minnesota? +

The average last spring frost date for Bird Island, Minnesota (ZIP 55310) is around Tuesday, May 5, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 4b.

How long does Beefsteak Tomato take to grow? +

Beefsteak Tomato typically matures in about 85 days from transplanting. In Bird Island, that means you can expect harvest around Tuesday, May 19, 2026 plus 85 days.

Should I start Beefsteak Tomato indoors or direct sow in Minnesota? +

Beefsteak Tomato should be started indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Bird Island, that means starting around Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

📚 More Beefsteak Tomato Planting Guides

🗺️

Beefsteak Tomato in Minnesota

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 4b Beefsteak Tomato Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Bird Island

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Beefsteak Tomato in Zone 4b

Beefsteak Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a popular garden vegetable. In Bird Island, Minnesota, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b, you should start seeds indoors around Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Plan to transplant your Beefsteak Tomato seedlings outdoors around Tuesday, May 19, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.