🍅 Quick take: Rosalie’s Big Rosy is a historic indeterminate Maryland family heirloom producing massive, deep-oblate pink beefsteaks weighing 11-21 oz (300-600 g). Known for thick, juicy meat, rich sweetness, and virtually seedless cavities, it delivers outstanding yields even when grown outdoors in open garden beds. Full summary ↓
Growers’ Notes and Photos
This family heirloom has reportedly been grown in Maryland for around 200 years. Ran two plants outdoors in the open dirt.
For me, it grew as an indeterminate vine, topping out around 5 ft (1.5 m), with mid-season maturity.
The fruits are gorgeous pink, deep-oblate beefsteaks weighing 11-21 oz (300-600 g). The interior is dense, juicy, and beautifully balanced with a very pronounced, upfront sweetness. There are barely any seeds inside, practically solid meat. Production was flat-out excellent.
Edited August 19, 2018 by Drosera
For me, it grew as an indeterminate vine, topping out around 5 ft (1.5 m), with mid-season maturity.
The fruits are gorgeous pink, deep-oblate beefsteaks weighing 11-21 oz (300-600 g). The interior is dense, juicy, and beautifully balanced with a very pronounced, upfront sweetness. There are barely any seeds inside, practically solid meat. Production was flat-out excellent.
Edited August 19, 2018 by Drosera
Full Summary: Plant Habit, Fruit, and Flavor
- 🌿 Plant & Growth Habit: Indeterminate vine with a manageable height of roughly 5 ft (1.5 m) when grown in unprotected garden soil. Mid-season maturity.
- 🍅 Fruit Quality: Large, thick-shouldered, deep-oblate pink beefsteaks ranging from 11 oz up to 21 oz (300-600 g). The flesh is notably dense, juicy, and contains very few seed locules, making seed-saving challenging but eating quality superb.
- 📈 Yield: Excellent. Even in open ground without greenhouse protection, the vine sets large fruit clusters consistently.
- 👅 Taste Profile: Superbly balanced sweet-tart profile with pronounced, forward sweetness and minimal core waste. Ideal sandwich slicer.
- 🌎 Growing Method: Tested outdoors in open soil, demonstrating strong resilience and productivity outside high-tunnel environments.
