Belgium Giant Tomatoes. Follow them through the summer.

This was the first time for growing Belgium Giant Heirloom tomatoes. I was a little skeptical at first, but I was sold on them by the end of the season.
They were a little slow to set on at first, but they came on strong. The plant produced about a half dozen tomatoes that were between 1.5, and 2 pounds. There were also some that were smaller, more around 1 pound. Over all, I like them, and I plan to plant them again next year.

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome. More to come!

[@stanlindert6332]

Thanks for showing us this ( time lapsed) video . It's going to go nuts this year with all the great plants I have.

[@MidwestGardener]

Stan Lindert Hope you have good luck with them. I'm growing 9 different heirlooms this year.

[@tomatopictures4455]

Thanks for your dedication in producing this video and showing plants from seedlings to maturity. Great video!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for those very kind words.

[@tomatopictures4455]

Any time!!

[@eternity7477]

Someone gifted me these seeds and told me it was some of the best tomatoes she has ever grown. Thank you for this video to show me what to do.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome. And thanks for taking the time to comment! I very much appreciate it.

[@nereidapr1]

That's a beautiful plant and the tomatoes are amazing. Great job.

[@MidwestGardener]

+nery colon 1 Thank you very much.

[@greenhousefun3235]

I love your videos. Your voice is calming and your are inspiring. thanks for the videos.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for taking the time to say that Tameka. That is very kind of you to say. I really do appreciate it!!

[@douglaswoosley5136]

I AGREE WITH TAMEKA.

[@oldtimer43]

Wow! I have never seen tomatoes like that in my life, they are fantastic.

[@MidwestGardener]

+Michael Collinson Thanks. I saved seeds from those last year (they are heirlooms), and grew them again this year. I had great success again, and as far as large tomatoes go, I don't think you can beat the Belgium Giants. But as far as taste goes, I grew Russian Black Krims this year, and we think that those are at the top of our list for taste.

[@1stBumbleBeeMaster]

Awesome Tom Plants there. The blooms fall off when they are not pollinated. If you get some Bumble Bees they buz pollinate tomamtoes and your blooms wont fall until fruit set. You will see a small round ball in each flower before it falls. The way those plants are growing I do not think they lack any nutrients. They look super healthy plants. Pollination is the only problem there. I am 99% sure on that.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you know your bees.

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

You are indeed correct! When blooms fall off it's is indeed because they have not been pollinated. One thing you can do to help pollinate them is to gently give a few taps with your fingers (gentle vibrations) on the stem of the blooms, and this 2-3 times a day until a tiny ball of fruit shows up. Does the trick every single time here (greenhouse, no bees or any other insects to help the tomatoplant). I only lost 5 blooms out of now +80, so not bad at all, right? ;) Also, the reason why the bees didn't find their way to his blooms is because he didn't trim down the leaves enough. The plant looked more like bush than a tomato plant, which is actually typical for a tomato plant if not trimmed down. What I myself do in the beginning - for the tomatoes outside but also for those in the greenhouse - when I start noticing that blooms are starting to show up is cut down a few leafs around them so that the blooms are fully exposed, either to bees or to the wind (wind helps too). Once the first real fruits show up I cut down the lower stems underneath the lowest fruits so that the plant can give all its nutrients and energy towards the fruits and not towards the growth of leafs that have no purpose at all anymore, other than sucking away food. All my tomato plants have an average of 20 fruits (as of today, as we speak) and there are still tens of blooms ready to become "pregnant". ;) One plant even has +30 healthy big fruits already, and still plenty of blooms, much to my amazement I must say. :D Cheers!

[@ESCAPINGTHEMATRIXFORGOOD]

wow that is one big tomato,will have a catch up on your videos over the next month.

[@MidwestGardener]

+ESCAPING THE MATRIX FOR GOOD Belgium Giants grow consistently large tomatoes. They are heirlooms, so you can save the seeds and grow them again the next year.

[@cfbx-lx7216]

Congratulation for your very interesting channel. A lot of ideas with such a choice of tomatoes that you presents. 26 variety of heirloom tomatoes in my garden and among them, the very tasty Belgium Giant. Thanks to your videos, I'll try the Cherokee purple and Brandywine (red, pink or yellow ??) next year. However, great harvest this year with the hot summer in Europe. Grettings from Belgium.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting! I very much appreciate it! I have a quick question to ask if you don't mind. Of the 26 varieties you are growing, which ones do you like best? I'm always looking for ideas too :) Thanks again! 🍅🍅🍅

[@cfbx-lx7216]

in the early summer, I enjoy "Ida gold" (small, orange, tasty and fast to grow - from USA). My 2 favourite tomatoes are "Rose de Berne" (switzerland) and "Black pineapple" (a belgian obtention). I do appreciate too "Russian 117" (a oxheart), "Black cherry", "verte de Huy" (a green tomato from Belgium), "Evergreen" :-) Which one of Brandywine could you recommend me for next year (are they all different because of their color ? :-). Thanks

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the information! I've only tried one type of Brandywine, but I was talking to someone about the Black Brandywine, and that one sounds very interesting. I'm thinking about maybe growing it myself.

[@jacobeksor6088]

Wow! Huge tomatoes

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, this variety grow some large ones.

[@evandorco5193]

That is huge it's the size of a pumpkin very inspirational.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Yeah, that type grows some consistently large tomatoes. I might be growing them again this year.

[@kprairiesun]

I just ate one of my Giant Belgium Pink. Delicious. Probably a pound.

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice!

[@robertkat]

Mine are beefsteak tomatoes, average 2 pounds each.

[@ezrabrooks12]

GOOD LOOK'N MATERS!!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! They tasted pretty good too!

[@muybueno666]

i like the way you speak

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much!

[@dudley0826]

I love heirlooms. purple Cherokee are my favorite. black Krims are really good flavor wise but a low yielding.

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm with you on the heirlooms James. I know a lot of people who like the purple Cherokee best. I like the taste of the black krims too.

[@redmissjt]

Loved the video! Will have to see if I can find those seeds! Do you feel like more pruning of the branches and half of the suckers early on would have helped with your earlier blooms? Also, do use any homemade amendments such as dried and ground up banana peels or egg shells in your tomato garden?

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Jen! I now do much more pruning. I like to try different ways of doing things, just to see what works for me and what doesn't. That year, I didn't prune much, except of when they came out of the top of the cages. The main thing that I use on my tomatoes, is homemade compost. Banana peels and egg shells go into the compost pile, so they do get incorporated. into the garden. And when I plant tomatoes, I dig a hole, put the tomato plant into the hole, then fill the hole around the plant with the homemade compost. Thanks again.

[@renydeleonbayaca4962]

hello sir, God bless you, Good Job, can i have free sample so that can i plant in my mother house? thank you, and may the God reward you more and have a take care always.

[@aliyusaidu82]

wao how big!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, they do get pretty big.

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day Jim, Well Done mate...! Last time I tried a Vegetable Garden I grew some Heirloom Seeds called "Ox-Heart Tomatos", and they grew JUST PREZACTLY LIKE Yours did, same shaped and sized Leaves, same Growth-Pattern, same sized and same shaped Fruit of similar weight... I guess that what with Biological Imperialism, and Tomatos being South AmeriKan Crops brought back to Europe by the Spanish and Portugese, like the Potato ; a lot of Plants and varieties have travelled the World, settled down, and long since been given local Names... ;-p Ciao !

[@MidwestGardener]

Interesting. I'll have to see if I can find some Ox-heart tomatoes. Never heard of them. But there are many heirloom varieties that I haven't heard of. I saved some of the Belgium Giant seeds, so we will see how they do next year.

[@WarblesOnALot]

Jim H. Cool, my guess is that they're identical...; and the names will have been locally applied... Lots of plants are like that..., there's an introduced Blue Flowering Annual which in NSW is called Patterson's Curse by the Sheepfarmers because livestock can't eat it and when it escaped from Mrs Patterson's Garden it took over the farm, spread to the neighbours and sent lots of people bankrupt...; and in South Australia they call it "Salvation Jane", because in the Drought times it's the only thing which flowers and keeps the Bees alive, and making Honey for the Apiarists... ;-p Ciao !

[@rodgerharris7936]

Hi Jim, interesting variety. Wonder what pruning to 2-3 main stems would do for this variety

[@MidwestGardener]

Rodger Harris Hey Rodger. I pruned much more this year. I pruned both of my Belgium Giants to two main stems, and it didn't make the largest tomatoes larger, but I think it did increase the overall average size, and I think I like the results.

[@rodgerharris7936]

Thanks Jim for insights. I find pruning "I" tomatoes results in same!

[@sosteve9113]

I got it this year also planted on a medish incident I can not harvest them, unfortunately through my harvest by over ripened and have they can not really use but they are real big tomatoes, I live in belgium and someone here that I have of my seeds, had a tomato of 1 kg and it has been in the newspaper atb steve

[@MidwestGardener]

+so steve 1 kg is a pretty impressive tomato!

[@sosteve9113]

I try to copy the link, there are those who move easily over 1kg www.plantaardig.com/groenteninfo/berichten/waar-is-de-grootste-tomaat-van-vlaanderen-en-nederland-oproep-aan-alle-lezers/

[@mikemikey4287]

I wonder how many times you could grow tomatoes in a year or even it is possible is it to grow it all year round in a the tropics like Cameroon?

[@MidwestGardener]

I would guess that there are probably a few places where it could be done. I guess it's all about the weather.

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

They indeed become giants, don't they. I'm from Belgium by the way and grow all sorts of different species of tomatoes (I'm a tomato addict LOL ), but I had never heard of this specie, nor had I ever seen them. Seems that I need to update my knowledge of Belgian vegetable and fruit culture by the looks of it. LMAO Did some quick research on it, and the seeds seem to be very rare but yet extremely cheap (100 seeds for about 1,5-2 euros here in Belgium) compared to some other more current species that also produce big tomatoes (Coeur de Boeuf for example, which produces pretty big fruits too, but nothing compared to the Giant Heirloom). Cheers!

[@MidwestGardener]

Hello, and thanks for the great comment. Even though it has Belgium in its name, from what I understand, its origin can be traced to Ohio. Not sure how it got its name though. I can relate to your addiction. I too love to grow different types every year. If you decide to grow them, I don't think you will be disappointed. They consistently produced very large fruit for me. Thanks for dropping by!

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

You're very welcome. ;) And yes, it's strange that a fruit that has his alleged origine in Ohio caries the Belgian "flag". Maybe someone important a few seeds of Belgian big variaties of tomatoes, crossed them with other (foreign?) breeds, like enhanced them or something etc etc. and ended up with this breed but kept the Belgian flag as the original DNA may be from Belgium? Or maybe it was just a Belgian person travelling to and from America that wanted to keep the Belgian name and roots in this one, even after enhancing it and mixing up DNA, who knows. Everything seems to be possible at this day and age, right? ;) Have you tried to re-use the seeds of them (seedlings)? Because IF it's a hybrid, which I suspect it is, you'll never be able to get the same result as what the original plant was. Cheers! Ps: in a few hours 5 more tomato fruits popped up on my plants (several other species, not the giant one... LOL).

[@MidwestGardener]

Exactly....who knows. Yes, I have saved seeds from them and they do breed true like you would expect from an heirloom. And is that a Ball Python in your photo? I used to breed reptiles.

[@2138red]

wow! what did you fertilize that monster with? good job

[@MidwestGardener]

+2138red Just good homemade compost, and good soil.

[@johnwasham7113]

wow were did you get the big pink tomatoes at my dad grew big pink tomatoes was so good

[@MidwestGardener]

I don't remember where I bought the seeds, but I bought them online. They're an heirloom, so you can save the seeds and grow them year after year.

[@johnparkerthegimpygardener]

any problems with blight ?? a lot of antique tomatoes have little resistance to it. they are very big

[@MidwestGardener]

+john parker (the gimpy gardener) I did have some trouble when I grew them without pruning. Pruning seems to help a lot.

[@RJ-rj9uw]

Pinching of early blight affected leaves worked like a champ for me for the past couple of years :)

[@MidwestGardener]

RJ Thanks. I've learned my lesson, and do much more pruning and pinching than I used to. Sometimes you end up with a lot of stem showing, but you also end up with more tomatoes.

[@yes350yes]

Thanks for the vid , nice job. This interest me as I have seed for the Belgium as I cant get it in my area. Im trying a trial run as the sent me an excess of seed. It will be planted late july so will have all of august and sept and whatever in oct. Mainly just to see what the plant might do next spring. I wonder if you had pruned your plant more would you get bigger toms maybe over 2 lbs.

[@MidwestGardener]

yes350yes I can answer the question about whether pruning would make a difference in the largest of them. This year I grew two Belgium giants, and I pruned both of them down to two main stems, and pruned off all of the sucker and even topped them at about 6 feet. They produced more large tomatoes, but the largest were still about between 1.5 and 2 pounds. Just ate part of one about an hour ago. Really hitting the BLTs here. If you don't mind, let me know how they do for you. They do great here till it starts getting hot, and then they suffer from the heat a little. But by then, most of the tomatoes have ripened anyway, so I just pull the plants out.

[@yes350yes]

+Midwest Gardener As It turned it for trial run of 8 plants of Giant Belgium we got one giant tom of 2 lb , 15 oz. It wasnt eatable too buggy and when we cut out all the bad we had no desire to eat it, but the size was there just ugly as sinn. At least this season we will get the full run. Also have seed of Big Zak , Brandywine Sudduth Strain, and Domingo.

[@MidwestGardener]

yes350yes Wow, 2 lb. 15 oz. is a big tomato. I'm trying big zac this year too.

[@ELBlDu]

we like to grow mostly roma type, found the amish paste late to set also, but when they do, look out. I would like to try your belgin beauties next yr, where did you get your seeds? Will you save some for yourself for next yt?

[@MidwestGardener]

I saved some seeds. I'm not growing them this year though. Trying a bunch of other ones. I got mine online...from amazon.

[@ELBlDu]

ok thanks. Black crims, or some call it russian crim, are tasty too

[@grandmastermicochero]

how many of the Belgium giants were planted inside each of your cages? It appears to be more than one plant yes?

[@MidwestGardener]

It was just one plant. I didn't prune that year, and there was way too much foliage. I now prune much more than I did.

[@suefernandes8582]

Hi Jim, where did you buy the seeds for this tomato from ??if you could help me with the site would be great , thanks a tonne Sue :))

[@MidwestGardener]

It's been a few years, but I'm pretty sure I got the original seeds on Amazon. I don't remember the name of the seller though.

[@suefernandes8582]

Thanks Jim, i seen a few good reliable seed sites that keep this variety :))

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I think you will enjoy growing these :) 🍅🍅🍅

[@shecky308]

Hi,where do you get the plants and seeds for this type ,thank you!! Fill me in.

[@MidwestGardener]

I don't remember who I got them from, but I got them online. Just google giant Belgium tomato seeds, and you should get plenty of results.

[@infocommunication1120]

why Belgium Giant Tomatoes, and seems that Belgium not only that is giant, but also have a specie of giant rabbit in the world? what makes their stuffs all giant? :)

[@MidwestGardener]

+Elizabeth Wu True, never thought of it, but interesting.

[@VianneyCreates]

Huge waffles, too! (:

[@YOTU3333]

Thanks Sir. I´m trying to make a new orchard and I love tomatoes. What about the taste? Do you know can I get those seeds frm Spain? Thanks again. Nice video.

[@MidwestGardener]

Hi Antonio! I liked the taste of these. They also don't crack much, and are very meaty. I really don't know if you can get them over there or not. I think I would just do an online search and see what you come up with. Good luck!

[@YOTU3333]

Thank you very much. Any way, it should be for next year, so, I have time enough to find the best way.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! If you are able to get some seeds, I think you will like them. They have been a consistent producer of large tasty tomatoes for us.

[@amyblue1986]

Your Belgium giant is to constricted , they need more room to grow out, not in a cage but stake them up and let more them get more light penetration to pit on bigger tomatoes. That is the problem

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Amy. I prune more now than I did back then. I grafted one of these to maxifort rootstock this year, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that works out.

[@lestermckee6057]

thats what i was thinking also

[@etherspin]

@@MidwestGardener if you do this guy again another season I'd love to see how it turns out - I took to gardening a few years back when illness stopped my career and have had to learn a lot cause it was all 100% brand new to me but this year I have aggressively pruned lower limbs on my plants because im on a low set block of land with neighbours built up and then on two storey houses as well so casting shadow the pruning has encouraged the tomato plants to shoot up and now that they reached good height (where the foliage gets all day sun) they've had a week to expand sideways without me touching them and they have loads of blossoms, double verging on triple digit cherry tomatoes I imagine that whenever foliage is down low under a canopy of higher foliage and getting less than 30% sun coverage it can go and leave energy for fruiting

[@MidwestGardener]

@@etherspin Another advantage to pruning some lower foliage is more air circulation and potentially less disease. I'm thinking of growing this one again this year. It's high on my list right now anyway. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@DEATHCOMETH4U]

GREAT video so on which set of flowers where the fused flowers visible? Thanks Dan

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Dan. The best I could tell, they all were.

[@DEATHCOMETH4U]

Oh sry how many flower fused on this massive mater?

[@MidwestGardener]

Dan Simonelli Not really sure exactly. If I came up with a number, it would be just a guess.

[@DEATHCOMETH4U]

OK thanks Jim I'm in a FB group and it's after the biggest weighed tomato, the two I choose Giant Belgium AND Big Zac thanks for your time

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

Jim What did they taste like? Best wishes Bob.

[@MidwestGardener]

+Bob Lt (BobMel's Gardening) They tasted Good Bob. Our niece made salsa from one, and said it was better than any she had ever tasted. Our favorite tomato for taste so far though, is the Black Krim.

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

Thanks Jim. I find that most of the time things that grow abnormally large. Don't taste that good. Best wishes Bob.

[@yes350yes]

Had another sizable tomato this season [Domingo] 2 lb 10oz.

[@MidwestGardener]

Wow, that's one to be proud of for sure!

[@yourtub8705]

what is that circular cage called?

[@MidwestGardener]

It is a tomato cage that I made out of steel remesh.

[@XOXO-mb2vh]

🍅

[@MidwestGardener]

Enough said :)

[@Rose-wo8bh]

How do I stop the slugs from eating my potato plants?

[@MidwestGardener]

I don't usually have much of a problem from them, but I've heard that Diatomaceous Earth works for lots of people.

[@Rose-wo8bh]

Thanks.....

[@jackstranks9585]

slug pellets

[@kasimfarahani2122]

use a machine gun,,,,

[@yourtub8705]

thats what i do

[@smug8567]

All I know is my teeth have never been whiter and my garden is spittin' out 50lb tomatoes!

[@fajarlentera9237]

😱😱😱😱😱... 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks!

[@fajarlentera9237]

This is amazing

[@tolgaoztemur]

Is It naturally big?

[@MidwestGardener]

+Tolga blue Yes, I've always had a few close to 2 pounds, with most over 1 pound. The bigger ones are usually close to the bottom.

[@jeannefeitosa9456]

Como consigo umas sementes desse tomate

[@MidwestGardener]

You might try a google search. I'm sure there are probably a number of websites that sell them.

[@rosem4584]

where can I get seeds for this tomatoes???

[@MidwestGardener]

There are lots of places that sell them. Just do a google search for giant Belgium tomato seeds.

[@rosem4584]

Thanks

[@JohnDoe-ih8ou]

Just look online type in the name the species OK Google and it'll take you to a dealer

[@JohnDoe-ih8ou]

yeah once you sucker try changing your soil amendment a little bit in the top half inch of soil around your tomato plant or a liquid fertilizer stressing potassium used into the h round only- adding more potash than nitrogen.

[@zupel2966]

Do u sell beefsteak seeds? I need them badly 😭

[@MidwestGardener]

I don't sell any seeds. I'm pretty sure if you did a quick google search you could find them online. I know baker creek sells them.

[@zupel2966]

@@MidwestGardener I'm from India so shipping isn't available from every websites I checked And I really want to grow them 😢

[@MidwestGardener]

I don't know about other sites, but I do know that baker creek ships internationally.

[@zupel2966]

@@MidwestGardener oh okay il check it out Thank you 🌻🌼🌾

[@an_what]

Grow them in a 5 gallon bucket with nothing but grass clippings trust me✓

[@MidwestGardener]

Interesting. Do you let it heat up, then cool down first?

[@robertl.fallin7062]

grow anything but those awful hybrids like big boy, better boy or early girl . all of the " black tomatoes " are good. And Brandywine too!

[@MidwestGardener]

I agree. I think the best tomato I've ever tasted was a Black Krim. The Brandywines are a good tomato too. Those didn't produce as well for me as some others though.

[@kp6855]

Robert L. Fallin homegsrde

[@gltchy971]

i have seeds

[@MidwestGardener]

Cool! I hope you like them as much as we do.

[@varazdatgrigoryan9415]

Gigant Tomatoes- Armenia 2100 gram.

[@MidwestGardener]

Wow, that is massive! That would be over 4.5 pounds!

[@dioclecianasilva4557]

Queria unas sementes dessa tomate

[@MidwestGardener]

I guess it lost something in the translation.

[@renydeleonbayaca4962]

Hello sir, God bless you, Good Job, can i have free sample so that can i plant in my mother house? thank you, and may the God reward you more and have a take care always.

[@mujahedmohammad1362]

Can you make a favour to send/courier/ship these seeds to India (@my address)

[@MidwestGardener]

Sorry, but I don't ship internationally.

[@mujahedmohammad1362]

Midwest Gardener ☹️

[@livingoutsidethebubble]

Hi Interesting tomato, the audio is very poor however. Hard to hear.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! You're right the audio is poor, and that is why I use an external microphone now on my new videos. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@JohnDoe-ih8ou]

LOL suckering won't help- the plant still wants to make more green than tomatoes

[@MidwestGardener]

OK, thanks for your opinion. I didn't use to sucker, but I do a lot more now.

[@JohnDoe-ih8ou]

@@MidwestGardener yeah I will sucker when I want fewer but larger Tomatoes only

[@MidwestGardener]

I guess it's one of those personal preference type things. Some people do it, and some don't. As long as it works great for you, I wouldn't change.

[@etherspin]

not sure why you are sure enough of that to laugh ? suckering along with some lower limb and surplus stem removal would have turbo charged fruit production or at least seems to do so here where i live ?

[@MidwestGardener]

@@etherspin I'm with you there, Tim.

[@jackdula2459]

planted in the wrong sign

[@MidwestGardener]

OK?