Better Boy Tomatoes

Better Boy tomatoes are a hybrid that ruggedly resists many bacteria, parasites and fungi but does not do well when you plant it in the garden before the cold weather ends.

Like most tomatoes, it does require some nurturing but this popular tomato pays you back with succulent fruit well known for its flavor.

How to Grow

Most people use tomato starts rather than beginning the Better Boy from seed. However, if you prefer to start your own tomato seedlings, you have to begin approximately six to eight weeks before the first frost. You'll need to use sterile potting soil in either flats or containers and plant the seeds ¼ inch deep.

The seeds need constant moisture but too much creates problems with the plant developing fungal infections and dying. Simply keep the soil slightly damp and cover the container with plastic to prevent the seeds from dying before germinating. Once the small plants emerge, you can raise the plastic with toothpicks or remove it entirely. Keep the seedlings in full light to prevent them from getting leggy or straggly.

After the danger of the last frost passes, it's time to plant your seedlings outside. If you have an unexpected frost, you can cover the seedlings at night with plastic milk jugs with the bottoms removed or newspapers. Just like any plant or animal, a full day in the sun can cause sunburn if there's been no previous exposure. Harden off the plants slowly by taking the trays out in the sun for a few hours a day and increasing the exposure little by little before you plant.

Space the tomatoes approximately 2 to 3 feet apart. You can place them closer together if you use tomato cages. Remember that you also need space to be able to walk through to care for the tomatoes. Mulch around the base of the tomatoes to prevent moisture loss.

Soil and Fertilizations

Tomatoes love to eat and they also love rich loose soil. Beware of giving them too much nitrogen before the fruit sets. The best type of fertilizer is composting the soil thoroughly before you plant the tomatoes.

Watering

Tomatoes need consistency when it comes to watering. If you allow the soil to dry and then overwater, you'll end up with tomatoes with cracks in the skin.

In dry weather, water more frequently than you would otherwise. Check the soil for dryness. Normally tomatoes require about 2 inches of rain per week or the equivalent of two gallons of water. Watering three times per week or more when there's no rain is normal.

Types of Pest /Disease and Prevention or Control

The Better Boy tomato is resistant to fusarium wilt, verticillum wilt, root nematodes and tobacco mosaic. However, they still are subject to problems from pests and disease.

The primary pest that most people recognize is the hornworm. That's the large green caterpillar that helps himself to your tomatoes. You can pick off these little pests or simply use parasitic wasps. The wasps lay eggs on the caterpillar and the larvae feed on it. Lady beetles handle any aphids that you might find on your Better Boy tomatoes.

Go to Tomato Planting from Better Boy Tomatoes