The Better Boy tomato plant might be exactly what you’re looking for if you’re looking for tomato plants that consistently produce excellent, smooth-skinned fruits. We adore this tomato because it grows well in a variety of climates. The Better Boy even achieved a Guinness World Record by producing more than 340 pounds of tomatoes from a single plant.
If you’re looking for a hardworking tomato plant to add to your garden, the Better Boy will produce several pounds of fruit even if you don’t break any world records for heavy yields.
How to grow & care for Better Boy tomato plants?
Better Boy Tomato plants begin as tiny seedlings, but they quickly expand to cover a surface area that is 24 inches wide and 48 to 60 inches tall (or more if the tomato cage is taller).
Watering Better Boy Tomato plants frequently and consistently will help them produce abundant yields. Automated drip irrigation is the simplest way to water them, but you can water them with any technique that moistens the soil around the plant’s base. Avoid getting water on the foliage of the plants.
In the spring or during rainy weather, plants may only require watering once or twice a week, but in extremely hot weather (especially if planted in a small container), the plants will probably need watering every other day or even every day. Early in the morning is the best time to water plants so that any moisture can quickly evaporate before the heat of the day sets in.
After the fruit has set, inconsistent watering can cause the developing tomato peels to crack. Provide the plants with an even supply of moisture. Avoid sudden water influxes, such as heavy watering after a few days of not watering, as this can cause the tomatoes to swell and the peels to crack.
Regularly, usually once or twice per week, weed garden beds Weed seedlings are simple to remove with a handheld cultivator or to pull out and throw in the compost bin when they are small. They become more challenging and disruptive to remove from tomato plants as they get bigger. They might even go to seed if they’re neglected for a long time, producing a whole new batch of weeds in the garden.
Usually, large tomato plants like Better Boy grown inside substantial, sturdy tomato cages don’t require any pruning at all. However, if your plants are climbing a tomato stake, you’ll probably need to prune the suckers to keep the plants in check and stop them from falling over. One vine should be designated as the main stem when growing up a stake, and it should be delicately tied to the stake in 1′ increments.
The bottom of the stem is one location on most tomato plants that is typically pruned. The bottom leaves of the plant may turn yellow after a month or two in the ground. Remove leaves from the plant’s base up to 8 to 10 inches above the soil line. Airflow can be improved and foliar disease can be prevented by maintaining a relatively clear base area.
During the growing season, tomato plants are typically nourished with either a water-soluble tomato fertilizer or a slow-release granular tomato fertilizer. While liquid formulations only last a few weeks, granular fertilizers typically last for a month or two. Make sure to adhere to the frequency recommendations and application instructions listed on the fertilizer of your choice. Here are some options for both types of tomato fertilizer:
Aside from that, stay away from fertilizers high in nitrogen, such as lawn fertilizer, evergreen fertilizer, and even some all-purpose fertilizer mixtures. Large tomato plants with lots of foliage but few fruits can result from high nitrogen levels. It can also occasionally exacerbate Blossom End Rot.
Pests and wildlife target tomatoes as they ripen on the vine. This includes all kinds of creatures, such as birds, rabbits, deer, and even slugs, snails, and ants.
Slug and insect protection usually consists of either crushed eggshells or horticultural diatomaceous earth on the soil around the base of the plant, or beer traps if slugs are particularly bad. For flying insects, a protective row cover fabric works well. Row cover is easy to set up with garden bed hoops and insect netting fabric. If you see any tomato hornworms, remove them from the garden and destroy them.
If larger wildlife is a problem, there are more options. Both protective bird netting and deer fencing are easy to find in garden centers. You can also try to lure birds away from the garden by placing a bird feeder and birdbath away from the garden or even try your hand at making your own scarecrow.
Better Boy Tomatoes should be allowed to ripen on the vine. The first tomato usually ripens 72 days after the seedling was planted outdoors. The first tomatoes should be ready for picking 70 to 75 days after the seedling is planted. If the seedling was planted outside too early in the spring or if it was extremely hot in midsummer, it might take longer.
When Better Boy tomatoes have a deep red peel and have just begun to soften, they are ripe. When gently squeezed, the tomatoes should still be quite firm but have some “give.” Pick them early in the day and eat them as soon as you can!
Better Boy Tomatoes are indeterminate and will continue to produce fruit until the first frost in the early fall. Watch the weather forecast because the plant will perish in frost or below-freezing temperatures. Harvest all of the green tomatoes on the plant if there is a chance of frost. These green tomatoes will ripen indoors off the vine.
Better Boy Tomatoes can be kept in a cool, dry place for up to two months. Choose only whole, undamaged tomatoes for storage. Any imperfect tomatoes can be kept on the kitchen counter for a couple of days at room temperature and out of the sun until they are ready to be used fresh or processed into a cooked sauce or another recipe.
Finding a location that is neither too cold nor too hot is crucial for tomato storage. Tomatoes store best between 55°-60°F (12°-16°C). In a basement or garage, you may occasionally find a suitable location that naturally maintains this temperature range. The flavor of the tomatoes will quickly deteriorate and the texture will become very mushy in the refrigerator, so resist the urge to store them there.
To ripen, storage tomatoes are commonly wrapped in newspaper or put in paper bags. The paper prevents the tomatoes from touching one another, which could lead to early rot. Additionally, it aids in capturing some of the ethylene gas that naturally escapes from the tomatoes and keeps it close by to promote further ripening. Regularly inspect the ripening tomatoes and get rid of any that show rot or mold.
What do Better Boy tomatoes taste like?
The flavor of Better Boy tomatoes is robust, with a well-balanced combination of tangy acidity and pleasant sweetness. These meaty red tomatoes are picked ripe off the vine and have a mouthwatering aroma. In terms of the quantity of tomatoes harvested, they are much more dependable producers even though they may not have the flavor complexity of some heirlooms like Brandywine.
Each Better Boy tomato typically weighs between 12 and 16 ounces (340 and 450 g). Typically, there is only one Better Boy tomato per pound. One of the largest tomato varieties, Better Boy tomatoes can grow to sizes comparable to large heirlooms like Mortgage Lifter, German Johnson, and Green Giant.
Common pests affecting Big Boy tomato plants
Big Boy Tomatoes and other eye-catching ripening fruits in the garden can be very alluring to larger wildlife and insects, which are common garden pests. Most pests that affect home growers will be discouraged by the protective netting covers discussed earlier in this article, but occasionally pests will sneak in to attack your tomato plants.
Common garden pests called aphids feed on the plants by sucking their liquid out. These tiny colorful bugs cluster on stems and under leaves. They also drop sticky “honeydew” residue that attracts ants. Perhaps the ants will begin raising the aphids for their honeydew. You can start by ordering some ladybugs and releasing them into the garden to serve as natural predators if you notice aphids. Furthermore, it can be surprisingly simple to spray the plants with a strong stream of water.
If there are quite a few aphids, consider using an organic insecticide such as Insecticidal Soap, Neem Oil Spray, or a specialty product like Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew to eradicate the pests. Most organic sprays can be reapplied on a regular basis to ensure the eradication of pests.
Another typical garden pest for tomatoes, particularly in warm climates, are parasitic nematodes. These tiny worms damage the roots of plants by living in the soil and cause them to wilt or become stunted. Start by avoiding planting tomatoes at all in infected soil. Utilize grow bags or sizable vases filled with new potting soil. ‘Nema-Gone’ Marigolds can also be planted close to tomatoes because research has shown that they eliminate soil nematodes. Additionally, try planting a cover crop made of green manure in the off-season, and rotate your garden beds every year.