The Better Boy is a intercrossed tomato that is prized by home growers for its median matureness rate ( 70 - 75 days ) , and consistently excellent smooth - skinned yield with a classical flavour . They are extremely popular thanks to their underground to Verticillium and Fusarium Wilt . They are indeterminate and best - accommodate to cages or tepee - style staking .

Best Soil for Growing Better Boy Tomatoes

Any near tomato plant - growing stain is heavy for expert Boys .   A full nutrient balance and flimsy acidity ( pH of 6.5 - 7.0 ) is prime for these favorite . Although they are insubordinate to the more common wilt disease , it ’s still best to splay Better Boy tomatoes as you would any other quality crop .

Proper Care of Better Boy Tomatoes

Better Boy hybrids are one of the more charge - gratuitous of the tomato crop dwelling house gardeners enjoy . Plants should be put in the priming ( or leaven bed ) when all peril of frost is preceding . They need about 72 days to bear ripe fruit , on medium , so most areas will have plenty of develop season for these beloved apples .   Give plenty of space for expansion – at least 36 inches between plant .   They grow large under beneficial conditions .

Use bet , hoops or other supports to hold up them upright and nip off other bud and shoots to boost industrial plant growth for maximum return . Add a balanced ( 10 - 10 - 10 ) fertilizer or compost to the soil about halfway through the season . Water frequently , but do not swim the plants . Water is especially important once fruit has appeared so as to maximise maturation and avoid splitting and end guff .

When to Harvest Better Boy Tomatoes

Harvest when the tomato plant are steadfast and round and a full ruby color .   This will begin to happen at about the 70 daylight mark under estimable spring up conditions , a fiddling later if something has affected the plant life . Most Better Boys are amply ripe by 80 days and nearly all yields will be accomplished by 90 days .

Better Boy Tomato Pests and Diseases

While Better male child are by and large disease resistant and will suffer piffling or no disease if decently rotated , they are susceptible to almost all predator . As with other tomato varieties , encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs , flying dragon flies , and even bird .

Watering at ground stage ( drip mould or furrow ) in the sunrise rather than even will forefend many other trouble .

How to Prepare Better Boy Tomatoes

Better Boy yields can be used for just about anything tomatoes are favored for .   They are juicy , have few seeds , and if just mature , they are crisp as well .   Better Boys make bang-up salad piece , sandwich tomatoes , sauce , salsas , stew additions , and more .   Even green Better Boys are less bitter than most other varieties and make for good frying or pickling .

Tips for Growing Better Boy Tomatoes

The real secret to this favored hybrid is to bulge them from seed indoors and give 6 - 8 weeks to make headway size and stamina before transplant . Because of its size , Better Boy is not generally a good container Lycopersicon esculentum , but it is often a pet porch - side and kitchen garden variety . They can be grown in large buckets ( 5 gal ) as well .

Soil nutrition is key to having corking issue with these tomatoes . Be sure the grime is ready for the plants when you transplant and keep it nutritious by tally compost at least once ( preferably twice ) during the season .

Want to learn more about growing Better Boy tomatoes?

Check out these helpful websites about growing Lycopersicon esculentum . Home Gardening Series : Growing Tomatoesby University of Arkansas Cooperative ExtensionGrowing Tomatoesby University of Illinois

child holding three better boy tomatoes harvested from garden

childs hand holding three better boy tomatoes from the garden with text overlay guide to growing better boy tomatoes