How to Grow Better Boy Tomato Plants

Grow better boy tomato plants in a home garden.

Discerning tomato gardeners have many varieties of tomatoes from which to choose as they make their garden plans in the spring. As you consider the different kinds of tomatoes, from early hybrids to later-season standard varieties, the selection may be overwhelming. For a tomato variety that continues to be a favorite among gardeners for its dependable growth and resistance to disease, select better boy tomatoes. When you grow better boy tomato plants, you have a reliable variety that will mature within approximately 70 days of planting.

Things You'll Need

• Garden spade
• Compost
• Granular fertilizer
• Rake
• Shovel
• Better boy tomato plants
• Bucket
• Tomato cages
• Shredded mulch (leaves or wood chips)
• Hand rake

Instructions

1. Prepare a sunny growing location in the spring after the final spring frost. Till the soil with the garden spade to a depth of at least 6 inches. Add 2 to 3 inches of compost to the top of the soil and cultivate to incorporate the compost and the soil. Spread 1 lb. of 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 fertilizer over each 100 square feet of planting area and work this in well with the garden spade also. Smooth the garden surface with the rake to finish preparing the growing location.

2. Dig holes for the better boy tomato plants, spacing each hole approximately 1.5 feet apart. Make the holes deep enough to plant the tomato plants 1 to 2 inches deeper than they were growing in their temporary containers.

3. Remove the better boys from their temporary containers and place them into the prepared holes. Mix 2 tbsp. of 15-30-15 or 10-52-17 fertilizer with 1 gallon of water in the bucket. Carefully pour 1 cup of this fertilizer solution into each hole around the better boy roots to fertilize them. Fill the soil around the roots and tamp the soil down firmly with your hands.

4. Place a tomato cage around each plant to support the tomato plants as they grow. Water the soil generously to saturate it immediately after you finish planting the better boys.

5. Provide water for the tomato plants if less than 1 to 2 inches of rain falls during a 1-week period. As you water, soak the soil deeply and thoroughly instead of providing light and superficial waterings. Apply 1 to 2 inches of shredded mulch around the tomato plants to conserve soil moisture.

6. Fertilize the better boy plants two times during the growing season with 10-10-10 fertilizer--the first time when the first tomatoes are approximately one-third of mature size and the second time approximately two weeks after you harvest the first tomatoes. Apply 5 lbs. of granular fertilizer over 100 feet of tomato row, sprinkling the fertilizer over the soil approximately 5 inches away from the plants. Work the fertilizer into the soil with the hand rake and water the soil generously to help the fertilizer soak into the roots.

7. Harvest the better boy tomatoes when they are fully red and firm by picking the tomatoes from the vines with your hands.

References

• Folia: Better Boy Tomatoes
• University of Illinois Extension: Tomato