How to Grow Better Boy Tomato

Better Boy Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Better Boy'

vegetable

Better Boy is a classic, dependable indeterminate tomato variety beloved by home gardeners for its large, flavorful red fruits and vigorous growth habit. It produces 8-12 oz beefsteak-type tomatoes with excellent flavor and disease resistance, making it ideal for fresh eating, slicing, and sauces. This hybrid cultivar combines productivity with reliability, thriving in most garden conditions.

When should you plant Better Boy Tomato in your zone?

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Example Better Boy Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Better Boy Tomato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Better Boy Tomato
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Better Boy Tomato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (minimum 6 hours)

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Water: Consistent moisture, approximately 1.5-2 inches per week; water at soil level to avoid fungal disease; maintain even moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; bury transplant stem up to first true leaves

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost aged manure perlite or vermiculite for drainage kelp meal bone meal for phosphorus

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-9; best performance in zones 5-8

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny sprouts with 2 cotyledons (seed leaves) emerge within 5-10 days; first true leaves appear soon after

Maintain soil moisture without waterlogging; provide bright light (14-16 hours daily indoors); keep temperature 70-80°F; avoid damping off with good air circulation

Transplant/Vegetative

3-4 weeks

Young plants develop 4-6 true leaves with vigorous stem growth; ready for hardening off and transplanting to garden

Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days; harden off in partial shade; transplant when soil is warm (at least 60°F, ideally 65-70°F); bury deep to encourage root development

Flowering

4-6 weeks (ongoing with indeterminate types)

Plant reaches 12-24 inches tall; yellow flower clusters appear in whorls; indeterminate growth continues throughout season

Install sturdy support stakes or cages early; maintain consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot; apply mulch to regulate soil moisture; pinch suckers to direct energy to main stem and fruit

Fruiting

6-8 weeks

Green tomato clusters develop behind flower clusters; fruits enlarge to 8-12 oz; plant grows to 6-8 feet or taller

Continue consistent watering (deep, infrequent watering encourages deep roots); provide balanced or slightly reduced nitrogen fertilizer every 2-3 weeks; prune excess foliage in very hot climates for air circulation; support heavily laden branches

Harvest/Maturity

8+ weeks until frost

Tomatoes ripen to deep red color; fruits are firm yet slightly yielding to gentle pressure; plants continue producing until frost

Harvest regularly to encourage continued production; pick at first blush of pink and ripen on counter for better flavor, or wait until fully red; leave 1-2 inches of stem on fruit; continue watering and fertilizing for late-season harvests

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Marigold Carrot Onion Chive Borage Cucumber Lettuce

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Dill Potatoes (disease vectors)

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for smaller infestations; inspect undersides of leaves regularly
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; maintain good air circulation; reflective mulches deter adults
Increase humidity; spray with water or neem oil; use sulfur dust in cool weather; remove heavily infested leaves
Plant resistant varieties (Better Boy has VF resistance); practice crop rotation; sterilize tools; remove infected plants immediately; improve soil drainage
Remove lower leaves as plant grows; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide preventatively; disinfect tools between plants
Maintain consistent, deep watering (1.5-2 inches weekly); apply calcium via lime or gypsum in early season; mulch heavily; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen

Uses

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Fresh slicing and eating

Culinary

Large, meaty fruits are perfect for slicing into sandwiches, salads, and burgers. The excellent balance of sweetness and acidity makes them ideal for fresh consumption where tomato flavor is the star. [source]

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Sauces and preserves

Culinary

The substantial flesh and moderate seed content make Better Boy suitable for making tomato sauce, salsa, and canned products. Their disease resistance means fewer defects in finished products. [source]

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Home preservation

Household

Ideal for canning whole, making paste, or freezing. The thick walls and good structural integrity hold up well during processing and storage. [source]

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Lycopene source

Medicinal

Red tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to cardiovascular health and reduced cancer risk. Cooking concentrates lycopene availability. [source]

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Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The abundant flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting broader ecosystem health and improving fruit set on neighboring plants. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Begin harvesting 70-85 days from transplanting when tomatoes reach full size and show first blush of pink at the blossom end. For best flavor, allow to ripen fully on the vine to deep red. For end-of-season harvests, pick at first pink stage and ripen indoors at room temperature (68-77°F). Leave 1-2 inches of stem attached. Better Boy produces continuously until frost; harvest regularly to encourage more flower production. Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature (never refrigerate if possible, as cold damages flavor) and use within 2-3 weeks.

Fun Facts

🌱 Better Boy is a hybrid cultivar released in 1969 and was selected specifically to combine the disease resistance of Bounty (its seed parent) with superior flavor, making it one of the most reliable indeterminate varieties for home gardeners.
🌱 The 'VF' designation in its disease resistance ratings means it resists Verticillium and Fusarium wilts—two major soil-borne fungal diseases that devastate susceptible tomato varieties and can make soil unusable for years.
🌱 Indeterminate tomatoes like Better Boy continue growing and flowering throughout the season until frost, potentially producing 150-200+ fruits per plant with proper care, while determinate types are genetically programmed to stop growing and produce all fruit at once.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Damping Off Full Sun Hardening Off Hybrid Mulch Partial Shade Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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